Columbus
Nebraska Examiner
NE audit of DHHS child care subsidy program exposes as much as $12.8M in improper payments
LINCOLN — A new probe of Nebraska’s child care assistance program has uncovered what the state auditor calls rampant abuses that led to as much as $12.8 million in improper payments to child care providers. A 33-page audit released Tuesday looked at a sample of nearly $93 million in federal and state funds spent by the […] The post NE audit of DHHS child care subsidy program exposes as much as $12.8M in improper payments appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
School vouchers fight is Nebraska’s last petition drive of 2024
OMAHA — The last petition circulators eyeing Nebraska’s November ballot are still chasing voters, days after last week’s deadline for other groups to submit signatures to the Secretary of State’s Office. Support Our Schools has two additional weeks to turn in signatures because of when the Legislature changed the school choice law that the group’s […] The post School vouchers fight is Nebraska’s last petition drive of 2024 appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
Congressional Dems urge a more robust Biden on the campaign trail, but few openly revolt
WASHINGTON — Democrats in Congress called on President Joe Biden to prove to voters that he is up for another four years in the Oval Office, though many in interviews pledged to stick with him as the presumptive nominee as they returned to the Capitol on Monday following the Fourth of July recess. Questions over […] The post Congressional Dems urge a more robust Biden on the campaign trail, but few openly revolt appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
Sustainable jet fuel company contributes $167K in defense of SD carbon pipeline law
A company aiming to produce aviation fuel from ethanol in South Dakota has contributed $167,000 to defend a new carbon dioxide pipeline law that voters could be asked to reject in November. The company, Gevo, made the contribution to a ballot question committee called Protect South Dakota’s Ag Future. The contribution was not affected by […] The post Sustainable jet fuel company contributes $167K in defense of SD carbon pipeline law appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
Former Ponca city clerk faces trio of criminal charges for allegedly wiping clean city records
LINCOLN — The former city clerk in Ponca, Nebraska, now stands charged with three criminal offenses for allegedly destroying years of city financial records just prior to her dismissal 16 months ago. Denise Peterson, 59, was charged recently in Dixon County Court with one count each of abuse of public records and official misconduct, and […] The post Former Ponca city clerk faces trio of criminal charges for allegedly wiping clean city records appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
Biden tells congressional Dems he is staying in the race, urges end to speculation
President Joe Biden pledged Monday to stay in his race for reelection, even after a weekend in which a growing number of Democrats asked for him to withdraw and a key U.S. House Republican called for an investigation into the president’s doctor. In a letter to congressional Democrats, Biden argued that the calls for him […] The post Biden tells congressional Dems he is staying in the race, urges end to speculation appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
Nebraska abortion fight fuels record filings to remove signatures from petitions
LINCOLN — Nebraska’s midsummer flurry of citizen initiatives seeking the ballot in November, including competing campaigns on abortion, spurred hundreds of requests to remove people’s signatures from petitions. At least 348 people had signed state affidavits claiming they mistakenly signed a petition, according to unofficial numbers obtained by the Examiner late last week. More […] The post Nebraska abortion fight fuels record filings to remove signatures from petitions appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
Single subject makes it special
The tee time for Gov. Jim Pillen’s property tax mulligan will apparently be sometime in the next month. The state’s CEO is hoping to get a do-over on his attempt to reduce property taxes in a special session of the Legislature, something he was unable to do in the Unicameral this spring. In the run-up […] The post Single subject makes it special appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
Confusion, clinic closures may have caused big declines in contraception use, study shows
Clinic closures in the wake of the Dobbs decision and questions about the legality of emergency contraceptives, including disinformation that some are abortion drugs, may have contributed to a sharp drop in the rate of prescriptions for contraceptives in states with the most restrictive abortion bans, according to a University of Southern California study. The […] The post Confusion, clinic closures may have caused big declines in contraception use, study shows appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
Agricultural, education senators push back on some of Gov. Jim Pillen’s property tax reforms
LINCOLN — Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen is facing pushback for some of his property tax reform ideas from some of his closest agricultural allies in the Legislature. He may need their support to pass reforms during a special session expected this month. Pillen has signaled he will bring lawmakers back to Lincoln beginning July 25 to […] The post Agricultural, education senators push back on some of Gov. Jim Pillen’s property tax reforms appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
Consultant sees $531M in trims to NE state government
LINCOLN – A highly-paid consultant is projecting that Nebraska state government could cut $531 million in spending within a year if it more sharply focused on system-wide outcomes that better serve its customers, and tapped more federal and state reserve funds. In a 57-page report after a year on the job, Utah-based Epiphany Associates said […] The post Consultant sees $531M in trims to NE state government appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
Biden in first TV interview since debate denies medical condition: ‘It was a bad episode’
