News
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 […]
Retired soldier/Nebraska state senator sees no quit in Ukrainian forces
LINCOLN – As the saying goes, “Old soldiers never die — they just fade away.” But instead of fading away, 63-year-old Tom Brewer, a decorated and retired Army colonel and state senator, is headed to the front. Brewer, who was seriously wounded and earned two Purple Hearts during six deployments in Afghanistan, is scheduled to […]
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 […]
Nebraska physicians fear in vitro fertilization, other care, in jeopardy if abortion banned
LINCOLN – Expressing fear for their patients and livelihoods, physicians who treat women experiencing difficult pregnancies or in need of reproductive services like in vitro fertilization are stepping into the political arena to oppose a ban on abortion. A group of specialists recently formed a political action committee, the Campaign for a Healthy Nebraska, in […]
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, […]
Democratic governors call on Biden to use federal facilities for abortion access
A group of Democratic governors urged President Joe Biden on Friday to use federal facilities to provide access to abortions, following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade last week. In a video conference with nine governors, including Kate Brown of Oregon, Roy Cooper of North Carolina, Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico […]
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. […]
Measure to hike Nebraska minimum wage appears ready to qualify for November ballot
LINCOLN — With a deadline looming, one Nebraska initiative petition drive appears poised to qualify for the November ballot, while another, to legalize medical cannabis, is facing “potential failure.” Thursday is the deadline for turning in signatures for ballot initiatives to qualify for the general election. On Friday, Raise the Wage Nebraska announced that it […]
Abortion patients say current laws posed barriers to care even before Roe’s fall
Marcella Peltz decided to have an abortion in November 2017. It was not a choice she wanted to make. Peltz and her then-fiancé had long planned to have a child. They had already decided on a name – Thea Brook – and had a gender reveal party celebrating her pregnancy. But when Peltz went in […]
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 […]
Lower insulin co-pays, list prices targeted in new bipartisan U.S. Senate bill
WASHINGTON — Two key U.S. senators have unveiled the details of a bipartisan plan to lower costs for insulin, a lifesaving drug that some Americans have struggled to afford in recent years as prices have skyrocketed. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, a New Hampshire Democrat, and Susan Collins, a Maine Republican, introduced the measure in June, after […]