News & Features | NET Radio

Doane University's dual-enrollment program features five education courses for high schoolers to start working their way toward a teaching degree. Officials hope the program, called the Educator Pipeline Collaborative, will help the teacher pipeline in Nebraska.

September is Nebraska Archaeology Month. Nebraska Public Media's Dale Johnson sat down with State Archaeologist Dave Williams to first find out how far back Nebraska's archaeological history goes.

A record crowd is expected at the CHI Health Center Tuesday night, for an in-state volleyball tilt between No. 18 Creighton and No. 1 Nebraska.

A Mullen teacher was surprised with an announcement on Monday that she would be the 2026 Nebraska Teacher of the Year. Sarah Hardin, who teaches high school science classes, will start her tenure in January.

Rep. Mike Flood, who represents the state's first district, says avoiding a government shutdown is the first priority of Congress as the new fiscal year approaches in October. He says that will require negotiations with Democrats to put a budget together and ensure the government is funded.

Quick-growing blooms of bacteria and algae have long been a hazard in lakes and rivers, because of the toxins they produce. Fueled in part by agricultural runoff, these blooms are also threatening public water systems, making water temporarily unusable, and forcing some cities and towns to take costly preventive measures.

Testifiers at a legislative hearing Friday sharply criticized Gov. Jim Pillen's plans to host an ICE detention center in McCook.

A group of Catholic and Protestant clergy is asking Gov. Jim Pillen to drop plans for an ICE detention center in McCook.

A UNO professor co-authored an exploratory study on labor trafficking within Nebraska. Nebraska Public Media's Arthur Jones sat down with her to discuss what she found.

The Nebraska football team faces off with FCS foe Houston Christian University on Saturday. The Cornhuskers are 2-0 on the year, following wins against Cincinnati and Akron.

Gov. Jim Pillen and Nebraska Department of Agriculture Director Sherry Vinton recapped their recent visit to Japan while speaking at Husker Harvest Days, an ag show just west of Grand Island. The trip came on the heels of a trade deal with Japan signed by President Donald Trump last week. As part of the deal, Japan agreed to invest $550 billion in projects selected by the U.S. government. Pillen said he told Japanese officials he wants at least 10% of that amount to go toward projects in Nebraska. Pillen also praised the Japanese culture he witnessed on his visit to Tokyo.

When the University of Nebraska Board of Regents approved alcohol sales for all sporting events last October, many cited research saying the move would reduce binge drinking on Husker football gamedays. During the first quarter of Saturday's lopsided win over Akron, multiple fans said beer and hard seltzer service in Memorial Stadium will be positive.

Lincoln Electric System has received $300,000 from Google to help provide energy-efficient improvements for affordable housing. The money will help Lincoln continue the South of Downtown Rental Rehabilitation Program, a 2023 program that in part aims to improve energy efficiency for residents in portions of the city's Near South and Everett neighborhoods.

Gov. Jim Pillen declined to sign draft regulations for the medical cannabis industry the commission approved last week. In a letter to the commission sent Thursday, Pillen wrote "Leaving the cultivators without a limit would increase likelihood of an overabundance of cannabis product that creates an unregulated, unintended black-market supply.” The commission responded by placing a limit of 1,250 flowering plants for each cultivator.

Beef prices have hit record highs, yet American consumers haven't stopped buying it. A look at what's behind the steep price increase and when they might come down.

COVID-19 illness numbers are seeing an uptick. Health professionals say it's because of the return to fall activities and lower vaccination rates. Most recent data has shown that nearly 16% of COVID-19 tests have come back positive, the highest it has been all year.

The city has earned a national recognition for building an inclusive community. It's the second city in the state to earn this label.

Sen. Merv Riepe, a Republican in the officially nonpartisan Legislature, said he's not a fan of changing rules mid-game.

Overall University of Nebraska enrollment was similar to last school year, but there were notable decreases with international and graduate students. Increases in first-time freshmen and medical students helped offset those declines.

