A 2023 study from the University of Nebraska Medical Center concluded the number of Nebraskans with a mental health or substance abuse disorder has probably increased over the pre-pandemic level of 20%. It also observed 88 of Nebraska's 93 counties have a shortage of behavioral health professionals.

Nonetheless, the state budget now awaiting Gov. Jim Pillen's signature cuts $15 million from the Division of Behavioral Health's funding for the state's six Behavioral Health Regions, which distribute those funds to providers. Many advocates believe the cut is based on an incorrect conclusion.

Annette Dubas, executive director of the Nebraska Association of Behavioral Health Organizations, said because $15 million remained in the budget for the Regions, it was concluded the money was not needed. In fact, she said much of it was for projects and proposals awaiting Department of Health and Human Services approval.

"The problem is not that it's not needed; there's a problem with getting it out the door and into services quickly," Dubas explained. "Because we know the demand is there. And if it's not being spent, let's figure out why. That's what we want the governor to sit down and talk to us about, so we can figure out where the holdups are."

The $15 million will be shifted to the Lincoln Regional Center for hiring nurses and other staff. Dubas questioned how realistic it is for the center to spend this amount of money on staffing, especially when the state is facing a nursing shortage of more than 5,000 by 2025. She also questioned what will happen to any money left unspent.

Dubas stressed the Division of Behavioral Health is not the only agency losing money through this budget process.

"This administration has gone into a lot of different funds, cash funds, etc., and kind of swept out money that they perceive is not being used or is not being spent, to use to help with their property tax relief," Dubas asserted.

The Pillen administration is paying Epiphany Associates from Utah $2.5 million annually for up to four years, to find savings of up to 25% across state agency budgets.

Chase Francl, CEO of the Mid-Plains Center for Behavioral Health, which receives about 40% of its funding from Region III, said cutting programs that save the state money cannot be considered cutting "waste."

"Mental health and substance use treatment really is a prevention service," Francl contended. "If we can get this right, then people are going back to work and maybe aren't ending up in corrections. And you start restricting here, you usually are just going to be creating a greater need for more costly services down the road."

Mid-Plains served 3,200 people in Grand Island, Kearney and Lincoln last year. Francl added they currently have about 60 people on a waitlist for therapy services.


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A lawsuit has been filed against the Trump administration over its budget-cutting plans targeting medical research led by colleges and universities.

Their allies warn of negative consequences for curing diseases, as well as local economies. The suit was brought by Minnesota and 21 other states after the National Institutes of Health said it would follow through on orders to cut $4 billion through a grant funding formula for indirect expenses.

North Dakota is not part of the legal case, but an analysis said the state could lose more than $3 million in research funds.

Ellie Dehoney, senior vice president of policy and advocacy for the group Research!America, said no matter the state, the pain will be quickly felt.

"The suddenness of it is one of the ways that you degrade your research capacity," Dehoney pointed out.

Beyond the effects on finding cures for diseases such as Alzheimer's, Dehoney warned of job losses at lab equipment makers and other supporting businesses. Trump advisers suggest too much grant money goes to overhead costs but advocates countered the argument misrepresents the facts. They said even indirect funds keep the lights on at university labs and support other key infrastructure such as data storage. A federal judge on Monday temporarily halted the cuts as the case proceeds.

Dehoney said medical research at the academic level needs to play out first because the private sector does not have the resources or patience to play the long game in advancing treatments. She also warned slowing scientific progress could keep more people dealing with chronic health issues from improving their quality of life and participating in the workforce.

"I know a person who is on Social Security disability," Dehoney observed. "She went on a biologic (drug), she has rheumatoid arthritis, and now she's working full-time."

Dehoney argued abruptly stalling important research work also benefits global competitors such as China. She feels there is room for groups like hers to work with the Trump administration on finding efficiencies but only if they actually boost research capacity, not reduce it.


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Gov. Josh Shapiro's proposed state budget includes a significant increase for public education to address Pennsylvania's school funding issues and educator shortage.

The proposed budget would boost funding for basic and special education and the state's student-teacher stipend program.

Aaron Chapin, president of the Pennsylvania State Education Association, is praising the commitment to education, and sees the $1 billion proposal as a vital investment in public schools.

"More than $600 million of that is going right to our public schools when it comes to providing adequacy, as well as tax equity payments to qualifying school districts for the Ready to Learn Grant," Chapin outlined.

Chapin noted an additional $75 million will be distributed to all school districts through the basic education funding formula, which he called "a big step forward." The state House and Senate will need to vote on the budget by June.

The proposed budget includes a $20 million boost for the Student Teacher Support Program, which provides a $10,000 stipend to eligible aspiring educators.

Kaylin Shewmake, a senior at Penn State University, second grade student teacher and Central Region president of Student Pennsylvania State Education Association, said the stipend has helped with her tuition, rent, groceries and other living expenses.

"It honestly was a huge relief when I saw I'd gotten the stipend," Shewmake recounted. "Because if not, I would have had to work a part-time job on top of student teaching, which would have been really difficult for me, because I am really involved outside of student teaching with my extracurriculars. With this extra money, I didn't have to take out any loans."

Chapin noted it is the first year the stipend is available and with the governor recommending doubling the funding, $40 million would support student teachers with these stipends.

"Gov. Shapiro, with legislators, designated $20 million this year -- didn't pay for everybody, it only paid for just over 2,000," Chapin pointed out. "Another $20 million is going to cover another 2,000. We're getting very close to making sure that every Pennsylvania college student that is student teaching will receive a stipend."

The proposed budget would also deliver $111 million for student mental health and school safety grants.

Gov. Kay Ivey delivered her 2025 State of the State address this week, focusing on education, public safety, and economic growth in Alabama. She pointed to improvements in math and reading scores and expanded school choice options. But beyond academics, she also called for tighter regulations on cell phone and social media use in classrooms, saying it's time to tackle this issue nationwide.

"Sen. Donnie Chesteen, R-Geneva, and Rep. Leigh Hulsey, R-Helena, will carry a bill to put a ban on cell phones in schools, she said. "This legislation will also require local boards to adopt internet safety policies and provide students with social media training."

Ivey also wants to strengthen support for teachers, particularly those looking to start families. One way, she says, is by improving maternity-leave policies. On the economy, Ivey outlined plans to turn the Department of Labor into the Department of Workforce, aiming to create more job opportunities across the state. She also emphasized supporting veterans by making their department part of her Cabinet.

Public safety was another priority in her address, particularly gun violence. Ivey pushed for a ban on Glock switches and stricter monitoring of high-risk youths, and called for expanding legal protections for police officers while backing second-chance legislation aimed at criminal justice reform.

"While we are moving forward in building two new men's prisons and graduating a number of corrections officers, we must also see that the DOC resources are reserved for the worst of the worst offenders," she continued. "That's why I'm supporting the Second Chance Act."

Ivey did not shy away from national issues either, reaffirming Alabama's commitment to border security and offering state resources - including the Alabama National Guard and ALEA - to assist where needed. Other topics on her agenda included water and sewer infrastructure, broadband expansion and policies related to gender and religion in classrooms.


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