Senators began a special session of the Nebraska Legislature devoted to property taxes by introducing a variety of proposals.

A Federal district court in Missouri ordered Thursday that the Biden Administration’s rule protecting transgender youth from discrimination not be enforced. Earlier this spring, Nebraska’s attorney general Mike Hilgers and five other state’s attorneys general filed a lawsuit asking the court to stop a new regulation by the U.S. Department of Education.

Nebraska voters could decide whether to legalize online sports betting in the state this November, thanks to legislation introduced in the special legislative session dedicated to lowering state property taxes. Thursday morning, Sen. Elliot Bostar put forth a bill and constitutional amendment that would put legalization on the November ballot. It will advance if 60% of the legislature is in favor.

Both campaigns in the U.S. Senate race between Deb Fischer and Dan Osborn have very different perspectives on where things stand. An internal poll from the Fischer campaign found the senator has a 26-percentage point lead over Osborn, while a poll from the Osborn campaign showed the candidates tied at 42% each. According to the latest fundraising numbers, the Fischer campaign has more cash on hand, but Osborn raised more than his opponent in the last three months.

The Nebraska Legislature is set to begin a special session on property taxes, amidst uncertainty over the outcome.

Nebraska’s Department of Environment and Energy is receiving $307 million from the EPA. Nebraska Public Media’s Sarah Lawlor reports on the funds.

Soil science is a relatively new field and becoming more critical in the work to keep soil healthy and productive. The discovery of century-old soil samples at a land-grant university could offer big clues into how soil has changed over time.

A dozen state senators from a variety of political perspectives hosted a listening session on property taxes in Lincoln Monday evening. The event comes ahead of a likely special legislative session devoted to reducing property taxes in Nebraska. Gov. Jim Pillen has said he wants to reduce property taxes by at least 40% by having the state pay for K-12 schools and eliminating some sales tax exemptions.

Most people who attended an Omaha townhall about property taxes agreed they're a big problem, but there was little agreement about what should be done.

Rhema Otabor is a back-to-back javelin national champion for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. At this year’s NCAA Championships, she broke the collegiate record with a throw of 64 meters, which also secured her spot in the Olympics.

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen on Thursday touted his idea for lowering property taxes by expanding sales taxes.

A group hoping to repeal Nebraska legislation regarding private school scholarships turned in enough signatures to put the issue on the November ballot. If passed, the referendum would repeal legislation passed in April allocating 10 million dollars to the state treasurer’s office to be used for private and religious school scholarships.

A two-megawatt solar energy facility is coming to Madison, Nebraska thanks to an investment from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The project was selected to receive a Powering Affordable Clean Energy program award, which pays for 40% of the project. Clare Sierawski with the USDA said the solar facility could spur economic development in Madison and help residents save money.

Nebraska Public Media is searching the country for a new General Manager/CEO. Mark Leonard announced in December he is retiring after more than 10 years here. Nebraska Public Media’s Dale Johnson sat down with Mr. Leonard to talk about his career and the status of public media.

Omaha Performing Arts is receiving an additional 2.5 million dollars in funding from the state for the construction of a new building on its campus. Upon completion, the Tenaska Center for Arts Engagement will include three rehearsal halls, classrooms and practice rooms, enabling the organization to offer new arts programs. The 108-million-dollar building is expected to open in the spring of 2026.

A Blair family is still waiting to hear what options they have after their home was leveled in an April tornado. Over two months later, most recovery organizations have moved on. Nebraska Public Media’s Sarah Lawlor tells us how the community is moving forward and what organizations are still helping out.

Nebraska researchers are looking into how online content creators are promoting opioid awareness. They plan to use their findings to create a national health communication campaign.

Women’s Fund of Omaha sells emergency contraception and pregnancy tests via vending machine

Children in the foster care system with severe behavioral health issues and trauma are often treated in group homes that specialize in individualized care. In at least two states, there is space at these centers for boys but not for girls.

Children in the foster care system with severe behavioral health issues and trauma are often treated in group homes that specialize in individualized care. In at least two states, there is space at these centers for boys but not for girls.

The peach crop across the U.S. is much better this summer than it was last year when cold temperatures affected crops in Georgia and South Carolina. Yet in southern Illinois, while some orchards are getting a bumper crop, others are having yet another year of low production.

After five years under a no-drink order from the EPA, the Santee Sioux Nation in northern Nebraska is one step closer to getting clean water infrastructure. A bill passed in the Nebraska Legislature this spring prioritizes money in the Water Sustainability Fund to go toward infrastructure projects in areas under a no-drink order.

Sports bettors in Nebraska will be able to wager on the Olympics for the first time since gambling was legalized almost four years ago. Handball, surfing, field hockey and proposition bets like which country will win the most medals are open season for wagering. But one economics professor says some revenues will leave Nebraska during the 2024 Paris Games.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s SUN Bucks doles out $40 per month over the summer for each eligible child. This is the first year for the program, and it's expected to reach about 21 million kids. Yet 13 states, including Oklahoma and Iowa, turned down the funding.

Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen will no longer be going on a trade mission to Indonesia this month. Instead, Lieutenant Governor Joe Kelly will lead the 12-day mission, while Pillen prepares for a special session on property taxes. Pillen has yet to release a written tax plan and says there is still work to do to get consensus, though he is optimistic that progress is being made.

Seven people were shot in Crete last week in what is being investigated as a hate crime. The Hispanic family all survived. Now statewide groups are coming together to make sure the incident doesn’t happen again.

The University of Nebraska Board of Regents approved the almost $1.1 billion budget for NU near the end of June. Chris Kabourek, chief financial officer for the university and the recent interim president, spoke with Nebraska Public Media’s Jolie Peal about the reductions and investments laid out in the budget for this fiscal year.

Rob Jeffreys discusses the impact a new prison may have on the department, and the current state of corrections.

Nearly two years after Nebraska received more than 30 million dollars in federal grant funding to build electric vehicle charging stations, none of that money has been dispersed. Ryan McKinnon with the electric vehicle advocacy group Charge Ahead Partnership said Nebraska is one of around 15 other states that has not yet opened up the grant application process for businesses to request funds. “Because Nebraska hasn't even put out an application yet, these businesses are not able to access that money in order to build EV charging stations,” he said.

Organizers of the petition drive supporting medical marijuana in Nebraska "feel really good" about the number of signatures they turned over to the Secretary of State. They had collected over 114,000 signatures on each of the two petitions necessary to change state law. The petitions must be verified to ensure that all are from voters registered in Nebraska. Two years ago, the group fell short of that threshold.

Water has begun receding along most of Nebraska’s eastern border, but the flood is peaking in Rulo in the state’s southeast corner. Further north, Nebraska City is past the worst of the flooding. However, Jim Terrell with the Missouri River Basin Forecast Center said the water has risen back into a moderate flood stage after several inches of rainfall in the area Monday night and Tuesday morning.

Support Our Schools Nebraska has two more weeks to collect signatures for its referendum aiming to repeal a law giving $10 million to the State Treasurer for private and religious school scholarships. This is different from the deadline for most other petitions, which was Wednesday, July 3.

Randy Olson's farmland was buried beneath several feet of murky water. By Friday afternoon, the water had receded a few feet from its peak, leaving behind a swamp of rotting corn, soybeans and other debris in its wake.

Former President Donald Trump has proposed using National Guard troops to help arrest and deport people living in the country illegally.

Former President Donald Trump has proposed using National Guard troops to help arrest and deport people living in the country illegally.

Many small businesses owners are planning on retiring soon, but finding buyers to keep the businesses going can be a challenge, especially in rural areas.

A group campaigning for paid sick leave for Nebraskans announced Thursday it has collected 138,000 signatures through its petition drive, which would be enough to put the issue on the ballot in November. If passed, the initiative would require businesses in Nebraska to offer at least one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours an employee worked. Jo Giles, a ballot sponsor for Paid Sick Leave for Nebraskans, says the accomplishment is the result of years of organizing and strategizing.

The federal government says new safety standards and building materials mean home buyers priced out of site-built houses have viable options. As storms become stronger and more frequent, experts are tempering expectations.

Floodwaters continue to rise in Omaha and Bellevue as the Missouri River crest flows southward this week. The NRD has closed slide gates and culverts that empty into rivers and installed a flood wall barrier along railroad tracks in Bellevue. Winkler says water levels should begin to subside by Sunday.

When Grace Clausen was diagnosed with dyslexia 10 years ago, there weren’t many resources available to her.

Despite a controversial ordinance, some Fremont residents are working to ensure their community embraces its diversity

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen talked about how he would pay for a state takeover of public school funding, and how funds would be distributed, at a meeting in Holdrege Tuesday.

During the Nebraska Broadcaster’s Association Governor’s Monthly Call In Show, Pillen said he would advocate for the state to take over the funding of K through 12 schools in Nebraska. To pay for the plan, Pillen says he wants to broaden the tax base through the elimination of sales tax exemptions.

Total in-person attendance at the 2024 College World Series in Omaha lagged behind the 2023 total because there was one less game played.

This year's College World Series had the highest average attendance per game in history, according to the National Collegiate Athletic Association, with nearly 24,800 people visiting Charles Schwab Field for each matchup.

The U.S. Senate unanimously passed a bill to transfer land along the Missouri River in Iowa back to the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska. The Winnebago Land Transfer Act returns 16-hundred acres to the tribe after it was seized by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the 1970s for a proposed recreation project. Nebraska Senator Deb Fischer, who introduced the bill, says the Corps was wrong to take the land through eminent domain.

More than 100 business leaders from across southeast Nebraska met at Southeast Community College on Friday to brainstorm ideas for regional economic development projects. The meeting represents the launch of the “6 regions, One Nebraska” initiative in the southeast part of the state. Similar meetings are taking place in the other five community college districts this summer.

This inaugural summit will focus on how employers can create more inclusive workplaces.

The University of Nebraska Board of Regents approved the budget for the upcoming year and approved Dr. Jeffrey Gold’s contract for university president on Thursday. The budget includes $11.5 million in spending cuts, a tuition increase at all four campuses and additional investment into the new Presidential Scholars program.

Residents of Douglas and Washington Counties are eligible for business physical disaster loans and home disaster loans to replace damaged property. Nebraskans from Burt, Dodge, Douglas, Sarpy, Saunders and Washington Counties qualify for economic injury disaster loans which help small businesses meet financial obligations impacted by the April storms. The deadline for physical damage loan applications is July 15, while the economic injury loan applications are available through February 2025.

June commemorates events in two historically marginalized groups: those in the LGBTQ plus community for pride month as well as Black communities for Juneteenth. Nebraska Public Media’s Kassidy Arena spoke with someone very involved in both celebrations.

The National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2025 passed in the U.S. House Friday. Nebraska Representative Don Bacon served as the chairman of the quality-of-life subcommittee and helped draft 21 amendments that were put in the bill. Bacon says the cornerstone of the legislation is a 19% pay raise for junior enlisted troops, which Bacon says is necessary to help recruitment and reduce financial stress for members of the armed services.

The Scarborough’s are one of several Nebraska families concerned about Gov. Jim Pillen’s promise to eliminate an extensive waitlist for intellectual and developmental disability services. Those services include group homes, day programs, respite care, occupational therapy, and more. None are covered by Medicaid.

Biosolids are a cheap, nutrient-rich fertilizer that have been applied on millions of acres of farmland across the country, but toxic “forever chemicals” are creeping their way into the fertilizer. A proposed federal provision aims to better protect farmers from PFAS contamination.

It’s National Pollinator Week, an annual event created to bring attention to the sharp decline in pollinator numbers due to habitat loss, pesticide use and climate change. Butterflies often capture people’s attention and help spark interest in pollinator conservation, something butterfly farms are helping promote.

Recently, Fischer introduced the Amtrak Transparency Act, which would expand Amtrak board meetings to include additional stakeholders and require public notices 30 days prior to meetings. The legislation would also require bonuses exceeding $50,000 dollars to Amtrak employees be disclosed to Congress.

What may be the world’s largest collection of clown dolls is in a northeast Nebraska city with a population of just over 1,000 people.

The Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska is traveling around the state this summer to hold listening sessions with recipients of a $25.5 million legislative fund.

Rocco’s Pizza and Cantina was buzzing Thursday afternoon on the first day of the annual College World Series Jell-O shot challenge. Fans from across the country can buy five-dollar Jell-O shots in their favorite school’s color and for each shot purchased, one dollar is donated to a food bank in the university’s hometown, while 50 cents goes to an Omaha food bank. Owner Kevin Culjat said the competition began in 2018 and has grown each year since.

Senators Deb Fischer and Pete Ricketts are cosponsors of legislation to overturn a U.S. Department of Education rule extending Title Nine protections to include gender identity. The Congressional Review Act allows Congress the ability to overrule federal regulations from government agencies by passing a joint resolution. The resolution can be vetoed by the president and would need a two-thirds majority of the House and Senate to override the veto.

An environmental justice program is hoping to expand into new cities throughout the state.

The Forbes Advisor team analyzed more than 20 metrics from 95 cities across the country, considering affordability, availability, amenities and safety. Kasey Ogle with Nebraska Appleseed, an organization that advocates for affordable housing, says conditions are difficult for renters in Nebraska and she is surprised to see Lincoln at the top of the Forbes ranking.

The five-member board, led by Gov. Jim Pillen, voted unanimously to approve the results. Secretary of State Bob Evnen said the 2024 primary was a historic election for Nebraska, as it was the first to require voter ID.

The prospect of precision agriculture has existed for decades, but many of the technologies and techniques that will enable it have been slow to catch on.

Nonpublic schools now have more flexibility in choosing books through the state’s textbook loan program. That’s a change from when they could only request what the public school in their district asked for.

The overdue farm bill is finally making its way through Congress, after the House agriculture committee recently advanced a proposal. Food assistance is likely to be one of the biggest sticking points as the draft moves forward.

At a series of town halls across the state, Governor Jim Pillen has said he wants to reduce property taxes in Nebraska by 40% by expanding the sales tax base in a special legislative session this summer. Ernie Goss, an economics professor at Creighton University, said high property taxes hurt economic growth more than high sales taxes.

Kansas City musician Nate Hofer took his pedal steel guitar 30 feet down into an inter-continental ballistic missile silo to record a hopeful reminder that nuclear war is not inevitable.

The Omaha Summer Arts Festival is host to around 130 art booths, live music, local food vendors and a hands-on children’s fair. This weekend is the festival’s 50th anniversary, but it’s also its final year.

A survey of manufacturing supply-chain managers in the Midwest found that economic growth slowed in the month of May. Creighton economics professor Ernie Goss, who leads the Mid-America Business Conditions Index, said high inflation and fewer exports are resulting in lower growth in the manufacturing industry.

The human papillomavirus, or HPV, is a sexually transmitted, cancer-causing infection that can be largely prevented by a series of vaccinations in children. Nebraska Public Media’s Kassidy Arena reports the state does well in starting that series, but not as well in completing it.

At 82 years old, Rick Hubbard is hitting the highways of America to raise awareness of political dysfunction.

A Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Court judge ruled a former Papillion firefighter is entitled to compensation for mental injury. Nebraska Public Media’s Sarah Lawlor has more.

Dead Timber State Recreation Area is set to receive more than a half million dollars for a redevelopment project. The park north of Scribner received a $589,000 grant from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development.

In 2019, major flooding altered the Platte River near its junction with Highway 75, creating a large sandbar and restricting the channel size to a third of what it had been previously. Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District general manager John Winkler says the sandbar makes communities like Louisville and Cedar Creek, which are upstream, more susceptible to additional flooding.

Gov. Jim Pillen said Friday that if legal costs get too high, he would abandon the Perkins County Canal proposal.

Long-term care residents and their families in Red Cloud, Nebraska, breathed a sigh or relief this spring, when the local nursing home was saved from closure. The Heritage of Red Cloud was scheduled to close on April 18. But a local hospital and its foundation decided to acquire the facility thanks to some large community donations.