Nebraska farmers entering harvest season with near record high corn and soybean yields have been met with low prices for their crops. Coupled with higher than usual input prices due to tariffs, many will lose money this year. Smith, who serves as chair of the Congressional Agriculture Trade Caucus, says he is hopeful that President Trump will work to open up new markets for farmers and reach trade deals to bring down tariffs. Brian Kuehl, the co-executive director of Farmers for Free Trade, says time is running out.

On Saturday, when toe meets leather for the first Husker football home game of the season against Akron, it will also be the first time beer meets belly for football fans inside the century-old stadium Memorial Stadium.

None of Nebraska's U-S House members signed on to the discharge petition that would force a vote on a bill to release all government files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Here's an insight from 2nd District Representative Don Bacon.

Pillen's team says the Work Ethic Camp in McCook – which currently provides rehabilitative programming to low-risk offenders – will soon house undocumented immigrants arrested by ICE. The administration clarified it will only house Level 1 detainees, meaning those with minor criminal records and non-violent felonies. After the briefing, Judiciary Committee Vice Chair Wendy DeBoer told reporters she has "grave concerns" about the process from federal agents.

University of Nebraska President Jeffrey Gold said the university is seeing a decline in international and graduate students in his State of the University address on Thursday. He also addressed how federal cuts to research spending and a lower-than-expected state appropriation have challenged the university.

About a month after lower Medicaid rates for applied behavior analysis therapy went into effect, providers say they are cutting staff and considering closing. The therapy helps children with autism. Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services officials say the new rates will make the program sustainable long-term.

Senator Pete Ricketts says federal tax legislation will help the average Nebraska family, despite projections that it will decrease state revenues.

Federal tax changes estimated to reduce state revenues by about $100 million a year.

An after-school program in Beatrice welcomed back students this fall for another year. Federal officials froze and then unfroze funds to after-school programs before the school year, but Beatrice officials say they are keeping an eye on future funding.

A national construction association has released data showing a severe workforce shortage in construction. The low numbers are attributed to increased immigration enforcement.

More than a week after Gov. Jim Pillen announced that the McCook Work Ethic Camp would be used as an immigration detention facility, some state lawmakers are still seeking answers on the details. Wednesday afternoon, Sen. Megan Hunt sent a letter to Judiciary Committee chair, Sen. Carolyn Bosn, requesting a legislative hearing to address questions surrounding the project. The letter was signed by 12 other state senators. “We urge you, as Chair of the Judiciary Committee, to conduct an Interim Study Hearing to improve public transparency for all stakeholders and citizens and ensure we are doing our due diligence as State leaders,” it reads.

After 30 years as a paraeducator in Grand Island, Marlo Reyes has become the connecting piece of her school community. She will retire at the end of the year.

A Nebraska service provider for adults with developmental disabilities is suing the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. Integrated Life Choices is alleging DHHS violated due process and separation of powers and is seeking injunctive relief in Lancaster County District Court.

The Nebraska State Patrol will have immigration responsibilities when the Work Ethic Camp in McCook becomes an ICE detention facility. Six trained troopers will be assigned to question suspected undocumented individuals about their immigration status and make immigration arrests without a warrant. Nebraska Public Media's Dale Johnson sat down with Col. Bryan Waugh to talk about the patrol's authority under what's known as a 287(g) partnership with ICE under the Task Force Model.

Justice Lindsey Miller-Lerman is retiring from the Nebraska Supreme Court.

Uncertainty on whether there will be a Historic Preservation Fund in the 2026 fiscal year, has those in the museum and preservation communities worried. A group of volunteers is working to get a North Omaha building added to the National Register of Historic Places before the end of this congressional fiscal year.

Year three of Matt Rhule leading the Nebraska football program starts Thursday evening. In a neutral site matchup at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, the Huskers open the 2025 season vs. the Cincinnati Bearcats.