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Friday in his first televised interview since the presidential debate defended his reelection bid and rejected calls that he should step aside amid growing anxiety among some Democrats about his mental and physical state. The 22-minute interview with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos came as some lawmakers and other prominent […] The post Biden in first TV interview since debate denies medical condition: ‘It was a bad episode’ appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
Lt. Gov. Joe Kelly to lead Indonesia trade trip, as Pillen focuses on special session
LINCOLN — Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen has asked Lt. Gov. Joe Kelly to step in for him to lead a trade mission to Indonesia this month — a shift made in light of the upcoming special legislative session. Pillen has pledged to call a special session that will focus on property taxes immediately after the […] The post Lt. Gov. Joe Kelly to lead Indonesia trade trip, as Pillen focuses on special session appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
Nebraskans get new option to report child and adult abuse concerns online
LINCOLN — The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services has launched a new online portal for people to report suspected child and adult abuse and neglect. The online mechanism is described as a complement to the existing statewide hotline where people still can phone in child abuse and neglect. The online service provides an […] The post Nebraskans get new option to report child and adult abuse concerns online appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
Mishandled bodies, mixed-up remains prompt tougher funeral home regulations
The headlines were the stuff of nightmares. One Colorado funeral home owner let the body of a woman decompose for two years in a hearse parked outside a house he rented, while hoarding the cremated remains of dozens of others inside. Last year, authorities discovered nearly 200 improperly stored bodies at another Colorado funeral home […] The post Mishandled bodies, mixed-up remains prompt tougher funeral home regulations appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
Federal grant to help Beatrice beautify its downtown area, make it more pedestrian friendly
BEATRICE, Nebraska — A federal grant is expected to turn a long-discussed project to enhance downtown Beatrice into a reality. The city recently was named a recipient of a $21.4 million grant from the federal infrastructure bill, which will be used to reroute U.S. Highway 136 one block south, around the downtown core, to make […] The post Federal grant to help Beatrice beautify its downtown area, make it more pedestrian friendly appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
Feds prepare for bird flu jump to people with vaccines, tests
Federal health officials have commissioned Moderna to develop a vaccine to protect people from an avian influenza that has been circulating in dairy cattle in recent months. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services officials said Tuesday the agency would devote about $176 million to the effort, with the hope that final clinical trials might […] The post Feds prepare for bird flu jump to people with vaccines, tests appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
Mississippi judge blocks Biden attempt to ensure LGBTQ+ medical treatment
A federal judge in Mississippi has blocked enactment of a Biden administration rule designed to prevent medical care from being denied to those seeking treatment related to gender identity or sexual orientation. The lawsuit U.S. Southern District Judge Louis Guirola Jr. ruled on Wednesday was filed by 15 states, including Mississippi and Nebraska. But he […] The post Mississippi judge blocks Biden attempt to ensure LGBTQ+ medical treatment appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
Federal court ends pause on LNG export project approvals
A federal judge has sided with Louisiana and 16 other states, including Nebraska, that sued to block the Biden administration’s stoppage of permits for liquified natural gas export terminals. U.S. District Judge James Cain Jr., from Louisiana’s Western District Court in Lake Charles, issued a stay Monday that immediately ends the U.S. Department of Energy’s […] The post Federal court ends pause on LNG export project approvals appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
A journey through time: The history of Social Security
In the fabric of society, few programs have woven themselves as deeply into the American culture as Social Security. The economic devastation of the Great Depression further exposed society’s vulnerabilities, with millions of older Americans in poverty and many more at risk of financial ruin. In response, the Social Security Act was signed into law […] The post A journey through time: The history of Social Security appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
Nebraska Examiner
4K+
Posts
17M+
Views
Nebraskans want accountability from their elected officials and government. Are their tax dollars well-spent? Are state agencies and local governments responsive to the people? Are officials, programs and policies working for the common good and a better future for our state? The Nebraska Examiner was established to provide a hard-hitting, daily flow of important news, scoops and reports to help us better understand our community. Our website is free — free of ads, free of paywalls, free of paid subscriptions. The Nebraska Examiner is independent, nonprofit and nonpartisan, dedicated to producing a vigorous news report about the Cornhusker State. We also provide a forum for commentary. Opinion pieces are labeled as such, and Examiner reporters do not contribute to our commentary. We invite commentary from the community. We make our work available to your community newspapers and other media outlets with proper attribution. The Nebraska Examiner is part of States Newsroom, a national 501(c)(3) supported by grants and a coalition of donors and readers. The Examiner retains full editorial independence.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.