HOST: Almost a year after the first phase of renovations at the Lincoln Airport were completed, the second phase is wrapping up. Nebraska Public Media’s Sarah Lawlor has more. 053024 THU Airport Renovations WRAP.wav: (39.9 s)Lincoln Airport officials opened the doors to the public on Thursday afternoon so travelers could have a chance to see the new additions. Renovations include two new bag belts and new locations for customer service and rental car desks. Rachel Barth is the director of air service development and strategic marketing. She says the new renovations should make for a more streamlined process for travelers. BARTH:(7 s) I think when people see the project now finished, they’re gonna really think, ‘Wow, this was really well thought out and methodical.’ LAWLOR: Now that the second phase of renovations is finished, Barth says airport officials are shifting their focus to the runway. I’m Sarah Lawlor, Nebraska Public Media news.

The competition includes an obstacle course where snowplow drivers swerve through cones, make sharp turns and back up into tight spaces, all while competing against the clock. Competitors also take a written test and perform snowplow inspections where they must find vehicle defects.

HOST: A severe winter storm in early April left millions of dollars in damage for eight western Nebraska counties. Those counties are now receiving federal assistance for recovery efforts. Nebraska Public Media’s Sarah Lawlor has more. 052924 Disaster declaration voicer.wav: (48 s)President Joe Biden is declaring a major disaster exists in eight Nebraska counties affected by storms in April. The counties include Banner, Cheyenne, Dawes, Garden, Kimball, Morrill, Scotts Bluff and Sioux. The April storm included thunderstorms, freezing rain, snow and heavy winds. At least $10.5 million in initial damages were reported, according to a press release from Governor Jim Pillen. The costs are mainly for downed power lines and power poles.

More people in Nebraska are waking up hungry, according to a recent report released by “Feeding America”, the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization.

Doug Kristensen stepped onto the University of Nebraska at Kearney campus as chancellor in 2002. After 22 years, he's retiring.

Thirteen states across the U.S., including much of the Midwest, introduced bills this year that could give some rights to embryos and fetuses usually associated with people. None passed but people in the fertility world are concerned that lawmakers will try again and what that means for reproductive rights.

According to the Governor’s Policy Research Office, Nebraskans paid 5.3 billion dollars in property taxes in 2023. Pillen wants to cut that amount by 40%, or more than 2 billion dollars. He says he intends to present a plan to cut spending by 500 million dollars through streamlining government operations.

A proposal to divert water from the Platte to the Republican River drew mixed reactions at a public hearing Thursday.

The American Red Cross is regularly busy in the Midwest as a natural-disaster-prone area. But one woman is working doubly hard to ensure one group of people receive the support they need from the organization.

More than 150 people squeezed into the Warner Chamber, just off the Capitol Rotunda to witness Wednesday’s induction ceremony. Everyone wanted to catch a glimpse of the bust of Malcolm X, a Black activist and human rights champion who was born in Omaha.

Sen. Tom Brewer, visiting Ukraine, says residents are tired but still fighting more than two years after Russia invaded.

The higher a Nebraska student’s ACT score is, the more likely they are to go to an in-state college. As that score increases about 30, it becomes more likely that students will go out of state for university. These insights come from a Nebraska Statewide Workforce & Educational Reporting System, or NSWERS, report released this month. Researchers looked at how ACT scores related to college going patterns for about 80,000 to 90,000 students from four years of ACT tests.

Turfgrass lawns are a landscape staple — an environmental reckoning may change that

Gov. Jim Pillen's efforts to drum up support for lowering property taxes by expanding sales taxes met some skepticism Friday in Grand Island.

More than 87 hundred additional ballots from Tuesday’s primary election were counted by the Douglas County Election Commission Friday morning. That number includes early voting ballots that were delivered to the election office on election day. While most races have been called, Friday's count has widened the gap between two candidates vying for second place and a chance to advance to the general election.

The United States Department of Agriculture partnered with the Tri-Faith Center in Omaha to host a summit this week about countering antisemitism, Islamophobia and other biases in rural communities. The Tri-Faith campus has a mosque, synagogue, church and a center connecting them. Samantha Joseph, the director of the USDA Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, said those connections made it the perfect spot to host a summit like this.

Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers is suing California and the federal government over requirements to replace diesel trucks with electric vehicles.

Planting is well underway across the Midwest, but farmers are still grappling with dry conditions that led to lower than normal corn yields last fall. It’s the third year of a near historic drought for parts of the Corn Belt.

A bill passed in this year’s Nebraska legislative session has the potential to increase the number of electric vehicle charging stations in the state, according to electric vehicle lobbying group Charge Ahead Partnership. A provision from State Sen. Eliot Bostar regulating electric vehicle charging stations was passed unanimously as part of a larger package bill in April.

The Republican candidates for the primary election in Nebraska’s second congressional district say although they’re both in the same party, they couldn’t be more different. This election could redefine the urban Nebraska Republican.

Michael Connely is challenging incumbent Mike Flood for the Congressional District 1 seat in the Republican primary election. Both candidates running without state party endorsement is a reflection of national trends, an expert said.

On the State Board of Education, all four incumbents up for election decided against running for office again. This leaves the non-partisan board up to some potential political changes. The board has eight members. It’s an even split of Republicans and Democrats even though it’s officially a non-partisan board. Three of the four members up for election are registered Democrats, which leaves the board open to the potential for a political majority in 2025.

Nebraska will be electing two U.S. Senators in this election cycle for the first time since 1954. Incumbent Republicans Deb Fischer and Pete Ricketts are heavy favorites, but neither have received endorsements from the State Republican Party. Meanwhile, an independent challenger is likely to receive a Democratic Party endorsement in the general election.

The 25,000-square-foot skatepark is set to become the state’s largest upon completion. Skatepark designer Vince Onel said the new skatepark will provide opportunities for all skill levels over a variety of terrains. His initial design includes pump tracks, two bowls, street elements, and several sculptures.

A refugee resettlement agency is expanding its reach to more areas of the state.

Nebraska now has another commission added to its repertoire of racial and ethnic representation in government.

More than 100 Nebraska community leaders and civil rights advocates met Wednesday at a conference to discuss the state of human rights throughout the region.

Outside the University of Nebraska-Lincoln city union, students and community members are protesting the war and deaths in Gaza. They join several other universities across the country, some of which have been protesting for two weeks.

The trend was already underway when the COVID-19 pandemic pushed rural and small-town nursing homes to close permanently. Yet, some communities are finding ways today to re-envision nursing homes while keeping staff at the forefront.

The trend was already underway when the COVID-19 pandemic pushed rural and small-town nursing homes to close permanently. Yet, some communities are finding ways today to re-envision nursing homes while keeping staff at the forefront.

As work continued to clean up debris from what used to be a giant machine shed, Jackie and Randy Colton described their experience outrunning a tornado.

In the first 100 days of the year, troopers issued more high-speed tickets than any entire year in the past decade.

It’s been a month since six workers died from the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore. For the state’s immigrant workers and advocates, this serves as a reminder of their high-risk working conditions.

Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen vetoed a bill Wednesday that would enable victims to sue public entities like school districts if they are found liable in cases of child sexual abuse and assault. Loree Woods says news of the governor’s veto was a gut punch to her family.

Early childhood educators, researchers and policymakers are finding ways to improve the field, starting with connecting with each other. The three groups came together at the Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools Early Childhood Research Summit in Lincoln on Tuesday.

The University of Nebraska named Dr. Jeffrey Gold as the priority candidate for the president position. He currently serves as the provost and executive vice president for the university system, and is the University of Nebraska Medical Center chancellor. Gold is undergoing a 30-day vetting process. He spoke with Nebraska Public Media’s Jolie Peal about his vision if hired, getting the university back into the Association of American Universities and more.

The primary election for the state’s second congressional district is about three weeks away with both sides maintaining their confidence.

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln and basketball coach Amy Williams asked a federal court judge to dismiss a Title IX lawsuit filed by former player Ashley Scoggin. The request came in filings with the court on Friday. Scoggin filed a lawsuit claiming the university acted in violation of federal guidelines when addressing a purported sexual relationship between the player and former assistant coach Chuck Love. UNL maintains the Athletic Department acted in good faith, while providing Scoggin access to information on how to respond to concerns about inappropriate sexual contact.

The Nebraska Legislature finished its 2024 session with some substantive policy changes, but a stalemate on property taxes

Gov. Jim Pillen, along with the state director of the Division of Developmental Disabilities, has announced the intention to end the state’s disabilities waiting list. The plan starts by listening to communities’ needs.

Gov. Jim Pillen faulted the Legislature for failing to pass his proposal to cut property taxes and vowed to call them back before January to address the issue.

Many people with developmental disabilities don’t need 24/7 care but momentary support. In Omaha, there’s not enough accommodating housing and infrastructure for people with developmental disabilities to live independently.

In Crete, Nebraska, a local woman is staging a sleepout to raise awareness for Youth Homelessness Matters Day. About 300 students at Crete Public Schools were identified as homeless this academic year.

Newly postpartum moms may be more susceptible to mental health issues stemming from glamorized motherhood content on social media, according to a recent Nebraska study.

The flu has been found in cows for the first time, but most cattle seem to be showing only mild symptoms and recovering from the illness. Officials say the pasteurization process means milk remains safe.

The U.S. has lost more than 2,800 newspapers since 2005, many of them in rural areas. Now some journalists are redoubling their efforts to provide local news and trying new models in a difficult industry.

The Yazidi SarSal is a new year event in the Yazidi culture celebrated in mid-April every year. This event brings the community members together to appreciate their religious beliefs, cultural values and their history.

The priority candidate for president of the University of Nebraska held his first public forum Friday. Dr. Jeffrey Gold answered questions about budget cuts, the university’s relationship with the legislature and getting students from Western Nebraska.

Members of the Nebraska Legislature passed more than 100 bills and paid tribute to departing colleagues on Thursday.

Sen. Lou Ann Linehan’s LB388 would create a digital advertising sales tax and increase taxes on cigarettes, vaping, lottery tickets, cannabis derivatives and games of skill. Sales tax exemptions for candy, soda, storage facilities and veterinary services would also be eliminated. The bill caps the percentage cities and counties can grow their annual budget and reduces school property taxes by 30% directly instead of requiring taxpayers to apply for a 30% tax credit, according to the Governor’s Policy Research Office.

The Nebraska Legislature heard a few new voices in its rotunda thanks to a new youth lobby school. The program focuses on teaching students from diverse backgrounds how to advocate for legislation.

Host Intro: Gov. Jim Pillen said today/Wednesday more needs to be done to lower property taxes. And he said he’ll call a special session to change Nebraska to a winner-take-all electoral college system, if 33 senators say they’ll vote for it.

Thousands of people gathered in southwest Lincoln Wednesday to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, the end of Ramandan and fasting in the Muslim faith. Ousmane Youm is a member of the Islamic Foundation of Lincoln community. In addition to fasting and other spiritual disciplines, Ramadan is about giving back.

Nebraska Legislature Speaker John Arch is taking a wait-and-see attitude about a possible special session to change Nebraska's Electoral College voting system.

A Lincoln food pantry has revamped its system that allow people to have a more welcoming experience.

Senator Lou Ann Linehan’s bill would appropriate $10 million dollars to scholarship granting organizations, allowing low-income students to apply for grants that can be used at private schools. Linehan’s bill would also sunset legislation passed last year giving up to $25 million dollars of tax credits for donations to scholarship granting organizations.

Nebraska schools could be sued for up to a million dollars if a staff member sexually assaults a student, under a proposal that advanced Tuesday in the Legislature. And a bill to increase taxes on home sellers, and reduce them on people who inherit property, also moved ahead.

A University of Nebraska-Lincoln researcher is the first Husker to join the National Academy of Education, which is an organization focused on education research. Susan Sheridan, the director of the Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools, has decades of research leading to her invitation to the academy.

A proposal to restrict trans athletes in Nebraska's K-12 schools was blocked by a filibuster in the Legislature Friday.

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Education and Human Sciences recognized students in their teaching programs for reaching the halfway point of their degrees. “Nebraska needs teachers. We want teachers. We want to honor teachers," UNL CEHS acting dean Nick Pace said. "We want to honor their work and thank them for having the heart and the hands for this work. It’s never been more important and it’s never probably been more difficult.”

Senator Justin Wayne filed several amendments to his bill regarding punitive damages, including one which would allow an individual to hold political subdivisions or state agencies liable for the sexual assault of a minor by a public employee. The amendment’s language was taken directly from Senator Steve Halloran’s bill, which did not make it out of the Judiciary Committee.

The Nebraska Legislature considered proposals Thursday to improve firefighters' pensions, while a contentious debate on restricting transgender student athletes was set for Friday.

A proposal to change Nebraska’s presidential vote allocation to a winner-take-all system failed in the Nebraska legislature late Wednesday evening. Nebraska is one of two states that awards its electoral votes to Presidential candidates by Congressional District, with the overall state winner receiving an additional two votes. In 2020, President Joe Biden received one electoral vote from Omaha’s 2nd Congressional District, while Donald Trump received the state’s other four votes.

The Legislature’s Executive board condemned Sen. Steve Halloran today/Wednesday for injecting colleagues’ names when he read a rape scene during a debate on obscenity. But some senators said that wasn’t enough.

The amount of students participating in dual enrollment across the state has increased since 2016, according to a new report from the Nebraska Statewide Workforce and Educational Reporting System, or NSWERS. In dual enrollment courses, students can earn college credits while still in high school.

Assisted living facilities in rural Nebraska will see a small bump in funding for serving Medicaid patients. Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen signed appropriations bill 1412 this week. Included in the budget, $1.5 million of American Rescue Plan funds will aid rural assisted living facilities.

A Latino advocacy organization will host a virtual summit on the state of voting. They’ll discuss how the growing Latino population will have a significant impact on this election and those in the future.

The U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy made his first-ever visit to Nebraska Tuesday. Murthy visited Lincoln North Star High School and Bryan Medical Center, where he spoke to a crowd of several hundred people about the impact of social media on youth mental health.

The Nebraska Legislature gave first-round approval to a bill designed to cut property taxes, but without the replacement revenues originally envisioned.

In a school district that’s population spans 990 square miles, the school is coming together to create a mural representing their community. It's a 4-foot-by-8-foot mural with the word "Tigers," which is the school's mascot, in the middle of the piece.

The city’s latest proposal would grow the South Haymarket Park to more than 8 acres while nixing a previous proposal for a mixed-use development in the area. The expansion also requires the city to purchase two additional properties near 7th and L Streets, adjacent to the planned park location.

Sens. Michaela Cavanaugh and Julie Slama introduced a resolution to censure Halloran after comments during last week’s debate on a bill regarding obscene materials in schools. While quoting testimony which included a passage from a memoir describing the author’s rape, Halloran inserted the name Senator Cavanaugh after a description of a demand for oral sex.

The Nebraska Legislature gave first-round approval Thursday to tax breaks for a wide range of activities, despite warnings about future budget shortfalls.

Gov. Jim Pillen will sign LB 1087 Friday. The bill will send a big dose of federal Medicaid money to hospitals in Nebraska. In total, the Nebraska Hospitals Association said its members will receive up to $1 dollars every year through the Medicaid program.

The Nebraska Legislature began debate Wednesday on a proposal for significant tax changes, with senators expressing wide ranging opinions.

The bill’s sponsor, Senator Dave Murman says his bill would require pornography websites to verify the age of its users to ensure they are 18 or older before showing obscene material. The bill’s critics say that kids can still access pornography by using other encrypted methods like virtual private networks.

The Nebraska Department of Education launched the Teacher Apprenticeship Program to help train teachers with more in-classroom experiences. The state Legislature passed the Teacher Apprenticeship Program last year with $1 million slated for the initiative in the first year. The program is starting with three grow-your-own initiatives that were already in effect.

The Nebraska Legislature approved adjustments to the two-year budget in advance of debating significant tax changes.

New University of Nebraska–Lincoln Director of Athletics, Troy Dannen, said NU is a “gold mine,” during his introductory press conference on Tuesday. The former University of Washington AD spoke in front of hundreds of coaches, athletes and stakeholders inside Memorial Stadium.

One group in Nebraska is starting a new program to bring more diversity to the state’s boards and commissions. Nebraska Public Media’s Kassidy Arena reports it will train people from diverse backgrounds in how to become board and commission members.