The shift to four-day school weeks is increasing in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. Administrators argue the shift helps with teacher recruitment and retention. It can also save money, especially with transportation. But what is the long-term effect on student learning?

Honesty Bishop was attacked by her cellmate. Missouri prison officials deemed her sexually active and kept her in isolation for over six years.

Nebraska volleyball fans are chomping at the bit to see their beloved Huskers under new leadership. When the Cornhuskers face off with Pittsburgh at 6 p.m. Central Friday, it will be head coach Dani Busboom Kelly's first match leading the program.

Several Nebraska schools will test out a menstrual product pilot program this school year. The Education Service Unit Coordinating Council will lead the pilot, helping schools provide access to pads and tampons for students while also collecting data on the program.

The Brian Rosen era will be introduced to Crieghton volleyball fans starting Saturday against defending national champions Penn State. Nebraska Public Media's Aaron Bonderson sat down with the new head coach about taking over for the all-time wins leader at Creighton, Kirsten Bernthal Booth.

At least eight different beers and two brands of hard seltzer will be sold at Memorial Stadium starting around 6:30 p.m. Central Time on Sept. 6, for the football home opener against Akron. Hundreds of thousands of tallboys will be brought to the stadium each week.

Nebraska's federal delegation has been busy throughout the August recess sharing the benefits of the ‘Big Beautiful Bill' in their home state. Sen. Pete Ricketts kept the trend going on Wednesday at a roundtable with farmers, ranchers and local officials in Broken Bow. Ricketts said he covered a variety of topics including biofuel expansion, firefighting coordination and mental health needs at the meeting, which was closed to the media. The senator said no one directly mentioned tariffs in the discussion, but he highlighted the Trump administration's commitment to finding new trading partners, including the United Kingdom and India. He also said he heard from public power officials about the importance of legislation

The University of Nebraska at Omaha and Metropolitan Community College announced a new initiative to make it easier for students to transfer between the two institutions. Those involved will start with looking at areas the two colleges can streamline, like academics and financial aid.

The governor said the facility would house minimal to low-risk detainees for between five and fifty days until they are able to see a judge. In two other immigration-related announcements also made Tuesday, state officials said that approximately 20 Army National Guard soldiers will provide support for Nebraska-based ICE enforcement, and that the State is empowering Nebraska State Patrol troopers to arrest people suspected of immigration violations.

Game one of the Dani Busboom Kelly era is just two days away. The 2025 Cornhusker volleyball team will start the season ranked number-one in the American Volleyball Coaches Association poll. Ahead of Friday's season opener, Nebraska Public Media play-by-play voice Larry Punteney spoke with the new head coach about returning to her alma mater with a fearless, player-led mentality.

Bacon says he wants to see a peace deal allow Ukraine to join NATO (NAY-toe) and not place any limit on the size of Ukraine's military. Bacon has also cosponsored legislation that would impose sanctions on Russia and other countries buying its imports. Republican majority leaders in the House and Senate have said they want to wait for Trump's approval before moving forward. But Bacon says he would consider using a discharge petition to bring it to the floor for a vote if a peace deal appears unjust.

A state senator is traveling throughout Nebraska to find out what residents think about potentially expanding passenger trains.

Most people think of California for surfing. But surfers can be found from Wisconsin to Texas on lakes, rivers and even man-made water parks.

School officials in various parts of Nebraska say this year seemed easier than previous years to staff. Nebraska Public Media News spoke with several district leaders to hear how staffing levels are headed into the school year.

As Nebraska's row crop production continues to grow, farmers are looking for new markets for their corn and soybeans. Jet fuel made from biomass could be the answer they are looking for. At Friday's Sustainable Aviation Fuels Conference in Ashland, political and business leaders alike said the state is well-positioned to become a major player in the burgeoning industry. Jacki Fee, a biofuels specialist with Cargill, explained why.