Public News Service

According to the Center for American Progress,

Climate change worsens food insecurity in NE, U.S. and globally

By Kristi Eaton for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Deborah Van Fleet for Nebraska News Connection reporting for The Daily Yonder-Public News Se…

By the end of fiscal 2025, the number of unionized workers at USCIS locations in Nebraska and California will drop from almost 1,000 to slightly more than 300, according to the United Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers of America. (USCIS)

Union workers cry foul over layoffs at immigration service centers

Unionized workers with the federal agency responsible for processing immigration and asylum paperwork claim they are being forced to turn their jobs o…

On a 2023 Forbes ranking, only seven U.S. states had higher property tax rates than Nebraska. (Randy Runtsch/Adobe Stock)

NE policy org: Special session wrong venue for Pillen's tax overhaul

Nebraska legislators are in the first full week of the special session focused on Gov. Jim Pillen's goal of decreasing property taxes by as much as 50…

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

NE farmworkers, others face heightened risks of heat, humidity

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

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

NE college graduates fully certified Ford auto technicians

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

El instructor de Ford ASSET de Southeast Community College, Mark Berggren, con estudiantes. (Foto cortes�a de Southeast Community College)

Graduados de NE son técnicos de automóviles certificados por Ford

Una colaboración única entre la Compañía de Motores Ford y 41 colegios comunitarios y técnicos de todo el país está…

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

NE lawmakers consider tax credits for family caregivers

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

Commercial buildings in Winnebago, Neb., including headquarters of award-winning Ho-Chunk Village, and Ho-Chunk Village residential housing in background. (Sam Burrish/Ho-Chunk, Inc.)

Study credits diversification for Winnebago Tribe success

A new study calls the economic and social changes brought about by the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska over the past three decades "a story of numerous ac…

Of the 12% of Nebraskans reporting food insecurity at some time between 2020 and 2022, almost half of them reported experiencing

NE has until Jan. 1 to opt in to food assistance for 150,000 children

Roughly one in eight Nebraskans who have experienced hunger is a child. The state has a chance to help their families afford groceries, but must 'opt …

Among registered voters surveyed, nearly 90% of Democrats and 75% of Republicans believe support for unpaid family caregivers is important. (Andrea Piacquadio/Pexels)

NE Area Agencies on Aging support caregivers

November is National Family Caregivers Month, and many of the 200,000 Nebraskans who help care for loved ones with a health issue or disability could …

Aerial view of Winnebago, Neb., home of Little Priest Tribal College. It is one of 32 fully accredited Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUS) in the United States. (Jacob/Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

Little Priest Tribal College builds opportunity 'pipelines,' STEM workforce

Little Priest Tribal College in Winnebago says its student body and campus are growing - and so are its options for people to study in STEM fields…

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

Lack of Paid Sick Leave Disproportionately Affects NE Women

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

Homes in the award-winning Ho-Chunk Village on the Winnebago Reservation. (Photo by Jerry L. Mennenga, courtesy of Ho-Chunk, Inc.)

Winnebago Tribe's Ho-Chunk Village Wins Major Award, Serves as Model

Nebraska's Winnebago Tribe is considered a mid-sized tribe, but it's a big award winner. The tribe's Ho-Chunk Village housing development is one of …

The percentage of Nebraska children living in single-parent households has fluctuated between 28% and 30% since 2011. (Jacob Lund/Adobe Stock)

Despite #1 Rank for 'Economic Well-Being,' NE Parents Struggle

Nebraska children rank first in the nation for economic well-being in the Annie E. Casey Foundation's 2023 Kids Count Data Book, and eighth for …

The Center for Budget and Policy Priorities said the

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

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

According to USDA Economic Research Service, the number of U.S. agricultural workers on H-2A visas rose from under 50,000 in 2005 to more than 250,000 in 2021. Their average wage in 2021 was $13.00 an hour for just over 39 hours per week. (Photo credits: Alex/Adobe Stock)

Agriculture Worker Rights Program: Attorneys for Eligible Ag Workers in NE

With an average hourly wage of under $15 in 2021, many Nebraska agricultural workers would be hard-pressed to afford an attorney if they needed one …

Central Community College students with the school's mascot,

'Master of Puppets?' CCC Grants Scholarships from Metallica

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

Estudiantes del Central Community College con la mascota del colegio,

'Master of Puppets?' CCC concede becas de Metallica

El Colegio Comunitario Central de Nebraska es uno de los 32 centros de enseñanza superior que han recibido 100 mil dólares para otorgar beca…

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

REDI Act: Help with Economic Development for NE Small Towns

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

According to the American Council on Aging, the average

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More NE Long-Term Care Facilities Risk Closure Without Funding

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

A 2021 housing affordability study found a decent two-bedroom apartment in the Omaha and Council Bluffs market would require a minimum wage of $19 an hour, more than many essential jobs in the area pay. (Adobe Stock)