The Nebraska Legislature confirmed Gov. Jim Pillen’s appointment of Steve Corsi to head the Department of Health and Human Services Monday, despite opposition from senators who objected to his social media posts and job history.

This year’s Migratory Family and Student Conference hosted by the Nebraska Migrant Education Program is expected to be the largest in attendance in its four-year history.

A KCUR and Midwest Newsroom investigation reveals the chain of events that ended in the death of Clesslynn Crawford almost exactly two years ago.

Lincoln ranked number one in the nation for the city with the highest rate of self-response for the mid-way point of the 2020 U.S. Census. The U.S. Census Director met with refugee and immigrant organizations to talk about how they achieved their success.

Host Intro: A proposal to increase sales and cigarette taxes in order to lower property taxes is headed to the Nebraska Legislature for debate.

Host Intro: A proposal to increase sales and cigarette taxes in order to lower property taxes is headed to the Nebraska Legislature for debate.

Just one win would be historic, during the team’s trip to the NCAA Tournament, also known as the “Big Dance.” Nebraska is the only major conference team to have zero NCAA Tournament wins in men’s basketball. They’re 0-7 all-time in the tournament.

Lincoln manufacturing companies and refugee support agencies have found a solution to two problems: a labor shortage and refugees’ need for employment. The new idea has so far worked to solve both cases.

A bill supporters said would combat obscenity in schools and libraries was stopped by a filibuster Wednesday in the Legislature.

A bill that would eliminate a legal defense for teachers and librarians charged with providing obscene material to other people stalled in the Nebraska legislature Wednesday. Senator Joni Albrecht says she introduced LB441 to keep inappropriate books from being provided to kids in public schools and libraries.

Troy Dannen, former athletic director at the University of Washington, will be the next Director of Athletics at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Interim university president Chris Kabourek announced it on Wednesday.

In the Nebraska Legislature, Sen. Steve Halloran’s insertion his colleagues’ names into a description of rape produced condemnation and a call to resign.

A proposal to enhance penalties for providing fentanyl to people who are seriously injured or die got stalled Monday in the Legislature.

The Nebraska Legislature argued over civil forfeiture, fentanyl penalties and who can be sued for child sexual abuse.

A ruling by the Nebraska Supreme Court means that the state agency regulating environmental safety can lawfully charge a Nebraska news public tens of thousands of dollars for copies of public documents. The Court ruled that it was up to the Nebraska legislature to determine how much a state agency could charge for reviewing requests for public documents and providing copies.

For-profit companies and private equity firms have purchased more than half of the nonprofit nursing homes that have gone out of business in the last decade.

Jane Kleeb is known as the force behind the effort to stop oil giant, TransCanada from building the Keystone XL oil pipeline through Nebraska. But she's also Jane Kleeb who battled anorexia as a teenager. Kleeb talked with Nebraska Public Media's Dale Johnson about her experience and the unwavering strength she found in the face of adversity.

The Nebraska Legislature gave first-round approval to another state budget bill today, but not before nearly half the senators signaled what some described as unease over the proposal.

Nebraska state senators have mixed thoughts on why Trev Alberts decided to leave as Athletic Director of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Brule, Nebraska, a village of 330 residents just west of Ogallala, has seen its fair share of controversy over the last few months, including the resignation of a longtime village employee and efforts to recall two village board members. More than 60 percent of voters cast their ballots against recalling Brian McNeff and Mike Gibson in their respective elections, allowing them to remain on the Brule Village Board.

As part of the proposed budget in the Nebraska Legislature, $25 million that was originally slated for affordable housing would be used for a different kind of housing. Affordable housing is geared toward lower-income buyers. Under the budget proposed by the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee, $20 million would be shifted to rural workforce housing, and $5 million would go to middle income housing.

One city in Nebraska has found a way to both welcome newcomers and bolster the area’s economy. A Fremont organization has instituted a new system.

Nebraska senators voted 27-20 in favor of overriding Gov. Jim Pillen's veto of a needle exchange bill, falling three votes short of the number needed to override.

Two Nebraska high school seniors — one in Pender and one in Lincoln — committed to the University of Nebraska under the new Presidential Scholars program. The scholarship gives a full-ride plus a $5,000 stipend for any University of Nebraska school to in-state students who score a 36 on the ACT. The university announced the program last month.

The state’s Commission on Latino -Americans is starting new projects yet facing old challenges this year. This group finds itself in a unique position as it attempts to expand its reach.

The State Board of Education voted against starting the rule change process for board member Kirk Penner’s proposal to prohibit sexually explicit materials in school libraries and remove the requirement to buy a minimum number of new books every year.

A recreation trail connecting Lincoln and Omaha continues to move through the planning process, with the Lower Platte South Natural Resource District seeking input to determine a proposed route. In 2022, the Nebraska Legislature allocated $8.3 million dollars to connect two segments of the MoPac Trail in rural Cass County. Currently, the western portion of the trail ends in the village of Wabash, while the eastern section ends near South Bend, leaving an eight-mile gap.

A filibuster in the Nebraska Legislature has blocked a proposal aimed at giving tenants a “clean slate” if eviction proceedings were started against them, but they were never evicted.

On Sept. 12, 2022, Malcolm X became the first Black man or woman voted into the Nebraska Hall of Fame. By May, a bust of Malcolm X will be inside the Nebraska State Capitol, along with 26 other Nebraskans.

Host Intro: A proposal aimed at helping Nebraskans who have faced eviction from their homes was slowed by a filibuster Wednesday in the Legislature.

A campaign to celebrate and make immigrants in the state feel welcome saw so much success last month, it’s making changes to the plan. The statewide effort will expand next year.

Doane University students are performing and producing the play "The Delays" this week. It’s the first production that faculty are only mentoring students.

A Nebraska Air Force employee was arrested Saturday for sharing classified information about the war in Ukraine. David Slater, a 63-year-old employee at the Offutt Air Force Base, faces one count of conspiracy to disclose national defense information and two counts of unauthorized disclosure of national defense information.

Purchasers of land in all or part of eight western Nebraska counties would have to certify they are not affiliated with any foreign adversaries.

As the University of Nebraska continues the search for a new president, interim president Chris Kabourek said he wants to keep the university moving forward. Nebraska Public Media’s Jolie Peal sat down with Kabourek to discuss his goals for the university as challenges like budget cuts continue.

Host Intro: Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen has vetoed a bill allowing Nebraska cities to establish needle exchange programs for drug users. Sen. Meghan Hunt, chief sponsor of the legislation, says she’ll try to override the veto.

Nebraska state senators approved two amendments Monday on LB 1087, which would increase Medicaid funding for the state’s hospitals.

School boards could let teachers and other staff carry guns in school, under a proposal advanced by the Legislature’s Education Committee today/Thursday. And senators advanced a proposal aimed at helping native American tribal members experiencing mental health crises.

A seventeen-year-old from Hall County, accused in a massive sextortion case involving multiple victims must face the charges as an adult. The judge in the case called the teenager “an extreme threat to the security of the public.” Cody Holum argued he would benefit from the counseling and rehabilitation services available to a juvenile defendant until he was 19 years old. A Hall County District Judge determined just a year’s worth of services would not provide enough time to deal with the “alarming” behavior he’s shown over several years.

Nebraska’s chief medical officer, Dr. Timothy Tesmer, was scheduled to provide clarification on the state’s gender affirming care regulations for minors at a briefing Thursday afternoon. However, he and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services declined to attend. Last week, the Health and Human Services Committee requested a briefing from Tesmer to clarify the final rules and regulations of LB574, which was passed by the legislature last year.

The U.S. Department of Education aims to send completed 2024-25 Free Applications for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSAs, to colleges in March. The FAFSA typically goes out in October, but for the 2024-25 form, there have been roadblocks due to needed changes from the FAFSA Simplification Act.

The Nebraska legislature heard arguments for and against a bill that would allow a controversial execution method to be used in the state. Nebraska Public Media’s Kassidy Arena reports if passed, the state would be the fourth in the U.S. to approve nitrogen gas for executions.

Host Intro: Debate in the Nebraska Legislature over inheritance taxes Wednesday showed a generational divide, and raised questions about whether senators were debating things that are irrelevant to many Nebraskans.

As of January, Nebraskans can start donating to scholarship granting organizations, or SGOs, to fund tuition for students going to private schools. In return, donors receive a dollar-for-dollar tax credit. There are currently four certified SGOs in the state.

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln has launched a new program in an effort to attract and retain teachers from diverse backgrounds. Nebraska Public Media’s Kassidy Arena has the details.

Host Intro: Fines and penalties would increase for distracted driving that resulted in someone dying, under a proposal heard Tuesday by a legislative committee. And lawmakers continued to debate abolishing the state’s inheritance tax. From the Capitol, Fred Knapp of Nebraska Public Media News has this legislative update:

A pregnancy-related death is when a person dies during pregnancy– or within a year after the pregnancy due to complications or pre-existing conditions. In some Midwest states, maternal mortality rates are higher than the national average. As Nebraska Public Media’s Kassidy Arena/ KBIA’s Anna Spidel report for the Midwest Newsroom, the data on Hispanic women can be particularly challenging.

Leading up to the death of Kevin Carter at the Nebraska State Penitentiary in Lincoln, Angelo Bol allegedly threatened his cellmate's life. They remained in the same cell. That’s among the many accusations filed in federal court this month alleging negligence by former and current Nebraska Department of Correctional Services employees. Former director of the NDCS, Scott Frakes, and warden Michele Wilhelm are included in the total of 12 employees listed in the lawsuit.

A group of gun owners and the City of Lincoln will square off in Lancaster County District Court to argue whether there can be limits on carrying guns in parks and government buildings. Similiar restrictions put in place by Omaha's mayor have temporarily been put on hold by another judge.

Experts in media, election security and counterterrorism spoke on ChatGPT, deep fake videos, voice cloning and more at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Saturday for Civic Nebraska’s AI and Democracy Community Summit. The panel included UNL public relations professor Bryan Wang, UNL journalism professor Matt Waite, Douglas County Election Commissioner Brian Kruse and UNO counterterrorism center director, Gina Ligon.

The Nebraska Legislature moved Friday toward restoring its oversight authority for state agencies, and lawmakers heard a proposal to help veterans accused of crimes avoid convictions.

Lincoln Public School students at four high schools had the opportunity to learn more about H-B-C-Us this week. Nebraska Public Media’s Kassidy Arena reports the informational sessions offered some students a first-time look at some of these schools.

A proposal to allow exceptions to Nebraska’s limits on abortion in cases of fatal fetal anomalies produced strong reactions at a public hearing Thursday. And, senators advanced a bill enhancing penalties for people who supply fentanyl-laced drugs that kill or seriously injure another person.

The hub of Lincoln’s bus system may be getting a new temporary location until the completion of a multi-modal transportation center in 2027. Lincoln Transportation and Utilities shared plans at a public open house Wednesday morning for a new transfer center location at 11th and L Streets, two blocks south of its current location next to the Gold’s Building construction site.

The Nebraska Legislature advanced a bill Wednesday aimed at increasing the availability of childcare, and senators debated increasing penalties for providing drugs that result in serious injury or death.

The initiative, called Nebraska Backs the Blue, aims to recruit officers to Nebraska by highlighting the state’s support for law enforcement, recreational opportunities and free college tuition program for law enforcement officials. “Our message today, while very important in Nebraska, is really a message to the rest of America. Nebraska is the best state in the union to work as a law enforcement official,” Flood said.

A former women’s basketball player at the University of Nebraska has filed a lawsuit claiming the school and the team’s head coach were aware of and mishandled an inappropriate sexual relationship between her and a member of the coaching staff.

A robot developed at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is among the first to complete a surgical simulation in space. A research team led by UNL engineering professor Shane Farritor received grant funding from NASA to send the robot to the International Space Station. The 2-pound robot, controlled by surgeons from across the United States, cut ten rubber bands as part of its initial space test.

Raybould’s LB1383 would establish Nebraska Tribal Community Assistance Program. The program would be funded through an initial transfer of $10,000,000 from the Intern Nebraska Cash Fund and provide at least one grant per year — up to $2,000,000 — to tribal water and sewer projects.

Spanish-speaking breast cancer survivors in the state now have a new resource for helping with mental health.

The Nebraska Legislature advanced a bill that aims to help financially struggling hospitals by increasing federal Medicaid reimbursements.

Doulas are trained birthing coaches who help women through pregnancy and childbirth. And if a bill passes through state legislation, this resource could be available to Nebraskans who use Medicaid. Nebraska Public Media’s Kassidy Arena has the story.

The Nebraska Legislature advanced a bill adding Medicaid services for pregnant women, and senators reached a temporary deal with the Pillen administration restoring some legislative oversight of corrections and child welfare.

Two bills that would impact state colleges had hearings in the Nebraska Legislature’s Education Committee today. One would prohibit diversity, equity and inclusion programs, and the other would eliminate tenure at state colleges.

. The Nebraska Legislature considered proposals Tuesday aimed at improving railroad safety and expanding broadband coverage.

A bill that would stop schools from punishing or prohibiting employees engaging in religious expression outside of class went in front of the state legislature’s Education Committee on Monday. State Senator Loren Lippincott said he wants to solidify the protections in state law following a U.S. Supreme Court decision that recognized a football coach’s right to pray after a game.

Gov. Jim Pillen said Nebraska will apply for the summer EBT program, and senators are considering money to prepare sites to attract industrial projects.

Despite the law requiring the government to accommodate interpretation, the American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska said that doesn’t always happen in Omaha Immigration Court. A new report by the ACLU said Omaha Immigration Court violates due process in many cases.

The University of Nebraska Board of Regents approved transitioning out the University of Nebraska at Kearney’s Theatre program along with two other programs at their meeting Friday.

A District Court Judge in Hall County will decide if a 17-year-old should stand trial as an adult for allegedly extorting sex and explicit photos from other teenagers in central Nebraska. Details of the complex, disturbing case came to light during the Wednesday hearing to consider a motion to transfer the case to juvenile court. Seventeen-year-old Cody Holum of Doniphan faces 13 charges of human trafficking and four charges of 1st degree sexual assault. At an earlier hearing, he pled not guilty to all the accusations.

Each of Nebraska’s three continuum of care regions in Omaha, Lincoln and the rest of the state received more than $5 million in federal funds to assist individuals experiencing homelessness. Nebraska Field Office Director Kitty Amaya says this year’s grants are HUD’s largest annual investment nationally and reflect the need for services in smaller cities.

Grocery store owners and managers in Nebraska are excited about the prospects of a bill proposed in the Nebraska Legislature. LB 1116 would create a grant or loan program for locally run grocery stores. A store in west central Nebraska said they could use this money to try and grow its customer base.

Financial issues are plaguing Nebraskans’ ability to access long-term care. Bills in the Nebraska Legislature would increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for assisted living and nursing homes.

The idea of raising sales taxes in order to lower property taxes got a less-than-rousing reception in a hearing before the Legislature’s Revenue Committee Wednesday.

Counties would have to offer to buy properties for their assessed value, under a proposal heard Wednesday by the Legislature’s Revenue Committee. And senators advanced a bill aimed at making dental services available for more Medicaid recipients.

Ricketts joined 49 other senators in opposition to a border security bill and foreign aid bill that had the support of Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and most Senate Democrats. Ricketts explained his opposition in a press call Wednesday.

Newly-released data from higher education researchers shows Nebraska is behind the national average when it comes to community college students transferring to four-year universities and ultimately earning their bachelor’s degrees. Nebraska Public Media’s Kassidy Arena has the details.

A proposed constitutional amendment that would change the makeup of the State Board of Education drew opposition Tuesday at the Legislature’s Education Committee hearing.

Host Intro: Nebraska schools would have more options for armed personnel to confront possible shooters under a bill that drew strong support and opposition at a hearing Tuesday.

A man imprisoned for the past year after being convicted of sexual assault in Merrick County will get a new trial. In a very unusual move, Nebraska’s Attorney General filed a memorandum with the Nebraska Court of Appeals stating testimony that helped put 63-year-old Jack Tourtillott of Chapman in jail should not have been heard by the jury. The attorney recommended the jury’s guilty verdict be reversed. The court did so in January.

