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More than 100 business leaders from across southeast Nebraska met at Southeast Community College on Friday to brainstorm ideas for regional economic development projects. The meeting represents the launch of the “6 regions, One Nebraska” initiative in the southeast part of the state. Similar meetings are taking place in the other five community college districts this summer.

The University of Nebraska Board of Regents approved the budget for the upcoming year and approved Dr. Jeffrey Gold’s contract for university president on Thursday. The budget includes $11.5 million in spending cuts, a tuition increase at all four campuses and additional investment into the new Presidential Scholars program.

Residents of Douglas and Washington Counties are eligible for business physical disaster loans and home disaster loans to replace damaged property. Nebraskans from Burt, Dodge, Douglas, Sarpy, Saunders and Washington Counties qualify for economic injury disaster loans which help small businesses meet financial obligations impacted by the April storms. The deadline for physical damage loan applications is July 15, while the economic injury loan applications are available through February 2025.

June commemorates events in two historically marginalized groups: those in the LGBTQ plus community for pride month as well as Black communities for Juneteenth. Nebraska Public Media’s Kassidy Arena spoke with someone very involved in both celebrations.

The National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2025 passed in the U.S. House Friday. Nebraska Representative Don Bacon served as the chairman of the quality-of-life subcommittee and helped draft 21 amendments that were put in the bill. Bacon says the cornerstone of the legislation is a 19% pay raise for junior enlisted troops, which Bacon says is necessary to help recruitment and reduce financial stress for members of the armed services.

The Scarborough’s are one of several Nebraska families concerned about Gov. Jim Pillen’s promise to eliminate an extensive waitlist for intellectual and developmental disability services. Those services include group homes, day programs, respite care, occupational therapy, and more. None are covered by Medicaid.

Biosolids are a cheap, nutrient-rich fertilizer that have been applied on millions of acres of farmland across the country, but toxic “forever chemicals” are creeping their way into the fertilizer. A proposed federal provision aims to better protect farmers from PFAS contamination.

It’s National Pollinator Week, an annual event created to bring attention to the sharp decline in pollinator numbers due to habitat loss, pesticide use and climate change. Butterflies often capture people’s attention and help spark interest in pollinator conservation, something butterfly farms are helping promote.

Recently, Fischer introduced the Amtrak Transparency Act, which would expand Amtrak board meetings to include additional stakeholders and require public notices 30 days prior to meetings. The legislation would also require bonuses exceeding $50,000 dollars to Amtrak employees be disclosed to Congress.

What may be the world’s largest collection of clown dolls is in a northeast Nebraska city with a population of just over 1,000 people.

The Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska is traveling around the state this summer to hold listening sessions with recipients of a $25.5 million legislative fund.

Rocco’s Pizza and Cantina was buzzing Thursday afternoon on the first day of the annual College World Series Jell-O shot challenge. Fans from across the country can buy five-dollar Jell-O shots in their favorite school’s color and for each shot purchased, one dollar is donated to a food bank in the university’s hometown, while 50 cents goes to an Omaha food bank. Owner Kevin Culjat said the competition began in 2018 and has grown each year since.

Senators Deb Fischer and Pete Ricketts are cosponsors of legislation to overturn a U.S. Department of Education rule extending Title Nine protections to include gender identity. The Congressional Review Act allows Congress the ability to overrule federal regulations from government agencies by passing a joint resolution. The resolution can be vetoed by the president and would need a two-thirds majority of the House and Senate to override the veto.

An environmental justice program is hoping to expand into new cities throughout the state.

The Forbes Advisor team analyzed more than 20 metrics from 95 cities across the country, considering affordability, availability, amenities and safety. Kasey Ogle with Nebraska Appleseed, an organization that advocates for affordable housing, says conditions are difficult for renters in Nebraska and she is surprised to see Lincoln at the top of the Forbes ranking.

The five-member board, led by Gov. Jim Pillen, voted unanimously to approve the results. Secretary of State Bob Evnen said the 2024 primary was a historic election for Nebraska, as it was the first to require voter ID.

The prospect of precision agriculture has existed for decades, but many of the technologies and techniques that will enable it have been slow to catch on.

Nonpublic schools now have more flexibility in choosing books through the state’s textbook loan program. That’s a change from when they could only request what the public school in their district asked for.

The overdue farm bill is finally making its way through Congress, after the House agriculture committee recently advanced a proposal. Food assistance is likely to be one of the biggest sticking points as the draft moves forward.

At a series of town halls across the state, Governor Jim Pillen has said he wants to reduce property taxes in Nebraska by 40% by expanding the sales tax base in a special legislative session this summer. Ernie Goss, an economics professor at Creighton University, said high property taxes hurt economic growth more than high sales taxes.