ARPA Funds to Build Affordable Housing in Omaha-Council Bluffs

More affordable housing is coming to a Nebraska market that really needs it. An Omaha nonprofit has partnered with the City of Omaha, and was …

In September 2022, SNAP benefits helped 156,000 Nebraskans with food security, up 1% from a year prior. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraskans Will Lose SNAP Benefits If Pandemic Eligibility "Sunsets"

Almost one in ten Nebraskans receives Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, formerly known as food stamps, but that could change …

En septiembre de 2022, los beneficios de SNAP ayudaron a 156 000 habitantes de Nebraska a alcanzar la seguridad alimentaria, un 1 % m�s que el a�o anterior. (Adobe Stock)

Habitantes de NE perderán beneficios de SNAP si "termina"elegibilidad

Casi uno de cada diez habitantes de Nebraska recibe beneficios del Programa de Asistencia Nutricional Suplementaria (SNAP), anteriormente conocido …

There are five types of childcare facilities licensed in Nebraska, although people can care for up to three children in a home setting without being licensed by DHHS. (Adobe Stock)

$66 Million Grant Aims to Reward Nebraska Childcare Workers

As a way to reward those who have stayed in the child care field, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services is offering $66 million in …

In January 2023, Nebraska will join a number of other states on a path to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour. (Adobe Stock)

Backers of NE Minimum-Wage Hike Address Concerns of 'No' Voters

On Nebraska's ballot initiative to increase the state's minimum wage by $1.50 per year between 2023 and 2026, 60% of Nebraska midterm voters said …

Western Nebraska is home to food deserts, where there is no easy way to get good, healthy food regularly, which disproportionately impact seniors in rural areas. (Adobe Stock)

Reimagining Ways to Get Struggling Nebraska Families Back on Track

With a new legislative session on the horizon and new legislators after the November elections, the Coalition for a Strong Nebraska is bringing …

Business owners who favor raising the minimum wage argue it will pay off in lower employee turnover, lower hiring and training costs, increased productivity, and better customer service. (Adobe Stock)

Small Businesses Back Minimum-Wage Initiative on Ballot

Nearly 300 Nebraska business owners and executives across the state have gone on record in support of ballot Initiative 433, which would gradually …

If voters approve Initiative Measure 433, once the wage reaches $15 an hour it will be adjusted every year to account for any increases in the cost of living. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska Voters to Decide Wage Floor for Workers

Ballots for the November election are headed to mailboxes across the state, and Nebraska voters will get to decide if the state's minimum wage should …

Si los votantes aprueban la Iniciativa de Ley 433, una vez que el salario alcance los 15 d�lares por hora se ajustar� cada a�o para tener en cuenta cualquier aumento del costo de vida. (Adobe Stock)

Votantes de Nebraska decidirán el sueldo de los trabajadores

Las boletas para las elecciones de noviembre se dirigen a los buzones de todo el estado, y los votantes de Nebraska podrán decidir si el salario …

Union representatives claim Amazon, as the general contractor and owner of a distribution site under construction, is responsible for all the work on their job site, and paying workers for installing conveyor systems. (Adobe Stock)

Amazon Workers in Nebraska Still Unpaid

Some 140 workers at an Amazon distribution center in Papillion have still not been paid for two weeks of work done in August. Dan Riskowski…

Nearly three in four Nebraska jobs that pay a living wage will require at least some postsecondary education by 2027. (Adobe Stock)

Cost Biggest Barrier for Native Nebraska Students

The biggest obstacle facing indigenous students in Nebraska completing college degrees is cost, according to a new collaborative study by the …

Nebraska lawmakers improved conditions for low-income families during the pandemic by expanding eligibility for SNAP, the program formerly known as food stamps, and providing support for child care. Both initiatives are set to sunset next year. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska Ranks First Nationally in Child Economic Well-Being

Nebraska ranks first in the nation when it comes to promoting children's economic well-being, a significant indicator under the spotlight in the …

Nationally, the residential long-term care industry has lost 235,000 workers since the onset of the global pandemic. (Adobe Stock)

Nursing Home Staffing Shortage Creating Backlogs for Hospitals

A new Economic Policy Institute report links staffing shortages in residential long-term care facilities in Nebraska and across the nation to low pay …

Climate scientists say pollution from fossil fuels must peak, and then begin to go down, within three years in order to avert the most catastrophic impacts of a warming planet. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska’s Onramp for Good-Paying EV Tech and Clean-Energy Jobs

Central Community College of Nebraska is putting students of all ages on a path to good-paying jobs in the state's growing clean-energy sector…

Small to mid-sized meat processors must operate as either a USDA-FSIS facility or a federally regulated custom-exempt slaughter and processing facility, while also complying with federal regulations, to qualify for a new grant program. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska’s Smaller Meat Lockers Challenged to Ramp Up Capacity