There are plenty of elections this year including Nebraska primaries, local elections and a vote for U.S. president. This means people like Dwayne Hawkins—the director for Black Votes Matter Get Out the Vote initiative based in Omaha-- is very busy. Nebraska Public Media’s Kassidy Arena got a coffee with him to talk about what’s on his mind in this new role.

Nebraskans will continue to switch their clocks twice a year, after senators rejected proposals today/Monday to stick with standard time or daylight saving time year-round.

The University of Nebraska announced a new full-ride scholarship starting in the fall for in-state students who receive a perfect score on the ACT. The President’s scholarship will cover all costs to attend the University of Nebraska – including room, board and books — plus a $5,000 stipend.

An effort to require two-person crews on trains crossing Nebraska fell short Friday in the Legislature. And senators heard a proposal to tighten requirements for local governments or businesses that want to condemn land.

State Board of Education members disagreed on a potential rule change that would prohibit sexually explicit content in school libraries at their meeting Friday.

This November, voters will decide the next president. And depending on this outcome, Nebraska refugee resettlement agencies may have to quickly adjust how many new arrivals to prepare for. The refugee outlook for 2024 may be starkly different from 2025.

Aguilar’s Firearm Industry Nondiscrimination Act would prohibit state and local government entities from entering into a contract with a company that has a policy of discriminating against the firearm industry. Steve Hornady, president of Hornady Manufacturing, an ammunition company based in Grand Island, testified at Thursday’s legislative hearing on the bill.

Governor Jim Pillen and the Department of Correctional Services announced Thursday the start of a new strategy to help incarcerated individuals re-enter their community.

Proposals to expand sales taxes to reduce property taxes ran into opposition in a public hearing Thursday. And, opponents of requiring two-people on train crews continued the first legislative filibuster of the year, leading the discussion onto some interesting sidings.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln researchers have released results from an electric vehicle crash test last fall. Cody Stolle, assistant director of UNL’s Midwest Roadside Safety Facility, says the research is important as electric vehicles, which can be much heavier than their gas-powered counterparts, become more common.

Under the current process, voters must sign a notarized affidavit to make that happen. Linehan, who introduced the new legislation, says her bill would only require voters to send a letter to the Secretary of State’s Office to remove their name.

Property tax levies would be automatically reduced if valuations increased, under a proposal heard by the Legislature’s Revenue Committee Wednesday. And senators debated requiring at least two crew members on trains crossing the state.

Douglas County is taking steps to prevent drug overdose related deaths with a new program, The Douglas County Overdose Fatality Review Team(OFR).

The Nebraska Legislature continued debate Tuesday on proposals to have the state observe either yearlong Daylight Saving Time or yearlong Standard Time.

Lincoln has developed a way for the state’s resettled refugees to help fill the workforce. Nebraska Public Media’s Kassidy Arena shares more about a manufacturing course starting this weekend (Sunday).

Lincoln has developed a way for the state’s resettled refugees to help fill the workforce. Nebraska Public Media’s Kassidy Arena shares more about a manufacturing course starting this weekend (Sunday).

More than 49 percent of renting households in and around Kearney and Hastings experience cost burden. Housing cost burden is defined as any household spending more than 30 percent of their income toward rent and utilities.

Carol Blood, a Democrat State Senator from Bellevue, launched her campaign for Congress against Mike Flood Saturday afternoon. At a union hall in Lincoln, Blood criticized Flood for his role in an unproductive, hyper-partisan Congress. Blood promised to protect social security and access to abortion.

The Nebraska Legislature advanced bills Friday calling for partisan elections to public power boards, but then advanced a public health measure on a nonpartisan vote.

Nebraskans would stop having to “spring ahead” and “fall back,” under a bill for year-round daylight savings time being debated in the Legislature.

Earlier this week, the Nebraska State Board of Health voted to approve temporary regulations on gender affirming care for minor, bringing them one step closer to becoming permanent. The regulations included no significant changes to the regulations state Chief Medical Officer Doctor Timothy Tesmer (TEZ-muhr) approved in October. But on Wednesday, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services says it was notified that some comments submitted at a public hearing were not included in the hearing summary.

Host Intro: A fight over who controls more than $100 million intended to revitalize north Omaha spilled onto the floor of the Legislature Wednesday.

The Lincoln Public Schools Board of Education discussed a new contract for teachers that includes changes to professional learning time and an increase in the base annual salary at their meeting on Tuesday.

A law against texting while driving would be bolstered under a proposal heard Tuesday in a legislative committee. And a bill aimed at strengthening protections for freedom of religion is advancing in the Legislature.

Bills for better state contracts and easier occupational licenses are advancing in the Legislature.

In Lincoln and Omaha, hundreds of snowplow drivers have put in long hours over the last two weeks, with each city using a different strategy to keep the streets clear. Clayton Engelman, the transportation maintenance coordinator for the city of Lincoln, says major arterials remain the city’s priority after the snow stops falling. “Once the snow stops, that's usually what we call zero hour,” Engelman said. “And then at that point, we try to get the streets, the main streets, fully cleared before we move on into residentials.”

Host Intro: Governor Jim Pillen wants changes in how Nebraska tries to attract new people and businesses to the state. And the Legislature is moving on to debate bills without making major changes to its rules.

In December, the Nebraska Association of Public Employees was granted a motion of temporary relief, which halted the implementation of Governor Jim Pillen’s executive order requiring workers to return to the office in January. But Justin Hubly, the union’s Executive Director, says he received some complaints from union members that were required to return to in-person work despite the ruling.

Schools across the state are facing challenges with chronic absenteeism in students. One school district is using connections to overcome the issue and get students to school.

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen talked about his priorities and drew a mixed reaction, while a bid to change legislative rules and require open elections for committee chairmanships fell short.

Governor Jim Pillen made his State of the State address today (yesterday). But as Nebraska Public Media’s Kassidy Arena reports, his speech was delayed by those concerned about his administration’s decisions.

As NioCorp prepares for its annual shareholders meeting, frustrated investors in Nebraska would like answers following what even the CEO calls a "disappointing" year. The company attracted small investors after it proposed to build a Niobium mine outside of Elk Creek, Nebraska. The project has yet to materialize. The stock languished in 2023 after joining the Nasdaq Stock Exchange. In the past year, the focus of the discussion among NioCorp shareholders shifted from the buzz about the prospects for a mine toward the under-performance of its stock.

The eighty-one year-old community activist and Sunday school teacher compared his campaign for Pete Ricketts’ Senate seat to David going up against Goliath in his opening speech. Love said his priorities as U.S. senator would include stronger gun control, more abortion access, and the creation of a robust farm bill.

.Senators introduced proposals to raise sales tax and eliminate exemptions to lower property taxes, and to tighten restrictions on foreign ownership of ag land.

The Legislature's Urban Affairs Committee advanced a proposal to shift control of north Omaha redevelopment funds, and legislative rules debate continued.

Sunday morning, the temperature in Lincoln fell to -18 degrees, making it the coldest day in the capital city since February 16, 2021. On that day, nearly three years ago, the temperature dipped to 31 below, contributing to rolling blackouts across the region.

Wind chills will dip as low as negative 30 degrees in Lincoln this week. That’s a looming concern for people experiencing homelessness. Nonprofits in Lincoln are encouraging people to seek refuge from the cold. People’s City Mission is opening its doors to everyone this week. Matt Talbot Kitchen and Outreach is open during the day.

CHI Health Center and Creighton University in Omaha set up a phone line to research long COVID across the state. They are also using the phone line to provide further care to those affected with continued symptoms.

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Nebraska Public Media remembers a visit Dr. King made to Lincoln, NE on December 30, 1964. From the stage at Pershing Auditorium, Dr. King spoke at the Methodist Student Movement Conference saying, “I need not pause to say how very delighted and honored I am to be here tonight and to be a part of this very significant conference.” Assigned security for Dr. King was 25 year old Lincoln Police Officer Al Maxey.

Due to the heavy winter storms this past weekend, some community resources have had to shift their plans

It’s been a busy week for Lincoln snowplow driver Brett Bratrsovsky. Lincoln is in its second snow emergency of the week, and Bratrsovsky has already worked multiple 12 hour shifts. He worked 16 hours on Thursday. While the early week storm had warmer temperatures and wetter snow, Friday’s accumulation has been colder and drier, making it easier to plow. But the wind is a problem.

The Nebraska Supreme Court ruled Janet Palmtag's defamation suit against the Nebraska Republican Party can go to trial.

The Nebraska Legislature began debating rules changes Thursday that some argued are necessary, and others criticized as an overreaction.

Sen. Merv Riepe proposed eased abortion restrictions in cases of fatal fetal anomaly, and the Rules Committe endorsed open elections for committee chairs.

The Nebraska Supreme Court is weighing who can legally help an expectant mother with the birth of her child in Nebraska. A pair of cases involving an unlicensed lay midwife triggered an appeal to the high court. District Court judges in Douglas and Madison Counties threw out charges against Judy Jones, an unlicensed lay midwife after she assisted in the birth of two babies in a home birth. The justices heard opposing points of view during oral arguments on Wednesday.

More than $120 million of state funds are heading to Omaha for the creation of a business park site and youth sports complex in the northeast part of the city. Governor Jim Pillen and Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert joined other civic leaders to make the announcement Wednesday. Nearly $90 million will help pay for land acquisitions and infrastructure development near Eppley Airfield, allowing private businesses to begin construction on the site upon completion.

League Builders Supply, a lumberyard and store in Stratton, Nebraska, is set to shut down in the coming weeks after owner Denis League retires. “I'm not going to say Stratton’s going to shrivel up and die, because I'm not here, but I don't think it's going to help anything,” he said. “And I feel bad about that, but there’s a point where you’ve got to take care of yourself and I think I’m there.”

Bills concerning reparations for slavery and abolition of tenure are among proposals to be considered by the Legislature.

Winter Storm Finn blanketed much of eastern Nebraska with snow over the last two days. Lincoln and Omaha each saw around 5 inches of snow Monday and Tuesday, while other parts of the state saw upwards of one foot. A spot near Daykin, a village in Saline County, had the storm’s highest measured snowfall in the state of 14.5 inches, according to the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network.

Gov. Jim Pillen endorsed a 40 percent property tax cut Monday but did not offer a specific plan for how to achieve that.

A new resource for Nebraskans working to become U-S citizens is now available in Crete. Nebraska Public Media’s Kassidy Arena reports it was created due to an increased need in the community.

Senators introduced proposals dealing with the death penalty and degree requirements, while preparing for an upcoming debate on how they conduct business.

Local Native American advocates and a fish farm owner settled a series of court disputes against the city of Lincoln on Thursday. Advocates opposed a housing development the city approved back in spring 2022. The Wilderness Crossing Development is planned to be created next to sacred Native American prayer grounds, called the Niskíthe Prayer Camp.

The Nebraska Legislature began its 2024 session Wednesday with a mixture of hope and apprehension about doing the state's business

The U.S. Department of Education is slowly releasing this year's FAFSA form after a two-month delay due to changes from the FAFSA Simplification Act. One student managed to get in and complete his application among technical difficulties.

Nebraska has begun buying land in Colorado for the proposed Perkins County Canal.

On Monday, Nebraska’s minimum wage increased to $12 an hour, making it the 18th highest state minimum wage in the country and one of 25 states increasing its minimum wage this year. In 2022, Nebraska voters passed an initiative raising the minimum wage from $9 an hour up to $15 an hour by 2026, increasing by $1.50 each year. After that, the wage will be adjusted in accordance with cost of living increases.

Santa Claus is about to come to town, but some families in the Lincoln metro area need some extra help. Center for People hosts Toyland, an event for families to fill up their stockings and put presents under the tree free of charge.

At an open house in Ogallala, residents of western Nebraska and Colorado had reactions ranging from enthusiasm to skepticism about plans for the Perkins County Canal.

In 2024, Nebraska state senators will decide what they want to do about fiscal and social issues, but also how they want to govern themselves.

Reporter Jolie Peal talks about first year covering education for Nebraska Public Media.

This holiday season, Nebraska Public Media is reflecting on stories and topics our newsroom has covered over the past year. Nebraska Public Media's Dale Johnson sat down with reporter Elizabeth Rembert to hear about her year covering agriculture and rural communities through our partnership with Harvest Public Media.

This holiday season, Nebraska Public Media is reflecting on stories and topics our newsroom has covered over the past year. Our team is made up of ten reporters, each one with their own beat. A beat is a genre of event-driven journalism where a reporter focuses on a particular issue, sector, organization, or institution over time. For example, typical beats include police, courts, government, business, and schools. Reporter Aaron Bonderson joined Nebraska Public Media in 2021 as an intern and started full-time in 2022. He is a Report for America corps member - the first at Nebraska Public Media. Aaron's job includes giving voice to underserved communities and people around the state. He also has a passion for sports. In 2023, one of the most memorable stories for Bonderson was Volleyball Day in Nebraska. Bonderson sat down with Dale Johnson to reflect.

Seventy-three counties in Nebraska are below the national average ratio of registered nurses to patients. That’s according to a Nebraska Hospital Association report. Nebraska Public Media reports on how the nursing shortage affects seniors in rural parts of the state.

This holiday season, Nebraska Public Media is reflecting on stories and topics our newsroom has covered over the past year. Nebraska Public Media's Dale Johnson sat down with new senior reporter Kassidy Arena to hear about what brought her back to the state and the type of reporting she'd like to focus on.

The Texas Longhorns swept the Nebraska Cornhuskers at the NCAA Volleyball National Championship in Tampa Sunday afternoon. Nebraska and Texas battled back and forth throughout the first set, but the Longhorns eventually pulled away, winning 25-22.

Gov. Jim Pillen's adminstration's consultant is to identify budget savings of 3% this year and 6% next.

Following a dominating victory over Pittsburgh on Thursday, the Nebraska volleyball team has earned a place in the National Championship match. The Huskers will take on Texas on Sunday at 2 p.m. The match will air on ABC. It’s the first college volleyball game broadcast on the network. Nebraska, who is seeking its sixth national title, is the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament after an impressive regular season and postseason run.

A woman in Lincoln is finding ways to grow her business by participating in local classes with ECHO Collective and Doane University.

Communities in western Kansas are trying a new AI tool to help them target economic growth and hopefully fight long-term trends of population loss.

The Nebraska Cornhuskers volleyball squad competes in the national semifinals on Thursday night against the Pittsburgh Panthers. Two more wins would give the Huskers its sixth national championship. Nebraska Public Media television sports producer Brock Lohr is in Tampa, Florida — the site of the Final Four. Nebraska Public Media’s Aaron Bonderson spoke with him about the turnout and excitement from the Nebraska faithful.

Generations of Native Americans have experienced historical trauma, due to centuries of mistreatment. One group of intertribal women are taking the steps to heal through a new creative outlet.

Independent candidate for president Robert F. Kennedy Jr. spoke to a crowd of several hundred people at Lincoln’s Royal Grove Tuesday night. Kennedy spent much of his speech Tuesday talking about how a small number of investment firms, namely BlackRock, Vanguard and State Street, are taking away wealth from the American middle class.

Nearly seven years ago, Michael Galindo died following a mob attack during a riot at the Tecumseh State Prison. On Tuesday, a Saline County jury found fellow inmate Eric Ramos guilty of taking part in the murder. Shortly after the jury returned to the Saline County District Court Tuesday morning to resume discussions they returned a verdict of guilt to murder in the first degree, carrying a life sentence.

After February's freight train derailment and chemical fire in East Palestine, Ohio, Democrats and Republicans — including Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley — joined to push for the Railway Safety Act of 2023. But the legislation is likely dead, says one industry expert who calls it "a political stunt."

After a month-long trial involving hours of surveillance video and surprise testimony from Ramos himself, attorneys made their final arguments Monday morning. Ramos is charged with killing fellow inmate Michael Galindo during a prison riot at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution in 2017. Prosecuting attorney Corey O’Brien presented the state’s case and said the video evidence of Galindo’s death was enough to charge Ramos with first-degree murder.

