News & Features | NET Radio

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.

Applied behavioral analysis (ABA) therapy offers resources to children with autism and to their families. One effort hopes to expand this support during a time of Medicaid cuts and geographic lack of access.

Hundreds of Elkhorn elementary students returned from summer break this week to find their new schools still under construction.

University of Nebraska regents approved NU President Jeffrey Gold's performance-based merit pay at their meeting Thursday, with two voting no, citing concerns with budget cuts. Gold's contract outlines that he can receive up to 15% in performance-based merit pay each year if he meets certain metrics. He received almost 98% on his performance review, meaning he should receive the full additional pay.

Several hundred state leaders in agriculture and manufacturing gathered in Kearney today/Thursday to discuss how to develop Nebraska's economy. Gov. Jim Pillen touted the potential for Nebraska to grow its bioeconomy through investments in ethanol, sustainable aviation fuel and plastic products made from corn. Thursday morning, Husker football head coach Matt Rhule addressed the summit with a message about dreaming big. The governor said he's dreaming big too.

To address the substantial shortage of mental health providers in Nebraska, a pair of Omaha doctors came up with, what is believed to be, a first-of-its-kind project. Primary care and non-psychiatric specialists are trained to provide early mental health treatment in places where patients and the public already come for care. Nebraska Public Media's Dale Johnson talked with Clarkson Regional Health Services CEO Dr. Bill Lydiatt, a co-founder of the Bridges to Mental Health Workforce Expansion Project, to find out why it's so groundbreaking.

Americans are losing their starry views to light pollution. But some communities are make lighting decisions to help preserve night skies – while benefiting wildlife and human health.

Omaha's Metro Transit has premiered a new micro transit program called Metro Flex. The goal of Metro Flex is to fill gaps in-between areas where it is difficult to have regular and fixed public transportation.

With students packing their backpacks and teachers preparing their lessons, many Nebraska schools are preparing for classes to start up this month. Nebraska's 2025 Teacher of the Year Lindsey Wilson is getting ready to welcome back her students at Bennington Middle School in just a few days.

The School Financing Review Commission set goals and reviewed the history of school funding in Nebraska in its first meeting Tuesday. State legislators created the commission to evaluate the current funding formula and provide recommendations for changes to improve it.

Nebraskans are recovering from a severe thunderstorm that brought hurricane-force winds to south central and eastern Nebraska Saturday morning. Many people still don't have power Monday and the city of Blair and Lincoln was hit particularly hard. At least 78,000 Nebraskans lost power after heavy rain and 90 mile per hour wind gusts rammed throughout southern and eastern Nebraska Saturday.

Time is one the most valuable things in life. Depending on the time of year, Cook found short breaks from the grueling demands of running a volleyball program. But when he was in the heat of the preseason, regular season, postseason, recruiting battles or volleyball camps, Cook was all-in.

The State Board of Education approved almost $21 million for literacy efforts in schools, educational service units and other organizations. These awards are part of a $55 million federal grant for literacy over a five-year period.

For the first time, Fort Kearny Historical Park and State Recreation Area will open reservations early for visitors to see the spring sandhill crane migration.

Nebraska has given Hausmann Construction a notice to proceed on building a new prison, with "substantial completion" due in August, 2028.

Emma Harner, a musician who grew up in Nebraska, got to play at Chicago's Lollapalooza last weekend with Boston based band Jesse Detor. She has been playing guitar for only 5 years, yet has managed to already travel abroad because of her music. Nebraska Public Media's Arthur Jones got to chat with her and hear her story so far.

Members of Nebraska's federal delegation shared their legislative priorities with the state's business leaders in Ashland Tuesday. At the annual federal legislative summit hosted by the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, Sen. Deb Fischer, Sen. Pete Ricketts, and Rep. Mike Flood explained how the ‘Big, Beautiful Bill' could help grow Nebraska businesses.

A Nebraska Medicine patient has become the first person in the world to receive a new treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS). The potential breakthrough treatment is part of a clinical trial that has, so far, been deemed effective.

Congressman Mike Flood's third town hall of the year was his biggest, and arguably most contentious one yet. The 850-seat Kimball Recital Hall on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus was filled with a crowd that wasted no time vocalizing their criticisms of the representative. Following an invocation, Pledge of Allegiance and performance of ‘God Bless America,' Flood began touting the ‘Big Beautiful Bill' that he and 217 of his fellow Republicans voted for last month. “I truly believe that this bill will allow America to experience growth, that it will allow our communities to thrive, that it will spark our economy, that it will help farmers and ranchers, that it will take care of the vulnerable,” he said. “And more than anything, I truly believe this bill protects Medicaid for the future.”

Comic Con Nebraska held its inaugural event at Omaha's C-H-I Health Center this weekend. The con was host to artists, authors, vendors and even an arcade, but according to those attending the con, it was more than that.

Testifiers at a public hearing objected to regulations prohibiting smoking and flavoring of medical cannabis.

