Social Services
Omaha psychiatrist regains medical license, but can’t treat female patients
LINCOLN — The medical license of an Omaha psychiatrist has been reinstated — with the condition that he not treat any female patients. The license of Dr. Gregory Wigington was suspended for six months beginning in April for unprofessional conduct after he admitted having sexual relations with two female patients, including one woman he eventually […]
$66 million headed to support Nebraska child care workers with stipends, student loan aid
OMAHA — In an effort to build up Nebraska’s child care workforce, the state is preparing to distribute $66 million in incentives that include worker stipends and student loan repayments. The funds target providers and employees and are expected to expand access to quality child care. Applications for the dollars will be accepted starting in […]
A $2.9 million gift is jaw-dropper for Urban League president
OMAHA — When Wayne Brown got the $2.9 million phone call a few weeks ago, you might say he was a bit floored. “My jaw was on the ground,” said the relatively new chief executive of the Urban League of Nebraska. “I mean, this doesn’t happen. It just doesn’t happen, right?” Neither he nor his […]
Q-and-A with cyberbullying expert who is slated to speak in Omaha Nov. 17
OMAHA — For Richard and Pat Bennett, bringing a renowned cyberbullying expert to the metro area was personal, having seen a family member and other young people devastated by technology-enabled harassment. Richard Bennett said his niece, while living in Utah, died from suicide, and he believed that cyber cruelty was a contributing factor. “The confrontation […]
‘Unexpected’ help for heating costs headed to eligible Nebraskans
OMAHA — Nebraska will get an “unexpected” boost of nearly $9 million in federal funding for a home energy program that helps financially strapped households, a state agency spokesperson said Friday. The Biden administration this week announced that $4.5 billion is being distributed nationally to help Americans with heating costs this winter under the long-established […]
Pilot project aims to stop revolving door at emergency room for the homeless
OMAHA — It’s called a “first” for Nebraska: a program that provides homeless people who are discharged from a metro area emergency room with a place to live temporarily and recover instead of returning to the streets. “Health and Dwelling” is a medical respite initiative, boosted by $500,000 from CHI Health’s national foundation, that’s been tried […]
Nebraska Game and Parks receives donation for new all-terrain wheelchair
LINCOLN — Nebraska Game and Parks received a $16,055 donation from the Nebraska American Legion to purchase a new all-terrain wheelchair for state park visitors, including disabled veterans. The track wheelchair will allow visitors to hunt, fish and participate in other outdoor activities on all kinds of terrain, along with taking part in educational and […]
Increase in respiratory illnesses among very young noted in Lincoln, Omaha areas
LINCOLN — Health officials in Nebraska’s two largest counties are reporting notable increases in cases of respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. The Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department on Monday reported outbreaks in at least 13 local child care facilities, while a spokesman with the Douglas County Health Department reported more than 250 cases last week, a […]
UNMC tapped for trial of monkeypox treatment
OMAHA — The University of Nebraska Medical Center is among more than 60 sites nationally that has been tapped for a trial study of a monkeypox treatment. The STOMP (Study of Tecovirimat for Human Monkeypox Virus) is a phase 3 trial evaluating the safety and effectiveness of the antiviral tecovirimat drug. Dr. Mark Rupp, chief […]
State pays overdue $11 million in bills to provider of health care data
LINCOLN — The State of Nebraska has now paid $11 million in delinquent bills to a state contractor who provides critical health care data to doctors and hospitals. CyncHealth, a LaVista-based contractor that operates the statewide Heath Information Exchange, hadn’t been paid since early this year on its $14 million-a-year contract. As reported by the […]
Plaque in Omaha’s Memorial Park will mark ‘America’s 250!’
OMAHA — A marker dedicating the state’s first “America’s 250!” patriot marker is to be unveiled Nov. 6 at Memorial Park. The Nebraska Daughters of the American Revolution is to dedicate the marker at 2 p.m., honoring the coming 250th anniversary, in 2026, of the founding of the United States. The markers are the result […]
UNMC grant aims to grow public health pros in rural and tribal lands
OMAHA — A $1.5 million grant to the University of Nebraska Medical Center will provide free tuition to help beef up the presence of public health practitioners in rural and tribal communities in a multi-state region, including Nebraska. The funds from the Health Resources and Services Administration will go to the Public Health Scholarship Program, […]