Nebraskans in District Two now have a new group to help people in the state learn about policies that affect their cost of living.

State employee union members filled the capitol rotunda on their lunch break Thursday to express concerns with the governor’s order ending remote work next month. Nebraska Association of Public Employees executive director Justin Hubly said the union renewed its demand to bargain with the Pillen administration and has given them until December 12th to respond.

On a given night in 2007, the state’s homeless population was about 35-hundred people. Last year, that total fell to about 22-hundred. Lee Heflebower is the chair of the Nebraska Commission on Housing and Homelessness. She says a new strategy to rehouse people has streamlined the process in Nebraska.

Next year’s FAFSA is delayed due to changes required by the FAFSA Simplification Act. Typically, the application is available on Oct. 1. This year, the U.S. Department of Education announced the form will come out by Dec. 31. At Lexington High School, faculty are trying to help students prepare for the delayed release.

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen said the first year's results on his effort to reduce property taxes were not not what he hoped for.

No consensus has been reached on how to honor children’s remains if they are found at the Genoa U.S. Indian Industrial School in Central Nebraska. By sifting through old documents in 2021, the Genoa Reconciliation Project estimated that 100 children died at the school. Diseases were the main causes of death. According to Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs executive director, Judi gaiashkibos, the NCIA hosted a call with 40 Native American tribes across the country last Thursday. All of those nations had youth enrolled in the Genoa federal boarding school.

Over 100 billion pounds of food goes to waste every year in America. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm to Food Bank is trying to cut down on that waste by connecting local farmers and food pantries, but its future depends on how much funding is included for the program in the next farm bill.

The University of Nebraska Board of Regents heard concerns from the public about proposed budget cuts and approved the NU interim president at their meeting on Friday. With a $58 million budget shortfall looming, the university system has been searching for ways to cut costs. Current NU President Ted Carter said campuses conducted zero-based budget reviews that were due to his office on Dec. 1. These reviews are intended to look at administrative functions, like information technology and facilities.

For three weeks, jurors in a murder trial in Saline County District Court have been witnesses to a prison riot. Surveillance footage captured during the 2017 uprising at the Tecumseh Correctional Facility plays a central role in determining whether inmate Eric Ramos took part in the murder of a fellow prisoner. Bill Kelly with Nebraska Public Media has been in court for much of the trial. A transcript of his conversation with Morning Edition host Dale Johnson follows.

Expecting mothers during 32 to 36 weeks and adults 60-years-old and older should get the RSV vaccine, according to CHI Health doctors. Dr. Michael Schooff, primary care medical director for CHI Health, said RSV can have a severe impact on infants and older adults. “They can get into a bronchiolitis or a pneumonia. Deeper and more severe infections in the lung can lead to difficulty breathing,” Schooff said. “People might need to go to the ER. Sometimes people need to be hospitalized and have help with breathing during these illnesses. And yes, sometimes it is fatal.”

Summary: Indigenous women from throughout Nebraska and parts of Iowa have been sewing and working on traditional garments for six months—all leading up to a first-of-its-kind fashion show.

Nebraska schools are wrestling with the problem of cellphones distracting students.

Climatologists are predicting a warmer and wetter than average winter this year thanks to El Nino, a climate pattern of warm air over the Pacific Ocean. Eric Hunt with the Nebraska State Climate Office said despite warmer temperatures, Lincoln is likely to receive more snowfall than the previous two winters. “I would basically tell anybody Grand Island and east, and particularly South of the Platte, to prepare for more snow than what we've had in the last couple of years,” Hunt said.

Newly released state assessment scores show Nebraska’s schools improved this past school year. Across the state, 58% of students were proficient in English Language Arts, 61% in math and 70% in science. These numbers are higher than before the pandemic. “Hopefully we can build on this momentum and work with our schools to really address issues of high quality materials that we're seeing have an impact in our classrooms, quality instruction, and really continue to help teachers teach because as everybody truly knows, that's where the magic happens in education,” Nebraska Department of Education Commissioner Brian Maher said.

Two Nebraska educators received a $25,000 surprise this past week. The teachers caught the attention of a national organization because of their teaching methods and love for the job. “I could think of 15 other people before myself that would receive an award in this school because this place is just filled with the best educators in Nebraska,” Leslie McIntosh, one of the recipients, said. “I couldn’t believe it.”

The tradition of harvesting an evergreen for the official Christmas tree of Omaha is almost one-hundred years old. It’s a trek that used to start across the country, but has transitioned to a more local journey.

Supporters of a plan to replace Nebraska's income and property taxes say they're hiring a petition circulation firm to try and get on next year's ballot.

The University of Nebraska Board of Regents is looking for a new president to run the NU system. Chairman Tim Clare discusses the search, his recommendation for interim president and more. Clare said the application for the position is open for candidates. “We are now in a position where we're full steam ahead with trying to get candidates in," Clare said.

Northern Nebraska’s Santee Sioux Reservation is still without safe drinking water after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a no-drink order in 2019. But in recent weeks, some progress has been made. The Santee Sioux tribal council voted to pursue funding for a pipeline bringing clean water from South Dakota in September, but several bureaucratic and financial hurdles need to be cleared before safe drinking water becomes a reality in Santee once more.

Hundreds of high school band, orchestra and choir students from across Nebraska came together last week to perform at All-State in Lincoln. This year, almost 750 students made one of the four groups.

Eric Ramos, the man accused of killing a fellow inmate at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution in 2017, is back in court after his initial 2018 trial ended in a mistrial. Opening statements for Ramos’ second trial began Wednesday afternoon at the Saline County Courthouse in Wilber, Nebraska. The State of Nebraska charged Eric Ramos with first degree murder, use of a weapon and tampering with evidence in the death of Michael Galindo during a 2017 riot at the state prison in Tecumseh.

Homeschool numbers increased all over the country at the start of the pandemic. Studies show many states have sustained that uptick. But Nebraska has a different story.

U.S. Department of Agriculture officials say a continuing resolution dodged the worst case scenario for food assistance programs if the government shuts down Nov. 17. Still, food advocates warn that Congress needs to act quickly and do more to make sure programs are fully funded.

“We felt as though silence would be better than making an attempt at words that might fall short," Rev. Sarah Rentzel Jones, who works at Countryside Community Church on the Tri-Faith campus, said. A church, synagogue and mosque sit on the Tri-Faith campus. The three communities are trying to support each other through the impact of the Israel-Hamas war.

Sen. Pete Ricketts wants to exempt military retirement from federal income tax, but most veterans would not benefit.

Entomologists say insects are declining at alarming rates — one major study estimates we’re losing 2% in total insect biomassevery year. Now, the National Academy of Sciences is preparing to embark on a study to understand insect trends across North America.

Since the 2018-19 school year, the Hazelwood School District has sharply increased its rate of investigating student residency eightfold, deploying a team of employees who can use intrusive tactics.

Before Abigail, no one had ever competed in wheelchair cross country in the history of the state. At least not according to the Nebraska School Activities Association. But this fall, Abigail competed in four races alongside other junior high runners, each a little more than one mile long. She says her teammates have helped inspire her to not give up when she’s tired.

Election integrity experts, including Nebraska’s Deputy Secretary of State for Elections, Wayne Bena, testified at a U.S. Senate hearing about threats to election administration Wednesday. Senate Committee on Rules and Administration Ranking Member Deb Fischer of Nebraska said she hoped to find solutions to problems facing election officials and volunteer poll workers.

The Nebraska Department of Education announced a $2 million commitment to Nebraska Growing Readers, which will distribute books to early childhood centers across the state. Mary Jo Pankoke is the CEO of the Nebraska Children and Families Foundation which is partnering with the state. She said one of the goals of the program is to address book deserts. The book distribution began at Educare Indian Hill in Omaha, and will expand to 18 other sites statewide.

Intended to improve patient care in long-term care facilities, the regulation would require nursing homes to staff a registered nurse for 24 hours a day. Tim Groshans, CEO of the Burwell Community Memorial Health Center, said it would give them less flexibility to accept patients and adjust staffing levels to fit patient needs.

Thousands of competitors come to the American Royal Livestock Show in Kansas City, Missouri, each year to show their best livestock. The competition includes children as young as 7 years old, who take part in a long tradition of raising and showing their animals.

The Nebraska Economic Forecasting Advisory Board increased its projections for state tax revenue in the upcoming year, but the board is less optimistic about fiscal year 2025. The board now projects Nebraska will collect $6.445 billion dollars in state tax revenue between July 2023 and June 2024. That represents an increase of nearly $8 million dollars from the previous projection set in April 2023.

Former Scottsbluff Police Captain Brian Wasson surrenders his law enforcement certificates over theft and use of drugs.

In Lincoln, the crisis Voices of Hope is having their annual fundraiser this week. Nebraska Public Media’ shares more about the difference the organization is making.

Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers and dozens of others AGs across the country are suing Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook. The lawsuits allege that Meta intentionally designed its social media apps to be addictive to children and teens, taking advantage of psychological vulnerabilities to make a profit.

62 percent of volunteer fire departments surveyed in Nebraska say recruiting is difficult, according to a Nebraska Public Media survey. Some diverse towns in Nebraska may try to recruit more People of Color to fill those gaps. How are those efforts going? And, why is it important for the community be represented in the fire department?

In most rural communities throughout Nebraska, the firefighters and EMTs who respond to emergencies are all volunteers. But according to survey data from Nebraska Public Media News, recruiting and retaining members has become more challenging in recent years. Nebraska Public Media’s Brian Beach reports how generational bonds and creative solutions are keeping volunteer fire departments alive.

About two-thirds of Rural Nebraskans’ think a lack of civil discourse is a somewhat serious (33%) or very serious (32%) problem in America. That’s according to the latest results of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Rural Poll.

A move to give Speaker pro tem Patrick McHenry the full authority of Speaker of the House fell short in a Republican Conference meeting Thursday. Flood began Thursday morning joining Jim Jordan in support of a resolution that would give McHenry the full powers of the Speaker of the House through the end of November.

The University of Nebraska Board of Regents approved the 22-member search committee to find the system’s next president on Thursday. The committee scheduled listening sessions on all four NU campuses for next week.

Nebraska Congressman Don Bacon joined 21 other House Republicans Wednesday in not voting for Jim Jordan as Speaker of the House. Instead, Bacon voted for former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who was ousted by eight Republicans earlier this month. “He was really the best speaker we could have had,” Bacon said of McCarthy. “He had the experience, the staff. He's the reason we're the majority today.”

A board member of a natural resource district based in Norfolk has filed a federal lawsuit against the rest of the elected body claiming they violated her First Amendment rights. Melissa Temple claims the district brought illegal sanctions against her as part of a punishment for criticizing other board members.

Monarch butterflies travel hundreds and even thousands of miles in their migration to Mexico. Volunteer efforts to tag the butterflies have helped scientists learn more about their journey.

In his hometown of Casablanca, Morocco, Mohammed Sbai’s family felt tremors from the 6.8-magnitude earthquake that hit the country last month. Nebraska Public Media shares an update from one of the worst natural disasters in the last 60 years in Morocco.

Anyone who’s driven into Kansas City from the north has probably seen the swooping white steel fame of the Kansas City Current's new stadium going up. The team's new owners believe it can change women's soccer.

Proposed projects would add more than 3,000 miles of new carbon pipelines through rural parts of the Midwest. Some emergency officials are concerned about safety, especially after a rupture on a similar pipeline three years ago.

The Nebraska Supreme Court says the Department of Natural Resources can decide about a plan to divert water from the Platte to the Republican River.

It can be tough to find street and highway superintendents in many parts of rural Nebraska. Nebraska Public Media’s Aaron Bonderson reports on the issue of getting superintendents committed to living in remote parts of the state.

Nebraska Public Media and the Midwest Newsroom talked with teenage girl athletes about this moment in time and how they feel girls' sports have changed.

The town of Merriman, Nebraska no longer has its own ambulance service. The Sandhills Ambulance Service could no longer recruit enough qualified volunteers to transport emergency patients to local hospitals. The rescue squad served a 100 square mile area in the far-northwest corner of Cherry County. On Wednesday, the three-member board of Sandhills held a virtual meeting and voted to disband the service after a three-year-long effort to recruit capable Emergency Medical Technicians.

The University of Nebraska Board of Regents approved the start of a $450 million construction project that will change Memorial Stadium on Thursday.

Two Native American families have settled a lawsuit against the Cody Kilgore Schools with an agreement the district will no longer cut students' hair without the permission of parents. In 2020 an elementary school secretary cut the hair of the two girls during a check for headlice. The lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union maintained the Lakota Sioux believe long hair is a sacred symbol, only to be cut by select individuals. The school employee’s actions, it was argued, violated the Civil Rights of the students.

Nebraska’s three congressional representatives have voiced disappointment over Tuesday’s ouster of Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House. All of the House Democrats, along with eight Republicans led by Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, voted to remove McCarthy from the role.

Wildfires have become more common in Great Plains states. City outskirts and rural areas where cedars spread aggressively face some of the highest risks.

Nebraska's planning to build the Perkins County Canal at a cost of more than $600 million, but big practical and legal questions remain unanswered.

The FBI Omaha Field Office is working with the Omaha Police Department to find Cindy Valle, who went missing on August 26, 2011. She was 15 years old and five months pregnant at the time.

Farmers say Title One — a farm bill program that sends money when crop prices or harvests get low enough — isn’t working as a buffer against tough years. Yet others argue the nearly 100-year-old safety net is costing billions of dollars with few strings attached.

Nebraska's proposed Perkins County Canal could mean less water for Colorado farmers. But it could be a long time before the effects are clear.

Nebraska says its proposed Perkins County Canal is needed because of development in Colorado. Colorado officials say the canal won't stop development, but could hurt that state's farmers.

After a series of high-profile setbacks, a new mural in Lincoln hopes to provide a sense of hope to Nebraska’s LGBTQ community. Nebraska Public Media’s William Padmore talked with members of the community about how they see their situation and whether there’s hope for the future

Nebraska has revived plans to build a canal to bring South Platte River water from Colorado. But is the canal necessary, and will it deliver the promised benefits?

School bus drivers are in short supply nationwide, and Nebraska is no exception. Larger districts are still looking for bus drivers to fill positions. Smaller districts are managing to keep a full staff thanks to community members who are willing to step up. Nebraska Public Media's Jolie Peal reports on what could be contributing to the driver shortage in different areas across the state.

Food waste takes up space in landfills and produces methane, a powerful greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. Composting that waste can reduce climate impacts and save municipalities money on landfill fees, but concerns about bad smells and pests sometimes get in the way.

Homicide is a leading cause of maternal mortality, and experts say the problem is getting worse.

The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services is still having trouble finding enough employees, according to a recent report. Doug Koebernick, the state’s Inspector General of Corrections, says that as of June 2023, NDCS had 377 vacancies out of more than 2500 total positions.

Federally subsidized crop insurance made record-high payouts last year. While climate change is making farming more risky, the federal program often shields producers at taxpayer expense. Some argue it’s time that the fast-growing program encourages farmers to mitigate their risks.

Small rural communities often have to get creative to generate tourism and public interest. One central Nebraska town is hoping to do so by throwing avocados - really, really far

Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska are part of an emerging “extreme heat belt” that could deliver more scorching days within 30 years. So far, there’s no unified plan to make our dwellings safe in the dangerously high temperatures to come.

For the past four years, Santee has not had access to safe drinking water. And for four years, the tribe has been unable to afford the necessary infrastructure to fix the problem. “We’re supposed to be the greatest country in the world," Kameron Runnels, Santee Sioux Vice Chairman said. "Yet, we have a community right here in our state that can't even drink its own water.”

The Farm-to-School movement is out to revolutionize the humble school lunch with food grown on local farms. But the path from cropland to cafeteria is full of complicated twists and turns. A new wave of federal funding is trying to smooth the way.

Over 6,000 St. Louis-area child abuse and neglect cases remain open due to staff shortages

The Nebraska Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday on a proposal to divert water from the Platte to the Republican River

A fifth of reported heat-related deaths between 2017 and 2022 were agricultural workers, according to OSHA data. Many are calling attention to the under-reported impact of climate change on this group from heatwaves.

