Labor & Growth
U.S. Reps. Flood and Neguse recreate House group aimed at innovators, entrepreneurs
LINCOLN — U.S. Rep. Mike Flood, R-Neb., and Rep. Joe Neguse, D-Colo., announced Tuesday they are reviving a bipartisan group in Congress aimed at focusing federal lawmakers on the importance of steering policy toward nurturing the nation’s innovators and entrepreneurs. Flood, whose 1st Congressional District is home to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and community college […]
Pillen seeks applicants to fill vacancy left by abrupt resignation of state economic development director
LINCOLN — Gov. Jim Pillen has set a deadline of May 2 for applications to fill the vacancy left by the recent resignation of Tony Goins, the director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. Goins resigned April 5 after an investigation by the Nebraska Examiner uncovered instances in which he had used state email […]
Nebraska’s first veterans home campus to begin transformation into modern housing
GRAND ISLAND — For 130 years, the sprawling campus with its own lake, majestic front lawn and patriotic street names reigned as the State of Nebraska’s longest-standing veterans home. That is, until four years ago, when state officials carried out a locally unpopular move and relocated the vet services to a neighboring city, rendering eight […]
Long COVID is hurting business; workplace accommodations could help
Three years after the start of the pandemic, millions of working age people still suffer from long COVID-19, and some lawmakers and advocates, including people with long COVID, say not enough is being done to protect their well-being and ensure they can continue to be employed. Proposed federal legislation, better workplace accommodations and more federal […]
Media company founded by U.S. Rep. Flood adds two stations, plans Sandhills news bureau
LINCOLN — The media company founded by U.S. Rep. Mike Flood, R-Neb., is adding two more radio stations. Flood Communications announced Friday the purchase of Twister Radio of Gordon and Valentine from longtime owners Jim and Deneen Lambley. Jim Lambley, known for his conservative radio commentaries, is retiring. The Twister is the latest acquisition for […]
Omaha’s MUD gets $10 million grant for gas main replacement
LINCOLN — A nearly two-decade effort to replace 560 miles of the Omaha area’s aging, cast-iron natural gas mains got a $10 million boost on Friday from federal taxpayers for the final 130 miles. The U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration awarded the gas main grant to the Metropolitan Utilities District, the publicly owned […]
Nebraska’s new tourist attraction: Kiewit Luminarium on Omaha’s riverfront is to open Saturday
OMAHA — Three years in the making, Nebraska’s newest tourist magnet is set to open Saturday: 82,000 square feet of interactive science museum on the edge of Omaha’s riverfront. The Kiewit Luminarium, whose roughly $100 million price tag was privately funded, is key to redefining a downtown landscape, along with the tri-park revamp and planned […]
Omaha streetcar survey shows high opposition, but Mayor Stothert criticizes it as ‘push poll’
OMAHA — A majority of Omaha voters participating in a recent survey about the $300 million-plus urban streetcar project gave it a thumbs down. The Heartland Strategy Group, a government relations, political and public affairs consulting firm with offices in Omaha and Lincoln, commissioned the poll as part of a “public opinion series.” Blueprint Polling, […]
Chief Standing Bear movie project gets star power lift, deals with minor Nebraska grant setback
OMAHA — The show will go on and is adding star power, even though the State of Nebraska has pulled a $400,000 grant allocated for the planned historical drama film about Ponca Chief Standing Bear. Filmmaker Andrew Troy on Monday announced he’ll team up with acclaimed Irish playwright and director Jim Sheridan to co-write, direct […]
State Sen. Suzanne Geist resigns from Nebraska Legislature to run full-time for Lincoln mayor
LINCOLN — State Sen. Suzanne Geist of Lincoln announced Wednesday that she was resigning from the Legislature, telling supporters in a campaign video that she is “all in” on her May 2 general election race to unseat Nebraska’s top Democrat, Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird. Geist finished second to Gaylor Baird in Tuesday’s three-way primary election. […]
Geist to take on Lincoln Mayor Gaylor Baird in general election
LINCOLN — Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird faces the test of her political career on May 2 after she and State Sen. Suzanne Geist advanced in Tuesday’s nonpartisan primary race. The mayor, as expected, secured the largest portion of votes, 49% as of the final unofficial count Tuesday night. Geist finished second, with 34%. Nonprofit […]
Property tax portion of Nebraska’s tax-relief package advances, 41-0
LINCOLN — The property tax portion of the Nebraska Legislature’s push for a tax relief package took a major step Monday toward passage. Senators passed Legislative Bill 243 on the first round of debate, 41-1. LB 243, as introduced by State Sen. Tom Briese of Albion and amended by the Revenue Committee, would make a […]