Nebraska Update

Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, March 23, include: Morrill and Cottonwood fires are nearing full containment, lawmakers eye $5 million from governor's emergency fund amid $471 million deficit, bill protecting doctors who recommend medical cannabis advances in legislature, Omaha's mayor outlines public-private partnership to transform city parks, statewide primary races preview, Nebraska men's basketball advances to Sweet 16 after historic win.

Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, March 20, include: the state's two largest wildfires are nearing containment while meteorologists warn little precipitation is expected until early April, Nebraska men's basketball wins its first NCAA tournament game, lawmakers revisit state budget after school funding debate stalls, opposition grows over proposed brand law changes, court keeps Senate candidate off ballot pending appeal, Grant prepares to open new nonprofit nursing home.

Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Mar. 19, include: wildfires have burned nearly 830,000 acres across Nebraska and firefighters are making progress on containment, Gov. Jim Pillen meets with Brady landowners to urges fire-related cost tracking and management between local and federal crews, court challenge filed after Cindy Burbank removed from ballot and Mark Martinez is placed back on ballot, lawmakers advance bill to tax skill games and eliminate exemptions, Omaha launches parking plan to support downtown businesses amid streetcar construction, new childcare center aims to ease shortages in east Omaha, Nebraska ag land values decline for second straight year, University of Nebraska lands $500M federal research contract, Sandhill crane migration timing shifts with milder winters, Husker men's basketball senior Sam Hoiberg on NCAA tournament.

Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Mar. 18, include: firefighters report improving conditions as crews battle four major wildfires across central and western Nebraska, Indianola fire chief talks about battling 'exploding' Eastern Red Cedar trees, farmers and ranchers face heavy losses as fires destroy grazing land, livestock and property, Brady Public Schools resumes classes as community supports wildfire recovery, Nebraska Athletics plans to donate spring football game ticket proceeds to wildfire relief, lawmakers debate proposed pay raise for governor and other state officials, senators approve bill granting maternity leave to certain correctional workers and state troopers, Douglas County sheriff candidate appeals removal from ballot to Nebraska Supreme Court.

Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, March 17, include: state leaders give major wildfire updates as hundreds of fire departments battle blazes across western Nebraska, agriculture leaders estimate thousands of cattle may be impacted by burned pastureland, Gov. Jim Pillen signs order to speed delivery of ag supplies to affected farms and ranches, meteorologists say colder weather helped slow fires but gusty winds could test containment, Nebraska men's basketball earn No. 4 seed in NCAA tournament and open play Thursday, Husker women also make field and face Richmond in play-in game, O'Neill is Irish capital of Nebraska and is also creating economic development name.

Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, March 16, include: Morrill Fire has now burned at least 570,000 acres across four western Nebraska counties and federal incident management team is taking command as state leaders seek FEMA assistance, family and friends remember 86-year-old woman killed in wildfire, fire departments statewide send personnel and equipment west, blizzard conditions cause multi-car crash that shuts down part of Interstate 80, Nebraska property owners caught in crosshairs of Perkins County Canal, Nebraska men and women both earn spots in the NCAA basketball tournament.

This is a Nebraska Update Special Report from the Nebraska Public Media Newsroom for March 14. Emergency crews are continuing to battle four large wildfires in Nebraska: the Morrill Fire in the Panhandle, the Cottonwood Fire in Lincoln and Dawson Counties, the Road 203 Fire near Halsey and the Anderson Bridge Fire west of Valentine. Several Nebraska officials briefed reporters Saturday morning at the Keith County fairgrounds and discussed the growth of the fires and uncertainty surrounding federal assistance.

This is a Nebraska Update Special Report from the Nebraska Public Media Newsroom for March 13. Emergency crews are continuing to battle four large wildfires in Nebraska: the Morrill Fire in the Panhandle, the Cottonwood Fire in Lincoln and Dawson Counties, the Road 203 Fire near Halsey and the Anderson Bridge Fire west of Valentine. One person has been killed since the wildfires broke out Thursday. Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen has issued a burn ban and a state of emergency for affected counties.

Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, March 13, include: Nebraska lawmakers continue closing state's budget gap after months of negotiations, legislative proposal to limit how public power districts spend money fails after debate over operational costs, agricultural leaders say U.S. war with Iran is increasing input costs for farmers, ethanol producers push for year-round E15 sales as gas prices rise, Nebraska joins multi-state investigation tied to alleged Medicaid fraud, Sen. Pete Ricketts calls for improvements at Omaha postal processing center after audit found major issues, University of Nebraska Medical Center joins federal effort to expand nutrition education in medical schools, Nebraska and Creighton basketball updates ahead of March Madness.

Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, March 12, include: University of Nebraska College of Law is closing its 28-year-old immigration clinic, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials face questions about Nebraska's Perkins County Canal project during public hearing in Colorado, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services opens applications for nearly $40 million in grants aimed at rural organizations, state senators weigh cuts and priorities as they work through $125 million budget deficit at the Capitol.