Nebraska Update

Since the 2018-19 school year, the Hazelwood School District has sharply increased its rate of investigating student residency eightfold, deploying a team of employees who can use intrusive tactics.

Before Abigail, no one had ever competed in wheelchair cross country in the history of the state. At least not according to the Nebraska School Activities Association. But this fall, Abigail competed in four races alongside other junior high runners, each a little more than one mile long. She says her teammates have helped inspire her to not give up when she’s tired.

Election integrity experts, including Nebraska’s Deputy Secretary of State for Elections, Wayne Bena, testified at a U.S. Senate hearing about threats to election administration Wednesday. Senate Committee on Rules and Administration Ranking Member Deb Fischer of Nebraska said she hoped to find solutions to problems facing election officials and volunteer poll workers.

The Nebraska Department of Education announced a $2 million commitment to Nebraska Growing Readers, which will distribute books to early childhood centers across the state. Mary Jo Pankoke is the CEO of the Nebraska Children and Families Foundation which is partnering with the state. She said one of the goals of the program is to address book deserts. The book distribution began at Educare Indian Hill in Omaha, and will expand to 18 other sites statewide.

Intended to improve patient care in long-term care facilities, the regulation would require nursing homes to staff a registered nurse for 24 hours a day. Tim Groshans, CEO of the Burwell Community Memorial Health Center, said it would give them less flexibility to accept patients and adjust staffing levels to fit patient needs.

Thousands of competitors come to the American Royal Livestock Show in Kansas City, Missouri, each year to show their best livestock. The competition includes children as young as 7 years old, who take part in a long tradition of raising and showing their animals.

The Nebraska Economic Forecasting Advisory Board increased its projections for state tax revenue in the upcoming year, but the board is less optimistic about fiscal year 2025. The board now projects Nebraska will collect $6.445 billion dollars in state tax revenue between July 2023 and June 2024. That represents an increase of nearly $8 million dollars from the previous projection set in April 2023.

Former Scottsbluff Police Captain Brian Wasson surrenders his law enforcement certificates over theft and use of drugs.

In Lincoln, the crisis Voices of Hope is having their annual fundraiser this week. Nebraska Public Media’ shares more about the difference the organization is making.

Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers and dozens of others AGs across the country are suing Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook. The lawsuits allege that Meta intentionally designed its social media apps to be addictive to children and teens, taking advantage of psychological vulnerabilities to make a profit.