Humanities Desk

Children in the foster care system with severe behavioral health issues and trauma are often treated in group homes that specialize in individualized care. In at least two states, there is space at these centers for boys but not for girls.

Children in the foster care system with severe behavioral health issues and trauma are often treated in group homes that specialize in individualized care. In at least two states, there is space at these centers for boys but not for girls.

After five years under a no-drink order from the EPA, the Santee Sioux Nation in northern Nebraska is one step closer to getting clean water infrastructure. A bill passed in the Nebraska Legislature this spring prioritizes money in the Water Sustainability Fund to go toward infrastructure projects in areas under a no-drink order.

Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen will no longer be going on a trade mission to Indonesia this month. Instead, Lieutenant Governor Joe Kelly will lead the 12-day mission, while Pillen prepares for a special session on property taxes. Pillen has yet to release a written tax plan and says there is still work to do to get consensus, though he is optimistic that progress is being made.

Seven people were shot in Crete last week in what is being investigated as a hate crime. The Hispanic family all survived. Now statewide groups are coming together to make sure the incident doesn’t happen again.

The University of Nebraska Board of Regents approved the almost $1.1 billion budget for NU near the end of June. Chris Kabourek, chief financial officer for the university and the recent interim president, spoke with Nebraska Public Media’s Jolie Peal about the reductions and investments laid out in the budget for this fiscal year.

Nearly two years after Nebraska received more than 30 million dollars in federal grant funding to build electric vehicle charging stations, none of that money has been dispersed. Ryan McKinnon with the electric vehicle advocacy group Charge Ahead Partnership said Nebraska is one of around 15 other states that has not yet opened up the grant application process for businesses to request funds. “Because Nebraska hasn't even put out an application yet, these businesses are not able to access that money in order to build EV charging stations,” he said.

Water has begun receding along most of Nebraska’s eastern border, but the flood is peaking in Rulo in the state’s southeast corner. Further north, Nebraska City is past the worst of the flooding. However, Jim Terrell with the Missouri River Basin Forecast Center said the water has risen back into a moderate flood stage after several inches of rainfall in the area Monday night and Tuesday morning.

Randy Olson's farmland was buried beneath several feet of murky water. By Friday afternoon, the water had receded a few feet from its peak, leaving behind a swamp of rotting corn, soybeans and other debris in its wake.

A group campaigning for paid sick leave for Nebraskans announced Thursday it has collected 138,000 signatures through its petition drive, which would be enough to put the issue on the ballot in November. If passed, the initiative would require businesses in Nebraska to offer at least one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours an employee worked. Jo Giles, a ballot sponsor for Paid Sick Leave for Nebraskans, says the accomplishment is the result of years of organizing and strategizing.