Dozens of workers in Nebraska’s prison system quit their jobs this year, blaming long hours and fear for their safety. Those still on the job recently told state senators the result frustrated employees, inmates ready to take advantage of lax security, and an uneasy feeling there are dangerous days ahead.

The Nebraska Legislature continued its work on redistricting Thursday, and lawmakers prepared to take a closer look at the state's child welfare contract with Saint Francis Ministries.

Class is cancelled Friday for students at Grand Island Public Schools. Dr Tawana Grover, the district’s superintendent, says the schools are facing multiple challenges right now: a shortage of staff, more sick students and teachers, and an overall sense of burnout.

Over the last year and half of the pandemic, a case of the sniffles or a sore throat has turned into full-blown panic for some who weren’t sure if they had COVID or not. Doctors say it’s understandable because things like strep, the flu, colds and allergies often have similar symptoms, so it’s hard to tell, even for them.

Speaker of the Legislature Mike Hilgers said redistricting and next year's primary election could be delayed if senators can't reach agreement by Saturday.

Cases and hospitalizations are rising, while vaccinations have plateaued.

On Nebraska’s new COVID dashboard, the 7-day average of daily cases, as of Monday, stands at 526. That figure will likely grow as the Nebraska Dept. of Health and Human Services counts all the tests over the next week.

There are 448 Nebraskans hospitalized with COVID. That’s more than 11% of the state’s hospital beds, and the main reason Gov. Pete Ricketts brought the dashboard back. He did so via an executive order Monday. The dashboard was absent since late June, when the previous order expired.

State health officials are highlighting Nebraska’s suicide prevention efforts as part of a month-long outreach to raise awareness about resources available.
Governor Pete Ricketts has declared September Suicide Prevention Month in Nebraska. The state has a number of resources for people struggling with suicidal thoughts and their loved ones and friends. Cheri Dawson is the Director of Behavioral Health with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.

“The bigger picture [is] looking at whether or not diets changed in the mammals who were around at the time, or whether the type of locomotion they used changed,” Secord said. “In other words, were they living up in the trees? Were they living on the ground?”

The Nebraska Legislature began debate Friday on a proposal for congressional redistricting

Nebraska’s Lieutenant Governor Mike Foley recently returned from an overseas trade mission. He talks about some French companies wanting to open facilities in Nebraska to be closer to the state's corn supply and it's many benefits.