New Latin drag night a safe space for Iowans and Nebraskans following anti-LGBTQ bills

University of Nebraska-Lincoln students started classes this week, and Chancellor Rodney Bennett started his first school year leading them. The former president of the University of Southern Mississippi took over the role from Ronnie Green, who retired at the end of June. Nebraska Public Media’s Jolie Peal spoke with the new chancellor starting with the excitement around Volleyball Day.

The group cleaning up the AltEn ethanol plant near Mead has a pilot plan for cleaning up the mountain of pesticide sludge. Nebraska Public Media’s Elizabeth Rembert reports they’ll try moving it to a landfill near an Omaha suburb.

Memorial Stadium will be packed at the end of this month, with more than 90-thousand people expected to watch Nebraska’s best volleyball programs in action. Four teams will compete in the first-ever Volleyball Day in Nebraska. Record-breaking ticket sales highlight the significance of volleyball to the Cornhusker state. Nebraska Public Media’s Aaron Bonderson reports on how the sport got to this point…

Gov. Jim Pillen announced Thursday the state will build a new prison in northeast Lincoln.

A research team from multiple universities is developing technology that can detect salmonella contamination in a matter of minutes.

Journalists at the Marion County Record worked late into the night to publish their first issue since the widely-criticized raid. “SEIZED… but not silenced,” its headline read.

Experts worry hoarding is on the rise in Kansas amid a lack of support for those who struggle with it, straining families and communities.

Gov. Jim Pillen appointed Steve Corsi to head the Department of Social Services; some of Corsi's social media posts spark concerns.

Warm weather in the South and cold weather in the Midwest knocked out a significant number of the nation’s peach crop this year, leaving a shortage across the country.

Thousands packed Omaha’s streets on Saturday to celebrate Crawford after his win over Errol Spence, Jr. The latest triumph made him the first male boxer to hold all four major titles in two different weight classes.

Senior citizens who want to live in the same rural towns where they grew up face a growing problem ... how to get around. Unreliable transportation means many seniors have trouble shopping for groceries, visiting family and getting to medical care. However, there might be one solution.

Legal sports betting in Kansas came with mobile casinos that offer easy access to place wagers online. Experts say that also comes with a higher risk of addiction.

Members of Nebraska's congressional delegation talked about subjects including immigration, trade, ethanol, and partisanship at a meeting Tuesday.

May 5, 2023 is a day many residents of Franklin, Nebraska will never forget. That’s when tennis ball sized hail and heavy winds bombarded the Republican River Valley town of less than 1,000 people. By late July, roofing crews could still be seen throughout the town, working through triple digit temperatures to repair damage sustained several months ago.

A group of Midwestern shrimp farmers are on a mission to provide Americans with better-tasting, sustainable shrimp. The industry struggled during the COVID-19 pandemic, but farmers remain hopeful that indoor shrimp farming will come back stronger than ever.

Barbers from across Nebraska are sharpening their shears and queuing their clippers in preparation for the Battle of the Barbers event in Omaha. But, the event is shaping up to be much more than a simple contest.

An EF-1 tornado ripped through the town of Sutton Saturday morning. The storm didn’t lead to any injuries, but there was extensive damage to the town 70 miles southwest of Lincoln.

Over 700 teaching positions were vacant or filled with an unqualified individual last year, according to the Nebraska Department of Education. Other issues, like burnout and low teacher pay, are making it hard for teachers to stay in the classroom. An organization called Educators Rising is trying to help fill those positions by encouraging students to overcome these issues and become teachers.

The town of Winslow gained statewide attention for its plan to save the community from future floods by moving its uphill. However, the plan has almost ground to a halt, and while some community members support it, most cannot afford it, while others are actively fighting to keep the town where it is.

Elderberries are native to the Midwest, but the commercial cultivation of the crop is relatively recent, and saw a big increase during the coronavirus pandemic. That has the burgeoning industry wondering if its future is as a small, niche crop or something bigger.

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Willa Cather is one of the most celebrated American writers from the Midwest for her depictions of life in the great plains. This week and next, 25 academics from across the country are convening in Nebraska to critique her works and methods.

This year is the 20th anniversary of a Nebraska Army National Guard peacekeeping mission in Bosnia. At the time, a NATO-sponsored mission was rare for the Guard. Nebraska Public Media reports on the lasting impact of the so-called “Taskforce Huskers” mission.

A court hearing Wednesday considered the constitutionality of a law restricting both abortion and health care for transgender youth.

10% of Iowa’s Methodist congregations are leaving the church. The denomination is wrestling over the future of LGBTQ members and whether they can be clergy.

Dryness in the Great Plains began spreading east this year, affecting much of the Midwest and endangering crops, livestock and river transportation. Recent rains have been a god-send, but will it be enough to loosen the years-long drought?

The U.S. Department of Agriculture gave two companies the green light last month to produce and sell their cultivated chicken meat across the country. But it could still take years before people can buy the new meat at grocery stores.

The promise of $405 million will help connect more Nebraskans, but challenges remain.

In an effort to reach zero carbon emissions by 2050, the Biden administration is offering more tax credits for carbon capture sequestration and utilization. The program once expected to cost $3.2 billion now could exceed $100 billion.

Storm chasers of different ages and backgrounds explain why they chase storms, and how social media is transforming the profession

Congress expanded work requirements for food assistance during the debt ceiling negotiations, a move that would normally happen in the Farm Bill. Shortly before that, the state of Kansas made similar changes.

Abortion is still legal in Iowa a year after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the nationwide right to terminate a pregnancy. But just like this time last year, it’s not clear how long that will last. An Iowa Supreme Court order this month left only one thing certain—Republican lawmakers will try again to restrict abortion.

In 2020, a group of Nebraska ranchers and cattle feeders came up with a plan to establish their own meat plant. It’s a proposal to break away from the four massive companies that control the beef market. Three years later, they're working on construction and housing.

Hospitals across the country have recruited nurses from around the world to make up for U.S. labor shortages. But demand for international workers is delaying visas and slowing the flow of nurses able to come to Kansas.

Nebraska will receive more than $400 million in federal infrastructure funding to improve broadband access in the state.

A summer camp in Nebraska is trying to spark Native American students’ interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Twenty-seven middle school students from more than eight tribes in Nebraska and South Dakota toured the Aerospace Museum in Ashland, Nebraska, earlier this month.

Extreme drought, low levels in water towers may lead to complete sprinkler ban

University of Nebraska President Ted Carter speaks on tuition increases, politics in education and beer at Memorial Stadium.

For two years, federal funds have been available for states to extend postpartum health care from two months to a full year for moms on Medicaid. The policy is popular across the Midwest, with Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska all adopting an extension. Iowa remains hesitant.

The anti-abortion movement is contending with a growing faction that calls for abortion patients to be criminally punished.

Iowa was one of the first states to legalize same-sex marriage, years before it would be allowed across the rest of the country. During that time in between, couples flocked to the state to tie the knot, and in particular, one small town became a popular destination.

There’s a battle going on within the Nebraska Republican Party. In interviews gathered over months, both current and former officials within the NEGOP say incidents in Sarpy, Dixon and York counties are indicative of a statewide battle between longtime “establishment” officials and “far-right” newcomers.

Several groups of women over 50 are now playing competitive basketball. From Kansas to Iowa to Texas and beyond, these women openly admit they are “off their rockers.”

In April, a new lease agreement from the Bureau of Reclamation, who manages the land, requires the owners to remove the trailers from the lakes by Nov. 1, 2024.

The pallid sturgeons outlasted dinosaurs, but human changes to the Missouri River nearly wiped out the prehistoric fish. Some experts think the fish’s struggle could signal larger problems on the Big Muddy, especially as climate change accelerates.

Last fall the Mississippi River fell to low water levels when a flash drought exacerbated a dry spell in the upper part of the river’s basin. Soon it was more expensive for a grain company to send corn from St. Louis to New Orleans than it was to ship to China.

A growing legal movement to grant natural entities like rivers and forests legal rights is gaining traction in the U.S., and environmentalists are now setting their sights on the Mississippi River.

The Winslow Volunteer Fire Department began the process of burning down homes they once committed to protect. The Dodge County community intends to torch around 20 homes and businesses ruined by the massive flood of 2019 in an attempt to clear the flood plain and return the area to green space. Plans to relocate the town have stalled.

The Nebraska Legislature made big changes to the state's economic and social policies in its just-concluded session.

Between 2010 and 2020, Omaha lost 7,000 affordable dwellings for people making low incomes, according to a City Planning Department report called the Housing Affordability Action Plan (HAAP).

The bill allows prisoners who receive a 20 year sentence to be eligible for parole 2 years before their mandatory discharge date.

The Nebraska Legislature will end its 2023 session Thursday, with several of its major enactments facing legal or political challenges.

FOX’s “Farmer Wants a Wife” recently wrapped up its first season, and it got Harvest Public Media wondering what dating is like for farmers and ranchers. Turns out, dating in a small town isn’t always easy.

Kansas SB 180 will bring a host of changes, including limiting trans residents’ access to bathrooms. Much is still unknown about how it'll be enforced.

The Nebraska Legislature gave final approval Thursday to tax cuts and school aid increases.

The Nebraska Legislature passed tax-credit funded scholarships and advanced criminal justice reforms Wednesday.

Agreement appears near on some aspects of criminal justice reform, as Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh continues to slow down legislation.

The Nebraska Legislature debated photo ID requirements to vote, and Gov. Jim Pillen signed restrictions on abortion and health treatments for transgender youth into law.

The United Nations has declared 2023 the International Year of Millets — a type of small grain mostly grown in parts of Asia and Africa. The highly resilient and cost-friendly grains could make them the next crop for U.S. farmers in the midst of climate change.

The Nebraska Legislature gave final approval Friday to a bill restricting abortion and medical treatments for transgender youth.

This Thursday, Lincoln’s public transportation system will restore offering rides at night. Since last summer, StarTran and Paratransit, its service for people with disabilities, have stopped service at 7 p.m. Nebraska Public Media reports what the full service means to people who use Paratransit.

The Nebraska Legislature approved budget bills and wrangled over voter IDs, abortion and transgender health restrictions Thursday.

Nebraska state senators reflect on cowardice and incitement after their tumultuous debate on abortion and trans health restrictions.

Fifty years ago, the United States, North and South Vietnam, and the Vietcong signed a peace agreement in Paris ending America’s direct military involvement in the Vietnam War.

The Nebraska Legislature on Tuesday added abortion restrictions to a bill restricting health treatments for transgender youth.

Auctions —a marketplace for knick knacks, farm land and everything in between — are often also social gathering events for rural communities. That’s changing as more auctions go online.

The Nebraska Legislature gave second-round approval Thursday to bills designed to reduce income and property taxes, despite criticism that the cuts might not be sustainable.

The Nebraska Legislature debated the use of funds for needy families, and the size of the state's cash reserve Wednesday.

The company’s self-declared strategy is to buy single-family rental properties around the region, including North Omaha and in Council Bluffs. A Midwest Newsroom investigation uncovered neglect, aggressive evictions and rising rents where VineBrook moves in – mostly non-white neighborhoods.

The Nebraska Legislature gave second-round approval Tuesday to far-reaching changes in education funding.

The Hastings Ground Water Contamination site was the first Superfund in Nebraska. After 40 years of working with the EPA, the city has learned a lot.

Abortion will be debated again, and restrictions would be imposed on companies that use certain Chinese telecommunications equipment, under proposals discussed in the Nebraska Legislature.

It's a good amendment. We have to wait and see the actual amendment when it comes from Bill drafters. But if everything follows through with agreement, we should be in a good place.

The Wizard of Oz and Kansas have been inseparable since farm girl Dorothy Gale first skipped down the yellow brick road. But having an enduring image from the Dust Bowl 1930s might also hold Kansas back from what it wants to be today.

The Legislature Thursday rejected attempts to stop or scale back canal and prison projects.

The Nebraska Legislature debated a state budget for the next two years on Wednesday.

Efforts to try and keep teachers teaching, and to disrupt the so-called 'school-to-prison' pipeline, were debated in the Legislature Tuesday.

A proposal that would have prohibited most abortions after about 6 weeks of pregnancy fell one vote short Thursday in the Nebraska Legislature.

Nebraska’s school funding system has kept politicians, taxpayers and educators arguing for decades. It’s probably kept people confused for just as long. Nebraska Public Media’s Elizabeth Rembert decided she was tired of feeling like she was in the dark and asked some experts to explain the system.

The report from the Society of Family Planning also shows abortions via telemedicine have doubled in the U.S. after Roe v. Wade was overturned. Providers say constantly changing state laws leave patients confused about where they can access reproductive care.

In extremely rare cases, bird flu can infect and kill cats and dogs when the pets eat birds with the disease.

Nebraska health care advocates say there aren’t enough home health care professionals in the state. Since the start of the pandemic, it’s estimated that 33 percent more Nebraskans are being referred to health care at home because of the overcrowding at hospitals. That’s according to Janet Seelhoff, Executive Director for the Nebraska Association of Home Healthcare and Hospice.

A complaint that Sen. Megan Hunt failed to disclose a potential conflict of interest sparked emotional debate in the Nebraska Legislature.

The Nebraska Legislature gave first-round approval Tuesday to a bill requiring gas stations to sell E-15 gasoline, and Gov. Jim Pillen signed into law a bill allowing Nebraskans to carry concealed weapons without a permit.

It's harder for Kansans to get liver transplants than it used to be, highlighting inequities in a system that doctors say has always been unfair.

Across the Midwest, some city codes threaten people with fines for having milkweed on their property. But experts say many places have dropped those rules to support monarchs with urban and suburban butterfly gardens.

Self-control, love and forgiveness are just a few of the virtues discussed at Eid al-Fitr, a Muslim holiday. About 2,000 people gathered in the early morning in Southwest Lincoln on Friday.

The Nebraska Legislature is considering requiring gas stations to install E-15 pumps.

The Legislature gave final approval today/Wednesday to a bill allowing Nebraskans to carry concealed weapons without a permit.

Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh discussed cash for needy families, broccoli, and hostas in the Legislature Monday.

The Biden administration wants the U-S carbon footprint to be at net zero by 2050. As part of that goal, the federal government is offering big incentives to remove carbon dioxide -- including from ethanol plants. There are three major pipeline proposals that would capture CO2 from ethanol plants around the Midwest and store it underground. The ethanol industry is fully on board, but others question the climate benefits.

Proposals to help hospitals and nursing home patients were slowed by a filibuster Friday in the Legislature.

Proposals to help hospitals and nursing home patients were slowed by a filibuster Friday in the Legislature.

The Nebraska Legislature gave second round approval Thursday to prohibitions on surgery, hormones and puberty blockers for transgender youth, but only after the chief sponsor agreed to negotiate about changes before a final vote.

A new report from the Environmental Working Group found targeting the U.S. Department of Agriculture's conservation funding to the Mississippi River region would have huge benefits to water quality and the climate.

These parts of the country are also where the number of severe events are steadily increasing.

The Nebraska Legislature voted 33-16 Tuesday evening to prohibit most abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy.

Opposition to a ban on health treatments for transgender youth continued to slow the Nebraska Legislature Tuesday.

Dale Johnson Interviews Senator Pete Ricketts and talks WOTUS and SNAP Benefits.

Elevated Access recruits hobby pilots to fly abortion patients out of states with bans. They offer a window into the increasingly scrappy tactics of abortion rights groups in a post-Roe America.

The Nebraska Legislature's Appropriations Committee on Thursday endorsed building a new, $350 million prison.

Senators in the Nebraska Legislature are combining bills to get things done in a session that's so far been characterized by filibusters.

The Nebraska Legislature gave first-round approval Tuesday to a bill making big changes in how the state finances schools.

The Nebraska Legislature gave first-round approval Monday to a package of property tax changes.

After the end of pandemic-era free meals, schools are reporting rising school meal debt and fewer kids in their free and reduced price programs.

The Nebraska Legislature on Friday began debating a bill designed to lower property taxes and advanced a measure to coordinate broadband expansion.

