Author
Nebraskans reflect on support for Ukraine one year after Russian invasion
LINCOLN — Nurse Kathleen “Nene” DeRoos-Nolan watches a live feed on a Telegram channel of a Ukrainian soldier trudging along in the snow and later sleeping in a place that isn’t heated. It’s a sight different from the refugees she saw in person at a camp in Warsaw during the past year, where she provided […]
Nebraska committee considers harmonizing hemp regulation
LINCOLN — A legislative committee Tuesday considered proposals to harmonize Nebraska’s hemp regulation with federal standards and terminate the Nebraska Hemp Commission. Legislative Bill 263, introduced by the Agriculture Committee at the request of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, would amend the Nebraska Hemp Farming Act to align with the federal 2018 Farm Bill in […]
Hard feelings aired by citizens denied the opportunity to testify in Nebraska Legislature
LINCOLN — Citizens crammed the meeting rooms and hallways of the State Capitol recently to testify on hot-button issues pertaining to guns, public funding for private schools, abortion and LGBTQ rights. At least a dozen people, who had waited up to six hours for a turn to speak, were denied the opportunity because legislative committee […]
Willa Cather’s 150 years to be celebrated throughout 2023
LINCOLN — Acclaimed Nebraska novelist Willa Cather, who would have marked her 150th birthday in 2023, will be celebrated throughout the year with a series of events. The National Willa Cather Center will host events locally and nationally for Cather’s 150th birthday and also the 100th anniversaries of her Pulitzer Prize for “One of Ours” and […]
Center for Rural Affairs honors handful of Nebraska advocates
LINCOLN — The Center for Rural Affairs is honoring a handful of Nebraskans for their work in advocating for rural affairs. The center, based in Lyons, Nebraska, announced it is giving awards to four Nebraskans in its 50th year, with additional honorees from Kansas and South Dakota. The private nonprofit’s mission is to strengthen small […]
Lawmakers weigh whether to restrict local health directors’ authority over public health measures
LINCOLN — COVID-19 placed an immense strain on hospitals and the medical field with thousands of cases and deaths in the nearly three years of the pandemic in Nebraska. Public health directors as well as state and local governments issued directed health measures to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus, action that helped “save” local hospitals […]
Proposed restrictions on Nebraska school bathrooms, sports teams trigger tense hearing
LINCOLN — Tensions rose Monday as dozens testified on a bill that would define school bathrooms and sports teams as biologically male or female. Legislative Bill 575, proposed by State Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha would supersede a Gender Participation Policy adopted by the Nebraska School Activities Association for sponsored athletics. The NSAA is a nonprofit […]
Nebraska lawmaker renews bill to protect physicians’ ‘right of conscience’
LINCOLN — A revived legislative proposal would protect health care providers’ “right of conscience,” allowing physicians to decline to provide a service if it would violate their beliefs. Legislative Bill 810, proposed by State Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil, would adopt the “Medical Ethics and Diversity Act,” defining a “right of conscience” violation as a service […]
Proposed gender-alteration ban for minors draws hundreds to Nebraska Capitol
LINCOLN — Supporters and opponents testified for about seven hours Wednesday on State Sen. Kathleen Kauth’s proposal to ban gender-altering care for minors in Nebraska. Legislative Bill 574 — the “Let Them Grow Act” — would prohibit health care providers from administering to patients younger than 19 medical interventions such as puberty blockers, hormone treatments […]
Nebraska lawmaker proposes stronger protections for consumer genetic testing
LINCOLN — Nebraskans would have greater control of their genetic information used in testing services such as 23andMe and Ancestry through a legislative proposal. Legislative Bill 308, proposed by State Sen. Eliot Bostar of Lincoln, would create the Genetic Information Privacy Act. The bill would add consumer protections for Nebraskans, addressing how companies collect, analyze, […]
Letter signed by 1,500 people urges Children’s Hospital to oppose proposed gender care ban
Editor’s note: This report has been updated to include comment from Children’s Hospital. More than 1,500 people as of Monday signed onto a letter urging the Omaha Children’s Hospital and Medical Center board of directors to oppose legislation that would ban gender-affirming health care for minors in Nebraska. The bill would also ban medical providers […]
Nebraska lawmaker revives attempt to support, streamline permits for food trucks
LINCOLN — A proposal in the Nebraska Legislature would cut red tape for food truck owners who face what State Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha said is a “patchwork of regulations.” Legislative Bill 740 by Vargas would require the Nebraska Department of Agriculture to maintain a list of areas that have food truck ordinances and establish […]