The University of Nebraska was selected to receive a grant to continue its work uncovering and publicizing the journalistic writings of famed poet Walt Whitman. The National Endowment for the Humanities selected the project as one of 97 recipients across the country receiving grants for August 2025. The university will receive $300,000 over the course of three years for its research.

With the passage of the expansive tax-and-spending bill, changes to Medicaid are coming. One of those changes is the addition of an 80-hour-a-month work requirement, something proponents say will help incentivize those on Medicaid to work. Others say it's not that simple, particularly for those who are disabled.

Street in Omaha renamed after its first elected Black mayor

Husker volleyball begins preseason practice Thursday, in the first year of Dani Busboom Kelly leading the program. The Big Red returns much of the talent from the 2024 Final Four team, Director of Operations Lindsay Peterson said.

Benson is hosting its New Americans Arts Festival today, and organizers say it has a new meaning this year.

Comic Con Nebraska is coming to Omaha's C-H-I Health Center this weekend. The new ‘con' is the first event being put on by Octopus Events Group, whose members have previously put on comic cons in Portland and Seattle.

Hausmann Construction sues Woodbury County Iowa and its Law Enforcement Center Authority over costly delays in building Sioux City jail.

Students, professors and volunteers from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Anthropology program just landed in France to help in a month-long project. The goal is to send home any remains from a WWII plane crash.

The changing of the guard is well underway for the University of Nebraska volleyball. Practice starts Thursday. It will be the first season this century when someone other than John Cook will coach and lead the program. Cook, a four-time national champion coach who retired in January, now spends more time on his acreage in Wyoming.

Last weekend marked the 104th Burwell Rodeo. This year, the Burwell community literally weathered a storm to continue the tradition. It took many volunteers to make it happen.

Data shows a need for more than 12,000 child care spots across Nebraska. Communities across the state have utilized various tools and approaches to address the gap in their area. Child care leaders see engagement from most, if not all, stakeholders in the community as a common denominator of success.

North Platte is struggling with housing issues. Community leaders say the problem has been occurring for decades. With a new surge in economic development and employers moving into the city, the need for housing has been exacerbated.

The interest in local food systems, like farmer's markets and direct farm-to-consumer sales, is on the rise. But the U.S. is still more reliant on imported foods than ever before.

In a lawsuit pitting former Creighton Prep football player Jack Hasz against the NCAA, the U.S. District Court in Omaha ruled against Hasz's motion for preliminary injunction. Senior District Judge Joseph Battaillon submitted the ruling Thursday.

Omaha non-profit ‘Playing with Fire' is putting on their 21st Playing with Fire event this Friday and Saturday. The event, held for the first time inside the Slowdown, will host 6 blues artists, including four from outside the U.S.

Jack Hasz wants one more year. The former Creighton Prep offensive lineman is suing the NCAA, in hopes of playing one more season of college football.

ACLU Nebraska is criticizing the treatment of a man detained in an ICE immigration raid.

Some of Nebraska's federal delegation are defending their support of what the president calls the “Big Beautiful Bill.”

Providers, families and advocates are worried how cuts next month to Medicaid rates for Applied Behavior Analysis therapy, which helps people with autism, will impact the availability of services across the state. Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services representatives say the changes put Nebraska in line with what other states pay.

The chair of the Nebraska Commission on African American Affairs said a recent audit is providing the agency an opportunity to improve. Findings showed the agency failed to provide advance notice for all 10 quarterly meetings audited from 2022 to 2024.

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine is developing a framework for assessing drought in a changing climate. It's a difficult task, as what's considered drought is often situational.

Pillen says the proposed cuts are part of his goal of reducing the size of government and not due to economic indicators. However, June tax revenues fell well short of predictions for the fiscal year and the amount of federal funds for the state next year is uncertain. Justin Hubly, the executive director of the Nebraska Association of Public Employees, says Pillen's proposal would likely lead to a workforce reduction.

Fremont now has its first bilingual daycare. The opening fills a large need in the city.

Less than a week after setting a new national record in the road mile for his age group, Lynn Rathjen already has his sights set on the next accomplishment. The 80-year-old retired physical therapist is training to break the age group records in the 800 and 1500 meter races at the national championships in Alabama this weekend.

The Mexican Consulate of Omaha is meeting with elected leaders and residents to ensure Mexican nationals feel safe in the region.

Iowa authorities say the contractor for Nebraska's new prison cost them millions in construction errors and delays on Sioux City jail.

Following over $7 billion worth of federal funds being withheld from schools nationally, the Beatrice Educational Foundation has launched a campaign to keep the community's after school program running.

As a new Postmaster General with ties to FedEx assumes control of the agency, postal workers and their customers are bracing for either scenario, especially as corporate America weighs in.

Congress approved and passed the budget bill earlier this month that included a $200,000 cap on federal loans medical students, and other professional degree students, can receive. One student collected over 500 signatures urging the Nebraska federal delegation to reconsider, saying this cap doesn't take into account the full deb students incur.

A three-day ice storm in northern Michigan early this spring left 145,000 people without power, some for weeks. Three months later, clean-up efforts are focused on millions of acres of the state's forests, where broken and fallen trees could affect the forest's long-term health.