The Nebraska Legislature gave first-round approval Thursday to a series of income tax cuts.

Three finalists for Nebraska Commissioner of Education publicly interviewed with the State Board of Education today/Thursday. Either Brian Maher, Summer Stephens, or Melissa Poloncic will be the next Commissioner of Education.

The Education Committee advanced big changes in school funding, and the full Legislature began debarting income tax cuts Wednesday.

Nebraska lawmakers gave second-round approval Tuesday to a bill allowing the carrying of concealed weapons without a permit.

The Nebraska Legislature voted Tuesday to suspend its rules in an attempt to speed up business; senators on the losing side claimed it was an effort to stifle minorities.

The Nebraska Legislature discussed improving mental health services, as fallout from this week's debate on trans health treatments for youth contiinued.

Young Americans are becoming less religious. That is the conclusion UNL sociology professor Philip Schwadel has made from his research into the topic. A decline in religious affiliation isn’t just an interesting thing to note, it has a broad societal impact. Nebraska Public Media’s William Padmore spoke with Schwadel about the trend ahead of a public lecture he will deliver on the topic March 30.

The Nebraska Legislature gave first round approval Thursday to a ban on surgery, hormone treatments and puberty blockers for Nebraskans under age 19.

In parts one and two of our series on esports, we analyzed why colleges in Nebraska are rushing to create teams and what the players get out of the experience. Today we explore what esports opportunities are available for Nebraskans who don’t play on a team.

Personal and policy arguments highlighted the Nebraska Legislature's second day of debate on treatments for transgender youth.

Rural areas are losing grocery stores to consolidation faster than their urban counterparts — but some communities have come up with innovative solutions.

The United States Air Force is on the verge of purchasing hundreds of acres of land in Nebraska, Wyoming and Colorado as part of its plan to modernize its land-based nuclear missile force. The project replaces Minuteman III missiles, in service since the early 1970s, with a new class of Sentinel nuclear weapons. Public meetings are being held to share information about the lease and purchase of additional land to accommodate huge new telecommunication towers.

The Nebraska Legislature began debate Tuesday on a proposal to prohibit surgical or medical treatment to help young people with gender transitioning.

In part one of our series on the growth of Esports in Nebraska, we explored why colleges in the state are rushing to create esports teams. Today, we explore the question of what’s in it for the video game players filling teams’ ranks. Spoiler Alert: Money is a big factor, but not the only one.

In part one of our series on the growth of Esports in Nebraska, we explored why colleges in the state are rushing to create esports teams. Today, we explore the question of what’s in it for the video game players filling teams’ ranks. Spoiler Alert: Money is a big factor, but not the only one.

Gering, Nebraska, will host the first gravel cycling national championships in September. This event through USA Cycling will bring potentially thousands of cyclists to the area for a 131-mile bike race around the area's landmarks.

People who use public transportation in Lincoln aren’t able to get rides after 7 p.m.. The change took effect on Aug. 18, 2022. The lack of evening rides affect all people who use public transit in Nebraska’s capital city. However, that especially interferes with the independence of people with disabilities.

People who use public transportation in Lincoln aren’t able to get rides after 7 p.m.. The change took effect on Aug. 18, 2022. The lack of evening rides affect all people who use public transit in Nebraska’s capital city. However, that especially interferes with the independence of people with disabilities.

Esports, or playing video games competitively, is the newest sensation sweeping the nation and Nebraska is no exception. At both the collegiate and high school levels, it seems Nebraska schools are all in. This is part one of a three-part examination on the growth of esports in the state.

Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh ended her filibuster protesting a ban on medical treatments for transgender youth, while one dealing with transgender athletes will remain in committee.

Sen. Merv Riepe proposes to have restrictions take effect after 12 weeks

Speaker John Arch said he won't avoid scheduling bills just because opponents are filibustering to stop them.

Sen. Terrell McKinney accused the Department of Correctional Services of not maintaining the Nebraska State Penitentiary to create pressure for building a new prison, a charge the department denied.

Sen. Terrell McKinney accused the Department of Correctional Services of not maintaining the Nebraska State Penitentiary to create pressure for building a new prison, a charge the department denied.

Legislation is being proposed at the federal and state level to restrict foreign ownership of farmland, especially by China. The scrutiny comes after a Midwestern project was scuttled by military concerns and the flight of a Chinese spy balloon across the U.S.

The Nebraska Legislature's Executive Board held a public hearing Thursday on Sen. Steve Erdman's proposal to return to a two-house legislature.

The grief and heartache caused by two major earthquakes in Turkey and Syria hasn’t stopped at their borders. The tragedy has killed at least 50,000 people and has left millions of survivors homeless in the two nations. But, its impact is felt all over the world. One Lincoln man was personally affected.

While food prices won’t rise as sharply in 2023, they could still increase about 8% over last year’s rates, according to forecasts from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The Nebraska Legislature gave first-round approval to a bill authorizing tax-credit-funded scholarships to private and religious schools.

On Feb. 17, 2017, Joe and Sarah Dudley were getting ready for a late Valentine’s Day celebration when Joe started complaining about feeling sick. He had a bad headache. “So I told him to go lay down, and we’d just celebrate another time,” Sarah said. Shortly after, Joe started running a high fever – 103.6 degrees. He could barely walk, so Sarah brought him to an urgent care clinic in Des Moines, Iowa. The physician’s assistant on duty diagnosed Joe with the flu – despite a negative test – and sent him home. He was too weak to walk out of the clinic. “They brought a guy back with a wheelchair, put a gurney bill down and physically put him in the wheelchair – physically sent him home,” Sarah said. Joe got sicker, and two days later, ended up in the emergency room. At the hospital, doctors told Sarah that Joe didn’t have the flu. It was much worse. He had bacterial meningitis, which by then was on track to cause permanent brain damage. Sarah watched it unfold over the next few weeks. Joe had three strokes – two while hospitalized in the intensive care unit. “When he was actually able to come out of it, he had to relearn to walk, relearn to talk. [He had] permanent nerve damage on his right side, lost his hearing,” she said. Sarah said the illness drastically changed Joe. The man she married was calm and avoided conflict. The one who left the hospital became prone to anger and bouts of paranoia. “You never know what mood he's going to be in, or what's going to set him off, and there's no cure for it,” she said. Shortly after, the Dudleys decided to pursue a medical malpractice case against the clinic. The case took up the next six years of the Dudleys’ lives. The case went to trial in late 2022 after the Dudleys could not reach a settlement with the clinic’s insurance company. A jury last November awarded the Dudleys $27 million in non-economic damages for Joe’s initial misdiagnosis and the lifetime of support he will likely need for his brain injury. The clinic has appealed the case, so the Dudleys have yet to receive any money. When – or if – they do, Sarah said much of the award will go toward Joe’s medical care in the future. “With his brain injury, he's going to go downhill pretty quickly – dementia, it's going to come eventually,” she said. If the Dudleys were to pursue their case now, under a new Iowa law, their outcome would look much different. Iowa joined most Midwestern states, including Missouri, Kansas and Wisconsin, when it passed a law in February putting a hard cap on non-economic damages that can be awarded by a jury for medical malpractice. Iowa’s new law caps non-economic damage jury awards at $1 million when an independent clinic is involved, like in Joe Dudley’s case. For hospitals, the limit is $2 million. Starting in 2028, that cap will increase by 2.1% each year. The law also created a task force to make recommendations to reduce medical errors. https://www.iowapublicradio.org/state-government-news/2023-02-16/iowa-governor-signs-cap-on-medical-malpractice-damages-for-pain-and-suffering https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=90&ba=HF%20161 The health care industry has long pushed for these caps on damages awarded for things that can’t be assigned a monetary value — like pain and suffering. They claim the caps help clinics stay open by avoiding sudden high-dollar financial blows while helping to attract much-needed health care providers. But some question whether these caps help – or hurt – Midwesterners seeking justice for medical errors. ‘It sucks to be sued’ The Dudleys case was one of two high-dollar medical malpractice jury awards that grabbed headlines in Iowa last year. The other was a nearly $98 million award to an eastern Iowa couple whose infant sustained extensive brain damage from a botched delivery. About half that award was non-economic damages. It’s believed to be the highest payout in state history. https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/health/2022/03/22/mercy-hospital-iowa-city-medical-malpractice-lawsuit-kromphardt-jill-goodman-97-million-verdict/7129763001/ These cases are one of the reasons the health care industry has sought hard caps on non-economic damages. Andy Conlin, a lobbyist for the Iowa Independent Physician Group, shared his opposition to the bill at a subcommittee hearing on the bill in January. “You never know when you're going to end up…seeing one of these, these judgments come down the pike and really negatively impact your facility, maybe even put your facility out of business,” Conlin said. However, these high-dollar jury awards are exceptionally rare in the U.S. For the past six years, Iowa has averaged 160 medical malpractice case filings a year. They make up a fraction of a percent of the average 666,000 civil cases filed in the state, according to the Iowa Judicial Branch. https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/FN/1368141.pdf The vast majority of medical malpractice cases don’t go to trial because they either get dismissed by a judge or reach a settlement before. From 2018 to 2022, just 48 cases in Iowa ended up before a jury, and of those cases, juries ruled in favor of the plaintiff – people like the Dudleys – seven times. [Source: Iowa Judicial Branch spreadsheet] These big awards aren’t the health care industry’s only concern. They say caps also lower the rate of increasing medical malpractice insurance premiums and help to entice badly-needed doctors to Iowa’s rural areas. Mikayla Brockmeier, a third year medical student at Des Moines University, helped lobby for the caps. Brockmeier said before Iowa passed its law, she and other med students were seriously considering leaving Iowa to practice in neighboring states like South Dakota, which has a non-economic damage cap of $500,000. “If you do not feel like you have the support of the state, then honestly, it makes it really incredibly hard to practice,” she said. But opponents say caps do little, if anything, to help the growing financial and staffing challenges the health care industry is facing. “I think the story here is pretty simple. It sucks to be sued. It's really not fun,” said Charles Silver, a law professor at the University of Texas at Austin who has studied the effects of Texas’ non-economic damage cap extensively. https://law.utexas.edu/faculty/charles-m-silver/ Texas passed a constitutional amendment in 2003 that capped non-economic damages at $250,000 for an individual. https://www.texmed.org/TexasMedicineDetail.aspx?id=58464 The Texas Medical Association claims the move has since brought more licensed physicians into its rural areas. https://app.texmed.org/tma.archive.search/5238.html Silver said his research contradicts this claim. https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3309785 “If you have a growing population, you need to control for that,” he said. “And when you control for that, in Texas, what you find is that the physician population actually grew slightly more slowly after tort reform than before.” Federal projections of obstetricians and gynecologists, or OB-GYNs, in the Midwest also paint a conflicting picture of this concern. OB-GYNs have one of the highest rates of medical malpractice claims. https://iid.iowa.gov/documents/med-mal-report-2021 According to federal figures, by 2030, Iowa, Kansas and North Dakota — states with non-economic caps — are projected to have the greatest shortage of OB-GYNs in the Midwest, while Illinois, a state with no caps, is among states projected to have more than enough OB-GYNs. https://bhw.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/bureau-health-workforce/data-research/projections-supply-demand-2018-2030.pdf It’s also unclear how much influence caps have on premium rates for medical malpractice insurance. According to the Medical Liability Monitor, Iowa had the fifth-lowest average premium rate in the country in 2022. [Source: Spreadsheet from Iowa Justice Association] Minnesota, which has no caps, had the lowest average rate in the country. While Illinois, another with no caps, had the second-highest rate. A 2003 Government Accountability Office report studied the reason for a sharp increase in medical malpractice premiums in the early 2000s, which sparked tort reform policies in places like Texas. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-03-702/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-03-702.htm It found several factors played into the increasing premiums, including the fact that insurer losses on malpractice claims had increased overall in the past decade, but other significant factors had nothing to do with the liability system. They included the fact that insurance companies had recently taken a financial hit on their investments and also that the number of companies competing in the medical malpractice marketplace had dropped since the 1990s. There’s no clear consensus from research on how non-economic damage caps affect things like premium rates and physician recruitment, said Robert Leflar, a retired law professor at the University of Arkansas, who’s an expert in tort reform. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0012369213604791 But he said there’s one group that clearly benefits from the caps: “the insurance companies who have smaller payouts and who have less risk of huge payouts.” The Iowa Insurance Institute did not respond to requests for an interview. Leflar said it’s also clear who is hurt by caps. “The seriously disabled people,” he said. “The people who suffer through a lifetime of paralysis or pain and the family members of disabled people who have to give up a lot of their lives to take care of them.” Damage caps can make it harder for such people to sue because medical malpractice lawyers will be less likely to take on their pricey cases with less payout, Leflar said. ‘There’s not much left’ Roxanne Conlin, the Dudleys’ attorney, said it’s likely she wouldn’t have been able to take their case now, as the total payout

A debate in the Nebraska Legislature over taxpayer funded scholarships to private and religious schools turned personal Tuesday.

The Nebraska Legislature began debate Monday on a proposal to authorized tax-credit-funded scholarships to private and religious schools.

A Nebraska mosque is trying to help with recovery from two major earthquakes that struck Turkey and Syria in February.

A new study shows a threefold increase in Midwest farm acres using the offseason crops to help protect the soil and reduce runoff, but it still makes up less than 8% of all farmland.

The Nebraska Legislature advanced a proposal to let people carry concealed guns without a permit, and senators heard a proposal to let them serve three consecutive terms instead of two.

The Nebraska Legislature continued debating loosening concealed carry laws, while a proposal to let Ukrainian who fled the war drive in Nebraska appears poised to move ahead.

The Nebraska Legislature began debate Wednesday on a bill that would permit Nebraskans to carry concealed weapons without a permit.

Amid statewide low participation, even finishing a full season has become a win. With only eight players, the Nebraska City Lady Pioneers are pushing through.

The Transportation and Telecommunications Committee heard proposals to expand highways in eastern Nebraska, while Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh continued to slow things down over her objections to proposed restrictions on abortion and trangender treatements.

Rural America is not known for its public transportation. But as its residents get older faster than their urban counterparts, the need is increasing. Some communities are finding ways to provide rides.

The Legislature's Revenue Committee heard a proposal to give tax credits to organizations that provide help for pregnant women.

Sen. Brian Hardin of Gering is sponsoring a bill for $26 million in state aid for infrastructure costs around Kimball.

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen endorsed a bill that would allow the state to borrow up to $450 million to speed up road construction.

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen endorsed a bill that would allow the state to borrow up to $450 million to speed up road construction.

As small town populations decline, people in places like western Kansas look for ways to keep their rural farming and ranching lifestyle alive for the next generation. Some families think youth rodeo might be part of the answer.

The Nebraska Legislature considered arguments for and against a new prison and an opening prayer in discussions Tuesday.

Accurate weather information is important for farmers, emergency responders and researchers managing extreme conditions. But many monitoring networks are limited by unstable, patchwork funding.

The Nebraska Legislature advanced bills Thursday on subjects ranging from National Guard tuition and morale to regulation of pet insurance.

Carrie Jones appeared in court Wednesday as a suspect in the Laurel quadruple murder case. Prosecutors accuse her of encouraging her husband to kill a man whom she said was sexually harassing her, setting off three other killings.

The Nebraska Legislature spent Wednesday discussing appointments without reaching debate on substantive bills.

With the murder of Tyre Nichols last month, the national conversation has once again turned to police brutality and how to best prevent it. Nebraska Public Media's William Padmore speaks with University of Nebraska at Omaha Criminology and Criminal Justice Professor Justin Nix about state of policing in America today.

A proposal would deny universal service funds to companies using some Chinese telecommunications equipment.

Some senators resisted the renomination of Jim Macy to head the Department of Environment and Energy over the agency's record on the AltEn ethanol plant.

The child care gap across the country is more than 30%, meaning the need for quality child care far outweighs the supply — and it's worse in rural areas.

The Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee heard a proposal that would bar state and local governments from making contracts with businesses if they support a boycott of Israel.

