Briefs
ACLU report calls out immigration enforcement program in Nebraska’s Dakota County
A new report by the American Civil Liberties Union is another reason that Nebraska’s Dakota County Sheriff’s Office should end a controversial program that allows local police to enforce federal immigration law, the state ACLU office said Wednesday. The local civil rights nonprofit issued the statement following a study by its national office on so-called […]
Avian flu strikes a flock of 2.1 million laying hens in Knox County, Nebraska
A seventh, and so far the largest, Nebraska poultry flock has been infected by the highly contagious and deadly bird flu that is spreading across the country again this year. The latest infection struck a flock of more than 2.1 million laying hens in Knox County, according to the Nebraska Department of Agriculture. The department […]
Platte Institute names new chair who will help guide Blueprint Nebraska growth plan
North Platte, Nebraska, businessman Pat Keenan, whose career began in the soft drink industry, has been elected chairman of the nonprofit Platte Institute board of directors. Among the organization’s responsibilities is helping to activate economic initiatives in Blueprint Nebraska, a plan led by business and civic leaders to stimulate economic development and to make the […]
Nebraska is an outlier in latest national rent trend report
When it comes to the nation’s average apartment rents, Nebraska reportedly is one of the few states that has seen a price dip over last year. That’s according to the latest trends review from Rent.com, an online property site. In its newly released April report, Rent.com said about 95% of states saw increases in average […]
Three to join the Nebraska Business Hall of Fame
Leaders of a construction company, a private equity firm and a manufacturer of animal health products are to be inducted May 2 into the Nebraska Business Hall of Fame. The three are Mike McCarthy of McCarthy Capital of Omaha; John Sampson of Sampson Construction of Lincoln; and Gloria Thesenvitz of Nova-Tech Inc. of Grand Island. […]
Ricketts announces new tuition reimbursement benefit for kids of state employees
LINCOLN — Children of Nebraska’s 16,000 state employees will get 100% reimbursement for two years of tuition at state community colleges under an initiative highlighted Monday at a press conference held by Gov. Pete Ricketts. The new benefit, officials said, will not only serve to improve benefits for state workers, but will also train recent high […]
Greeley County commissioner fined for doing road work for the county
LINCOLN — A Greeley County Board member has been fined $1,500 by a state political accountability board in connection with contracts he had with the county to do flood-related road repairs. Joe Leslie, who has a road grading business, became engaged in repairing roads in the central Nebraska county following the statewide flooding in 2019, […]
Governor signs bills to expand state crime lab, state law enforcement training center
LINCOLN — The state’s ability to “recruit, retain and train” law enforcement officers has been enhanced thanks to bills passed by the Nebraska Legislature, Gov. Pete Ricketts said Thursday. Ricketts, during a press conference in Grand Island, highlighted bills he signed that he said “go the extra mile to attract the best and brightest to […]
Nebraska’s NRDs reach woodsy landmark: 100M trees and shrubs planted
LINCOLN — One of Nebraska’s many mottos through the years was “The Tree Planter State,” and the state’s Natural Resources Districts appear to be living up to that nickname. This spring, the NRDs’ Conservation Tree Program planted its 100 millionth tree. That’s approximately 50 trees for each Nebraskan, according to the state association of resources […]
CDC concludes a mask mandate is still needed for travelers, clearing way for court battle
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration will fight a court decision for the authority to mandate masks on airplanes, trains and other public transit, following a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendation Wednesday that a mandate was still needed. The CDC said in a statement that the mandate keeps transportation safer for immunocompromised people and […]
May open houses aim to gather community perspective for Omaha affordable housing plan
A series of open houses will be held in Omaha throughout May to gather community feedback as city managers and RDG Planning & Design develop Omaha’s housing affordability action plan. The goal is to identify strategies and develop a blueprint for quality housing options, including dwellings that are financially accessible to more people. Omaha officials […]
Trump to stump for Herbster on April 29 in Greenwood, Nebraska
OMAHA — Nebraska gubernatorial candidate Charles Herbster is getting the Nebraska visit he sought for months from former President Donald Trump late in a tightening GOP race. Trump’s team announced Tuesday that Trump would appear at an April 29 rally at I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, Nebraska, less than two weeks before the May 10 primary […]