Nebraska
Nebraska Prenatal Plus program bill to be heard on legislative floor
OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – In 2022 in Nebraska, March of Dimes reports that 11.3% of babies were born preterm.
That number is higher than the 10.4 national average, and the highest rate Nebraska has seen in recent memory.
When it comes to mothers of color, the preterm birth rate is even higher.
State Senator George Dungan of Lincoln wants to address and prevent those numbers from growing.
“No matter where you fall on the political spectrum, one of the things that everyone seemed to agree on is healthy moms and healthy babies,” Dungan tells 6 News when asked about LB857, his priority bill this legislative session. “What we’re seeking to do is increase the access to and the availability of prenatal services for at-risk mothers who are low income.”
While Dungan says Nebraska’s current program is robust, he adds that it’s time to do more when it comes to tackling adverse birth outcomes, namely low birth weights and preterm births.
“There are certain things we know are integral in helping those moms and raising birth weights that are not currently able to be built on.”
If passed, Nebraska would adopt the ‘Prenatal Plus Program,’ which Dungan says states like Colorado have seen great success with.
While Nebraska would adopt the program, Dungan says it wouldn’t be a direct copy but would have the same idea: not just focusing on the medical side of pregnancy, but the socio-economic side, too.
“It’s also about making sure you have access to mental health care, it’s about making sure you have access to substance use disorder treatment, smoking cessation, a big one is dietitian and nutrition counseling, and that you have somebody that can do case management for you that sees you throughout the entire pendency of your pregnancy to make sure you have consistent services and that you have access to additional service down the road,” he adds.
The main aspects the Prenatal Plus program would add are targeted case management, nutrition counseling, and making services available to moms who have been identified by their doctors or practitioners as having potential birth outcomes.
Dungan says in Colorado, the program not only saw healthier moms and babies, but it also demonstrated Medicaid cost savings.
“For every dollar, for example, that was paid into for this Prenatal Plus program, they actually saved $2.48,” he says. “So you’re seeing massive net savings on Medicaid which I think is what we should frankly be investing in overall, is upstream investments so that way we’re saving ourselves money down the road while also ensuring we have healthy moms and healthy babies.”
Dungan adds that services like these are also necessary, especially in a state where abortion care is limited.
“In a world where we have now limited our abortion to 10 weeks in Nebraska, think it’s imperative that we offer as many additional services as possible, and something I’ve been really encouraged by is conversations I’ve had with a number of colleagues, people that a prop choice, people that are pro-life, people that are somewhere in between, this is an issue they all agree on.”
Dungan’s bill originally sought to offer services to those on Medicaid and to those in the Children’s Health Insurance Program, as well as offer post-partum services for mothers.
An amendment to the bill in the Health and Human Services Committee limited the program to Medicaid users and prenatal care.
The bill was heard and supported by several healthcare professionals while in the HHS committee last Wednesday.
It passed the committee and will be heard on the legislative floor.
Copyright 2024 WOWT. All rights reserved.
Nebraska
Nebraska State Patrol troopers find 242 pounds of cocaine during commercial truck inspection
LEXINGTON, Neb. (KOLN) – Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol arrested one person after finding more than 240 pounds of cocaine during a commercial vehicle inspection.
On Tuesday afternoon, an NSP Carrier Enforcement trooper conducted a commercial vehicle inspection on a semi tractor/trailer driven by Arwinderjit Singh, 30, of California, near mile marker 254 on Interstate 80.
During the inspection, the trooper became suspicious of criminal activity. An NSP K-9 detected the odor of a controlled substance inside the cab of the semi, troopers said.
After searching the cab, troopers located 242 pounds of cocaine concealed underneath the sleeper bed, NSP said.

Singh was arrested on suspicion of possession of cocaine, possession with intent to deliver, possession of an open alcohol container, no drug tax stamp and displaying a fictitious license plate.
Singh was lodged in Dawson County Jail, and his bond was set at 10% of $2 million. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 12.
Click here to subscribe to our 10/11 NOW daily digest and breaking news alerts delivered straight to your email inbox.
Copyright 2026 KOLN. All rights reserved.
Nebraska
Athlete of the Week: Creighton Prep boys wrestling’s Zaiyahn Ornelas
OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Creighton Prep senior Zaiyahn Ornelas won his fourth consecutive Nebraska state wrestling title on Saturday.
According to NSAA records, he joins 39 other wrestlers in state history to accomplish the feat.
“It’s a great feeling,” Ornelas said. “It’s a feeling everybody wants.”
