Briefs
Nebraska agricultural producers so far reap $123 million from federal emergency disaster relief program
OMAHA — Nebraska agricultural producers have received $123 million of the $4 billion distributed nationally so far through a federal Emergency Relief Program designed to offset their losses due to natural disasters over the past two years. The program, along with another for livestock relief, are funded by the Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency […]
Progressive group running $1 million in dark money ads against Bacon
OMAHA — A national group targeting swing-district Republicans in Congress said it is running $1 million in TV, digital and mail ads this summer against U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb. The group, Unrig Our Economy Nebraska, is the local offshoot of a national effort by progressive donors to push back against GOP messaging about the […]
National study predicts Nebraska’s future unemployment rate
Nebraska’s latest unemployment rate was 1.9% — which continues to be a record low for Nebraska, currently is the lowest of states in the country, and ties the record low for any state ever. A new study that looks at the future predicts that Nebraska in five years will have an even lower unemployment rate, […]
Metro marks 50th birthday with free fares for a day, new ORBT station and bus wrap art contest
OMAHA — Omaha’s public transit system celebrated its golden anniversary Friday with a day of fare-free rides and an announcement of a bus-wrapping art contest targeting area students. Metro also marked its 50-year milestone with the opening of its newest bus station — at Eighth and Farnam Streets, next to the newly re-opened Gene Leahy […]
Economic survey covering Nebraska and surrounding states shows gloomy confidence level
OMAHA — Confidence in business conditions has plummeted to the lowest level since the beginning of the pandemic, according to the latest regional economic report produced by Omaha’s Creighton University. Only about 4% of supply managers surveyed in a nine-state region that includes Nebraska expect the U.S. economy to expand in the next six months. […]
Nebraska abortion rights advocates say they are ‘horrified’ but ready to help women find access to care
LINCOLN — Abortion rights advocates said Thursday that while they’re “horrified” by the recent Supreme Court ruling striking down the right to abortion, they stand ready to attempt to help women find access to abortion care elsewhere. Candi Jones of Survivors Rising, which helps victims of domestic violence, said she didn’t want to think about […]
Fortenberry files notice of appeal and claims false statements statutes too easily abused
LINCOLN — One day after being sentenced to probation for lying to federal agents, former U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry on Wednesday followed through with his pledge to appeal his conviction. His legal representatives, including a new specialist in such appeals, also said they expect to file a complaint with the Inspector General of the Department […]
Omaha nonprofits selected to get a piece of federal ARPA pandemic recovery funds
OMAHA — City of Omaha and community leaders on Wednesday announced 55 more local nonprofit agencies that are to receive a piece of the city’s American Rescue Plan Act funding. The organizations that collectively will get $15 million were selected for their direct response to negative economic impacts of COVID-19. A total of 244 applications […]
OPS security guards complain about low pay, increase in behavioral issues and threats
LINCOLN — The union that represents security guards at Omaha Public Schools is appealing to a state labor court, claiming that OPS has failed to bargain in good faith over wages, job duties and “more dangerous working conditions.” The filing comes as OPS is seeing an exodus of teachers, an increase in behavioral issues and […]
Cyberattack downs system Nebraskans use to file for jobless benefits
The NEworks website — used by Nebraskans to file for unemployment benefits — has been shut down as a result of a cyberattack. The Nebraska Department of Labor issued a statement Tuesday, saying the website is unavailable due to a national outage involving the department’s web vendor, Geographic Solutions Inc. GSI reportedly discovered a cyberattack […]
Omaha event on July 9 will celebrate and support African culture
A celebration of African art, culture and history is to take place July 9 at the Omaha Community Playhouse, with profits helping to support local program efforts of the African Culture Connection. The family-friendly event is called Tikpere, a word that in the Bariba language means “our culture and history will not disappear.” Doors of […]
Heartland Workers Center gets new leader as “get out the vote” season ramps up
The Omaha-based Heartland Workers Center, whose aim is to build leadership and civic engagement among underserved groups across Nebraska, has named Lina Traslaviña Stover as executive director. As head of the nonprofit headquartered on Omaha’s historic South 24th Street, Stover oversees programs including a “Get out the Vote” campaign, Young Nebraskans in Action and a […]