The Legislature's Judiciary Committee heard proposals Thursday to legalize marijuana for medical purposes, decriminalize it, and legalize its sales and use.

Proposals to ban gender transitioning surgery or medicine for young people, and to prohibit police from deceiving them during questioning, were the subject of public hearings in the Nebraska Legislature Wednesday.

Deciding where to live, work and raise a family are some of the most important decisions people make in their lives. Here are the most important factors that draw people to Nebraska’s mid-sized cities.

The Legislature's Education Committee heard proposals Tuesday to give schools $1500 per pupil, and to significantly increase special eduation aid.

The operators of a “skill game” casino in North Platte have been accused of failing to pay more than $1.5 Million in taxes over the past three years. Mark and Bridget Haneborg, owners of the River Valley Casino, were charged last week following a year-long investigation by the Nebraska Department of Revenue. Court documents filed by the Nebraska Department of Revenue (NDR) claim their investigators determined the Haneborgs earned income of over a million and a half dollars from 2019-2021. The couple, filing a joint tax return, paid only a fraction of the estimated 170 thousand dollars due in taxes and interest, according to the arrest affidavit.

Genetically modified foods have been on supermarket shelves since the 1990s, but they’ve only required a label for the last year. The USDA says implementation and compliance with the program have been “successful,” while experts suggest consumers aren’t noticing the labels.

A proposal to value agricultural land by its income producing potential rather than market value got a mixed reaction at a public hearing Friday.

The trouble for Rolland Carroll started last fall. That’s when the 61-year-old said his apartment complex in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, informed him that his federal housing aid for his one-bedroom apartment had been reduced months ago. He owed more than $2,000 in back rent. “I was in shock,” Carroll said. “Like, how the heck could I owe this amount of money without you guys saying something months ago?” Carroll doesn’t own a car and works odd jobs through a local temp agency. He struggled to pay the back rent and come up with $339 for his portion of the monthly rent. “November and December – there had been hardly any work at all. So I was in a real bind,” he said. A few days after Christmas, his apartment complex filed to evict him. Carroll said he was worried because local shelters were full and he has many chronic health issues that cost money. “I'm diabetic. I have arthritis. I have asthma. I’m just a total mess,” he said. With the help of nonprofit Iowa Legal Aid, Carroll successfully got the case dismissed at his hearing in mid-January because his apartment failed to give him sufficient notice. Now, he said he’s still struggling to pay rent and his apartment continues to send him notices threatening to file another eviction. It’s taking a toll on his health. “I've been so darn stressed out,” Carroll said. “My mental health is really poor at the moment.” Eviction as a health issue With the end of pandemic-era housing support like eviction moratoriums and federal rental assistance, many Midwesterners face housing insecurity. Eviction filings in Iowa have been increasing for the past decade. After a short dip in 2020 and 2021, they hit a record high of more than 18,000 in 2022, according to Iowa Legal Aid data. The eviction moratorium issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ended in mid-2021. And Iowa – like most states – ended its federally-funded emergency rent and utility program last year. “Rent makes up a huge portion of the household expenses,” said Nick Graetz, a postdoctoral research associate with Princeton University’s Eviction Lab. “And it’s just been spiking at unprecedented rates during the pandemic. But rents have been outpacing wages for decades.” Since March 2020, the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment has increased 13% percent in Iowa, nearly 18% percent in Missouri and more than 26% percent in Indiana, according to the U.S. News and World Report. Eviction filings are trending upward in Indiana and Missouri, too. Facing eviction can take a huge toll on someone’s health, Graetz said. “The result is that people go from paying 60% of their income on rent to 70% of their income on rent, and sort of just have to absorb that cost by forgoing things like preventative health care, facing higher food insecurity, you know, things like that,” he said. According to a literature review published in the journal Social Science and Medicine, studies have tied eviction to depression, anxiety, high blood pressure and child maltreatment. A 2021 study published in the journal Pediatrics found women in Georgia who faced eviction during pregnancies were more likely to have children with lower birth weights. Chronic health issues or a health emergency can also put a renter at higher risk for eviction. “It's hard when you're trying to navigate something like that, “Graetz said. “Maybe [you] fall behind on rent, and then you can quickly get into this space where it becomes really difficult to avoid an eviction filing.” Possible legislative help Federal and state lawmakers have proposed a variety of policy solutions to combat evictions, including new tenant protections and expanding emergency rental assistance programs. Iowa lawmakers have allocated more than $300 million for tax credits to incentivize developers to build affordable housing. Minnesota lawmakers are considering a rent voucher program that could help 220,000 households. However, it’s often unclear which policies are most effective, said Katie Moran-McCabe, the lead law and policy analyst at Temple University’s Center for Public Health Law Research. “We often don't see those laws being evaluated,” she said. “So is the law working? Is it doing what it's intended to do? Are there any unintended consequences?” Nonprofit programs step up One growing solution has been eviction diversion programs, like the eviction diversion help desk program run by Iowa Legal Aid. The nonprofit launched the program in spring 2020, which placed an eviction help desk in the courthouse of Polk County, Iowa’s most populous county. Similar programs exist in Illinois and Missouri. The rapid rise in requests for eviction assistance compelled the Iowa Legal Aid to reshuffle its priorities, executive director Nick Smithberg said. “Basically, it's structurally changed our organization,” he said. “Where historically housing work was about a quarter of our caseload, it's risen to half.” Since 2020, the program expanded to five other county courthouses. Smithberg said he would like to see it in more. “I think that we're going to see a very, very disturbing time in the history of this state,” he said. “It's just an all-time record. I don't think people have seen the effects of something like this for a sustained period of time. And I think that it's going to be very eye-opening for a lot of folks when you start seeing people out on the streets.” Eviction is a civil proceeding, which means defendants are not constitutionally guaranteed the right to an attorney the way they are when facing criminal charges. In the Midwest, only a handful of cities in Ohio, Missouri and Minnesota legally guarantee renters facing eviction a right to an attorney. Most renters fighting evictions – who are disproportionately women, people of color and those with disabilities – rely on programs, like Iowa Legal Aid, if they’re available. Jon Biderman, an attorney with Iowa Legal Aid who helps run the eviction help desk at the Linn County courthouse in eastern Iowa, said his job is often to work out a deal with landlords so renters can have more time to come up with a plan. He wants to help tenants avoid adding an eviction to their record, which can make finding housing much more difficult. “Homelessness – being put out – is such a crisis for a person that if you're able to prevent that, or even buy them a week, that can really make a difference in a person's life,” he said. Other programs like the Health and Human Rights Clinic at Indiana University’s Robert H. McKinney School of Law have also shifted their priorities away from other health care-related cases, like access to insurance and affordable prescription drugs, to focus more on housing. “Originally we did mostly access-to-health care type work,” said Fran Quigley, a clinical professor at IU, who directs the clinic. “But during the pandemic, the most critical need we saw in our community was responding to housing.” Quigley said it’s going to take much more than eviction diversion programs like his to tackle this growing public health crisis. He said he’d like to see major policy changes, like stronger tenant protection laws and much more funding behind federal housing vouchers, to keep people in their homes. “We, as a nation, make a mistake of treating housing as a commodity and not a right,” he said. This story comes from a collaboration between Side Effects Public Media, based at WFYI, and the Midwest Newsroom — an investigative journalism collaboration including IPR, KCUR 89.3, Nebraska Public Media News, St. Louis Public Radio and NPR.

The publishers of the Flatwater Free Press filed a lawsuit asking the court to require the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) provide internal emails without charging tens of thousands of dollars for staff time to comply with the request.

The Revenue Committee heard proposals to lower personal and corporate income taxes, and switch community colleges away from using property taxes.

The USDA has reinforced oversight on organic certification and enforcement to prevent mislabeled products, in what advocates are calling the biggest update in decades.

Supporters and opponents of proposed abortion restrictions pack Capitol hearing.

Did showing jurors dozens of gruesome photographs during the trial of Bailey Boswell make it impossible for the woman to get a fair trial? Nebraska’s Supreme Court considered the question during oral arguments challenging the life sentence Boswell is currently serving in a state prison. She was found guilty of conspiring with Aubrey Trial to torture and murder Sydney Loofe of Lincoln in 2017.

The Flatwater Free Press, a Nebraska-based non-profit news organization, is suing the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy over a public records request related to nitrates in Nebraska’s waterways.

Supporters promoted proposals to build a convention center in Lincoln and to alllow more types of foods to be sold in farmers markets.

Nebraska legislative committees heard proposals Monday to deal with the teacher shortage.

The Environmental Protection Agency recently released new rules regarding the Waters of the United States that decide which bodies of water fall under federal protection. But a case the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule on soon throws those rules into question and could mean less protection for wetlands.

An attempt to change which committee will hear a proposal to restrict abortions falied again in the Legislature Friday.

The Nebraska Pheasant Restoration Act (LB 400), sponsored by Senators Tom Brewer and Steve Erdman, would set aside $500,000 in state funding for a “nest predatory program.” If passed, the bill would allow the state to pay hunters for the carcasses of 50 thousand predators, authorizing payments for ten dollars for every listed predator trapped or killed. Wildlife biologists question the effectiveness of programs linking predator reduction to increasing the number of game birds. They cite research indicating a lack of undisturbed nesting cover limits ring-necked pheasant populations.

Opponents of abortion won a preliminary skirmish in the Legislature Thursday, and the Judiciary Committee held a public hearing on allowing Nebraskans to carry concealed weapons without a permit.

Despite a spike in deaths from COVID-19 and fewer births, recent research suggests rural counties saw population growth during the first year of the pandemic. Remote work opportunities could have contributed to more people moving to scenic rural destinations.

Gov. Jim Pillen's State of the State speech produced mixed reactions among legislators.

If you're driving an electric vehicle west on I-76 from Nebraska to Colorado, the first opportunity to get a charge is in Julesburg, Colorado. That's a 130-mile stretch between Ogallala and Julesburg where there are no public, EV fast-charging stations. As KUNC's Rae Solomon reports, there's an increasing need for rural charging stations as the number of electric vehicles on the road rapidly increases.

Nebraska state senators have been doing a lot of just standing around and talking lately. Speaker John Arch says that's a good thing.

Post-COVID care centers have been popping up across the country as millions of Americans struggle with the aftereffects of the virus. The centers are typically in larger cities and can have months-long wait times.

A proposal to grant temporary teaching licenses to veterans got a mixed reaction in an Education Committee hearing.

Carrie Jones appeared in court ) to face allegations that she was involved in a quadruple murder in Laurel, a northeast Nebraska town of about 1,000. Prosecutors say she acted with her husband to carry out a crime that left four people shot to death in their homes last summer, but she didn't enter a guilty or not guilty plea.

A husband and wife accused of murdering four people in a small Nebraska town are scheduled to appear in court Monday. Nebraska Public Media’s Jackie Ourada spoke with reporter Elizabeth Rembert to catch up on the case before the hearing.

The Nebraska Legislature Thursday defeated a proposed rules change that would have banned guns from the Capitol.

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen proposed a wide-ranging package of tax cuts Wednesday.

There are 44 counties in the country with no grocery store at all, according to the USDA. Nebraska has 10 of them. Nebraska Public Media reports on how some towns are providing access to fresh groceries.

After the deadly bird flu hit egg-producing flocks, the supply of eggs shrank dramatically. That’s led to historically high prices for consumers.

Gov. Jim Pillen unveiled his proposed changes to state aid to schools, while bills were introduced on gender and photo IDs.

After decades of irrigation, the aquifer that makes life possible in dry western Kansas is reaching a critical point. Several counties have already lost more than half of their underground water. But a new plan could save more of what’s left.

Guns would be banned from the Nebraska Capitol and those under 19 would be prohibited from attending drag shows under proposals in the Legislature.

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen says he'll appoint former Gov. Pete Ricketts to the U.S. Senatte, and the Legislature's Rules Committee held a public hearing about proposed rules changes.

Opponents of abortion say they'll introduce a proposal to ban the procedure at about 6 weeks gestation.

In many rural towns, local hospitals are community fixtures. When they close, the entire community feels the ripple effects.

Senators hear about the need for a lot more housing, and a bill would allow casinos to be built sooner in western Nebraska.

Last October, wildfire sparked by an ATV consumed roughly a quarter of this living landmark in the heart of the Nebraska Sandhills. But in a man-made forest, officials say, there’s no roadmap for recovery

The Nebraska Legislature avoided a meltdown and approved committee assignments Monday.

States, local governments and internet providers have until Friday, Jan. 13 to challenge the Federal Communications Commission’s National Broadband Map. The map shows where service is and isn’t across the country.

Legislation and programs in states like Missouri and Nebraska are paving the way to welcome large livestock operations by limiting local control over the facilities. Some rural residents worry about the potential pollution and decreased quality of life that will bring.

Democrats in the officially nonpartisan Legislature said they were being denied their desired committee assignments as bill introductions continued.

Doug Peterson talks about scheduling an execution, the future of the death penalty, and his decision to take on the Biden Administration and Big Tech in the federal courts.

Jim Pillen has been sworn in as Nebraska's next governor. The former Board of Regents member and pig farmer said in his speech that he plans to embrace limited government and fiscal conservatism.

Jim Pillen was sworn in as governor, and senators began introducing legislative proposals Thursday.

The Nebraska Legislature began its 2023 session Wednesday, with talk of unity but hints of battles to come.

Nebraska innovators and entrepreneurs offer advice, perspective. Part of the Nebraska Public Media "What If..." project.

Commissioner of Education, Matthew Blomstedt stepped down from his role on Tuesday, January 3rd. Nebraska Public Media spoke with him about his experience as commissioner during a particularly chaotic time and what it all means going forward.

The 2023 Nebraska Legislature has big opportunities based on the state's fiscal health, but could also be gridlocked by partisan wrangling.

Nebraska Public Media News reporter Fred Knapp interviews Gov. Pete Ricketts about his time in office and his future.

Beau Ballard, a former aide to Sen. Mike Hilgers, will be appointed to replace Hilgers in the Nebraska Legislature.

Last year, more than 5,000 Native women were reported as missing across the country. Murder is the third leading cause of death for Native women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Lack of rainfall and water restrictions are two early signs of the future that are causing water worries to bubble up in Lincoln. As drought plagues the state, and with climate change promising more of the same, there is a plan to have a second water supply in place by 2048.

Attorneys for Nebraska election officials across the state asked a Lancaster County District Court Judge to throw out a lawsuit claiming secretive billionaires and political elites controlled recent state and federal elections. Rick Hill of Lincoln sued Nebraska's Secretary of State, election commissioners in all 93 counties, and a private company, Election Systems & Software of Omaha, claiming they are part of a global plot.

Federal funding for agriculture research has fallen by a third over the past two decades, sinking to 1970s-era levels. Researchers worry that could hinder the country’s ability to maintain the domestic food supply in the midst of climate change.

For the first time, the state board voted Wednesday to say that Kansas shouldn’t pump the Ogallala aquifer dry to support crop irrigation. The underground water source has seen dramatic declines in recent decades.

There is a nationwide educator shortage and Nebraska is no exception. The Nebraska Department of Education reports last year there were 482 unfilled education positions in the state.

The South Beltway road project linking Nebraska Highway 2 with U.S. 77 and ultimately Interstate 80 by skirting the south edge of Lincoln opened Wednesday.

Black Americana” or “Black Memorabilia” are terms used to describe collectibles, usually from the early 1900s with African American themes. Today, such figures have become rarities and are openly for sale in Nebraska antique shops. Nebraska Public Media News explores the ethical value of selling what many would consider offensive relics of the past.

Russ Barger is demanding state election officials stage a recount by hand.Attorneys for the State of Nebraska dispute state law requires a hand recount. Hearing the case, Lancaster District Court Judge Kevin McManaman raised questions that reflected his skepticism about the unusual request.The judge will review the arguments and issue an opinion, but he did not indicate when that would occur.Russ Barger of Lincoln lost the general election in Legislative District 26 to George Dungan by 224 votes, or a difference of more than 1% of the ballots cast. State law only allows for an automatic recount if the margin falls under the 1% threshold. Barger's race does not meet that thresholdqualify, but he wants to pay for the recount with his own money.