Ornelas won three Class C state titles at Wilber-Clatonia at 106, 113 and 120 pounds before transferring to Creighton Prep for his senior season, where he competed in Class A at 126 pounds.
“Three state titles there and then just thought I could bump up my competition,” Ornelas said.
“Zaiyahn is one of the cleanest technicians I’ve ever seen. That’s a huge testament to his coaching staff at Wilber,” Fisher added.
Ornelas was one of four Creighton Prep wrestlers to win state titles this season, helping lead the Jr. Jays to the Class A team title. Teammates said his presence in the practice room raised their level of competition.
“I could never slack off just because my competition in the state was easy. I always had to come in this room and get better or else I was going to get beat,” said sophomore Cruzer Dominguez, a two-time Class A state champion at 106 and 120 pounds.
Sophomore Kameron Green, the Class A 144-pound state champion this year, also credited Ornelas for aiding in his development.
“Zaiyahn being a training partner has helped me in tremendous ways,” he said. “When he wrestles, he’s not the nicest or shyest kid, but he’s tenacious and tough.”
Junior JT Smith, a two-time state champion at 175 and 190 pounds, said the achievement carries weight for the entire team.
“It’s something really special to have a teammate that’s a four-time state champion,” he said. “That’s something everyone wants to be.”
Fisher said Ornelas’s attitude set the tone from the start.
“He has so many skills and then coming into our room, he’s extremely coachable. Every time he came in here he was humble, ready to work, wanting to get better and that’s why he is as good as he is,” Fisher said.
Ornelas signed to wrestle at the University of Nebraska in November. He said the move to Creighton Prep delivered what he was looking for.
“This is the reason why I came here. I went out to explore, to find the best, and this is the territory that I found. If it wasn’t for these guys — the push — I would have not been there,” Ornelas said.
“It’s hard to believe. That’s kind of what I wanted since the beginning, freshman year,” he said.
—
Watch breaking news unfold on our livestream. Download the First Alert 6 streaming app to your TV or find us in your favorite streaming platform.
Copyright 2026 WOWT. All rights reserved.
Nebraska
Nebraska Chamber taps former state senator to lead during leadership transition
LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – The Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry has selected a former state senator and longtime board member to lead the chamber while it searches for a new president and CEO.
Board of Directors Chair Pat Keenan said Thursday that Matt Williams of Gothenburg agreed to serve as interim president.
ALSO READ: Nebraska Chamber president and CEO resigns after less than a year
“The Board is grateful to Matt for stepping into this role during a very active and productive time for the Nebraska Chamber,” Keenan said. “He has steady leadership, strong relationships and trust from his many years of advocacy for economic development, and decades of experience working with the legislature and state government on tax policy and economic development incentives.”
Williams represented District 36 in the Nebraska Legislature from 2015 to 2023.
The chamber said Williams has had a lifelong career in banking and serves as chairman of Flatwater Bank. He previously served as chair of the Nebraska Bankers Association and the American Bankers Association.
His long involvement with the chamber includes membership on the Board of Directors; he currently serves as director for District 6. In 2025, he was named to the Nebraska Business Hall of Fame.
“The Nebraska Chamber is on rock-solid footing, with the clear vision of the Board, and talented and hard-working staff hitting its stride in legislative policy and advocacy, technology, manufacturing, leadership-development, fund-raising and membership. The success of cutting-edge initiatives like 6 Regions, One Nebraska, the launch of the Go Big Future series, and the strong member engagement across the state demonstrate the success and strength of this organization. I’m excited to lend my support in whatever way I can for the Chamber. I know how strong businesses and communities make for a stronger Nebraska, and I’m glad to be part of that.”
Click here to subscribe to our 10/11 NOW daily digest and breaking news alerts delivered straight to your email inbox.
Copyright 2026 KOLN. All rights reserved.
-
World2 days agoExclusive: DeepSeek withholds latest AI model from US chipmakers including Nvidia, sources say
-
Massachusetts2 days agoMother and daughter injured in Taunton house explosion
-
Montana1 week ago2026 MHSA Montana Wrestling State Championship Brackets And Results – FloWrestling
-
Oklahoma1 week agoWildfires rage in Oklahoma as thousands urged to evacuate a small city
-
Louisiana5 days agoWildfire near Gum Swamp Road in Livingston Parish now under control; more than 200 acres burned
-
Denver, CO2 days ago10 acres charred, 5 injured in Thornton grass fire, evacuation orders lifted
-
Technology6 days agoYouTube TV billing scam emails are hitting inboxes
-
Technology6 days agoStellantis is in a crisis of its own making