skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Sunday, July 21, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

VP Kamala Harris says she plans to 'earn and win' Democratic nomination after Joe Biden drops out and endorses her; New Alabama bill threatens voter rights, legal challenge ensues; Fact-checking GOP claims on immigrants; Water contamination a concern in Midwest flood aftermath.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

President Joe Biden drops his 2024 re-election bid. He's endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris to take his spot on the ticket, and election experts say they see benefits to this decision.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

It's grass-cutting season and with it, rural lawn mower races, Montana's drive-thru blood project is easing shortages, rural Americans spend more on food when transportation costs are tallied, and a lack of good childcare is thwarting rural business owners.

NE Winnebago Tribe apprenticeships prepare students, build workforce

play audio
Play

Friday, May 17, 2024   

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

The Nebraska Winnebago Tribe is taking a proactive approach to the issue. Its apprenticeship program helps high school juniors and seniors learn skills while helping the community build its skilled workforce. It is a collaboration between Ho-Chunk, Inc., Winnebago High School, the Winnebago Tribe Education Department and local businesses.

Willy Bass, manager of community impact and engagement for Ho-Chunk, Inc., said tribal leaders realized they needed programs for their youth who might not pursue higher education.

"This program was intended to get students interested, and a foot in the door, in the fields of construction, IT, nursing, education, etc.," Bass outlined. "Any of those sort of technical-related careers."

Bass explained the students earn credits for spending two hours at their worksite four days a week. On Fridays, they learn "soft skills," such as resume building, interviewing and the importance of a good attitude and good attendance. In the latest Harris Poll, more than 80% of employers reported many of their youngest workers lack these important soft skills.

Bass pointed out one of the tribe's priorities is ensuring its members have job opportunities. He noted some apprenticeship graduates choose to start working right after high school, while others pursue further training in their apprenticeship field.

"We want our kids to go off, get educated and come back and contribute to the tribe and make it a better place, and for them to be successful," Bass emphasized. "If they want to contribute those skills on a broader scale in other communities, they have that support system."

Kamau Turner, superintendent of Winnebago Public Schools, said they plan to build upon the program in the future. He hopes students interested in a skilled trade will eventually be able to graduate from high school fully certified, which would be a boon for the Winnebago community.

"I have to call a plumber from Sioux City; I have to call an electrician from Sioux City," Turner observed. "Our community is growing, our school is growing, and there'll be more of those people needed. Jobs will have to grow as the community grows."

Winnebago's population has increased 30% in the past eight years.

Disclosure: Ho-Chunk, Inc. contributes to our fund for reporting on Cultural Resources, Housing/Homelessness, and Native American Issues. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


get more stories like this via email
more stories
Vice President Kamala Harris spoke at a political event in Grand Rapids, Mich., in early 2024. (The White House/Wikimedia Commons)

Health and Wellness

play sound

Vice President Kamala Harris focused on reproductive rights at a campaign event in Michigan Wednesday. Her remarks come as President Joe Biden has …


Environment

play sound

Construction could begin in Minnesota later this year in the final phase of one of the nation's largest solar energy developments, after state …

Social Issues

play sound

Thousands of educators from across the nation will be in Houston starting this weekend for the American Federation of Teachers annual convention…


The Illinois State Board of Education report card said O'Fallon Township High School HSD #203 is currently only funded at 64%. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

By Kristy Alpert for Arts Midwest.Broadcast version by Terri Dee for Illinois News Connection reporting for the Arts Midwest-Public News Service Colla…

Health and Wellness

play sound

Counterfeit medicine sales are on the rise, in Connecticut and nationwide. The state faced trouble with growing sales of counterfeit Xanax pills …

"Arizonans understand that it is insane to risk Phoenix or Tempe for Odesa or some corn field in Ukraine. It is not in our national interest to get involved," said U.S. Rep. Alexander Kolodin, R-Ariz. (Gage Skidmore / Flickr)

Social Issues

play sound

More than 2,400 delegates gathered in Milwaukee this week for the Republican National Convention and delegates from around the country, including …

Environment

play sound

So far, states like Wisconsin have largely escaped the worst of the summer heat affecting much of the nation but a group of scientists wants regional …

Social Issues

play sound

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

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021