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for grants through the Independent Processor Assistance Program. Johnathan Hladik…

Students who complete a post-graduate degree or certificate are more likely to earn far more money over their lifetime than students with just a high school diploma. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska Struggles to Get Students Back into College

The COVID public health emergency forced many Nebraska students to put their college careers on hold. More than 300,000 Nebraskans have completed …

Loss of rural populations to urban centers has caused many hospitals in Nebraska to reconfigure their budgets. (Adobe Stock)

Keys to Keeping Nebraska's Rural Hospital Doors Open

Without federal intervention, a new report warns, rural hospitals across the United States, including many in Nebraska, could be forced to reduce …

Last year, top oil and gas companies announced an eye-popping $237 billion in profits. During the same period, executives from 28 of the top oil and gas companies made a combined $394 million in total compensation. (Adobe Stock)

Report: High Gas Prices Continue to Pad Oil and Gas Profits

As millions of Americans are struggling to fill their gas tanks, a new report shows that rising prices are padding the bottom lines of powerful oil …

Nebraska is one of just 12 states that taxes Social Security income, but the practice will be phased out by 2025. (Adobe Stock)

State Taxes on Social Security Benefits to Phase Out Faster

Older Nebraskans will be keeping more of their hard-earned Social Security benefits even sooner, after Gov. Pete Ricketts signed Legislative Bill 873 …

Se estima que cada d�lar gastado en los mercados de agricultores genera $3 en actividad econ�mica y tiende a permanecer en Nebraska, a diferencia de las cadenas de supermercados. (Adobe Stock)

Programa duplica dinero a participantes de SNAP en mercados de agricultores

Una señal de la primavera en Nebraska es el regreso de los mercados de agricultores locales, y las familias que participan en SNAP, el programa …

It's estimated that every dollar spent at farmers markets generates $3 in economic activity, and tends to stay in Nebraska, unlike at grocery chains. (Adobe Stock)

Program Doubles Food Budget for SNAP Participants at Farmers Markets

One sign of springtime in Nebraska is the return of local farmers markets, and families participating in SNAP - the program formerly known as food …

People new to Nebraska interested in starting their own business are frequently not familiar with how things such as zoning, employment law, tax codes and accounting practices can impact daily operations. (Adobe Stock)

Latina Women’s Business Conference Coming to South Sioux City

Registration is open for the Empowerment for Latina Women in Business Conference, set for May 3 in South Sioux City. Jessica Campos, director of the …

A recipient of guaranteed income from Springboard to Opportunities' Magnolia Mother's Trust, which gives $1,000 per month for one year to families headed by Black women living in federally subsidized housing. (Instagram/Springboard to Opportunities)

Guaranteed Income Seen as Path Toward Gender, Racial Justice

By Katie Fleischer for Ms. Media. Broadcast version by Emily Scott for Nebraska News Connection, Reporting for the Ms. Magazine-Public News Service …

More than one-third of women employed full-time report they do not have paid sick leave, and more than 65% do not have paid family leave. (Adobe Stock)

Survey: Bridging Gap in Women's Benefits Key to Filling Open Positions

At the start of the pandemic, women in Nebraska and across the U.S. were the first to exit the workforce. A new survey from the Institute for Women's …

Ending Nebraska's lifetime ban on food assistance for people convicted of drug felonies is projected to result in 23 fewer individuals recidivating, saving upwards of $1 million for taxpayers. (Adobe Stock)

Bill to End Lifetime Ban on Food Assistance Before Nebraska Lawmakers

Nebraska lawmakers are considering a bill to end a lifetime ban on federal food assistance for people convicted of federal drug felonies. Proponents …

Nebraska's current nurse shortage is expected to grow to 5,000 by 2025. (Adobe Stock)

Bill Would Tap American Rescue Plan Dollars for Nursing Scholarships

Nebraska lawmakers are set to hear a measure Friday which would tap unspent federal COVID relief dollars to help address what some are calling a healt…

A minimum-wage worker can afford $468 in rent per month, but market-rate one-bedrooms rent for at least $695 a month. (Adobe Stock)

Lawmakers Call for Coordinated Effort to Fix Affordable-Housing Crisis

Nebraska is not immune to decades of disinvestment in affordable housing, and a new measure making its way through the Legislature would create a …

Children who have reliable access to housing and nutritious foods are more likely to have better health and financial outcomes. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska Denies Emergency Assistance to 90% of Poor Families

Nebraska and other states are hoarding more than $5 billion intended for struggling families, according to new analysis. In 2019, for every 100 …

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PNS Daily Newscast: Afternoon Update - September 20, 2024

2024Talks - September 20, 2024

The Yonder Report - September 19, 2024

NE: Livable Wages/Working Families