Nebraska
Commentary: Nebraska and its ‘Great Plains Economic Opportunity Zone’
American businesses don’t have enough workers. The
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
notes that there are 1.7 million fewer workers in the labor force today compared to February 2020.
Great Plains states like the Dakotas, Montana, Nebraska and Wyoming have some of the
most severe labor shortages
in the nation. Now, the Nebraska legislature has opened the doors that are desperately needed to economic opportunity in the Great Plains, with the passage of legislation last month creating a unique economic opportunity zone in the middle of the country.
Like most of its neighbors, Nebraska employers need help finding workers.
Recent research
from the Kansas City Fed notes that the problem is worse in Nebraska than elsewhere: There are 2.5 job openings for every unemployed worker in Nebraska, almost twice the national average.
Recognizing the challenge is one thing. Taking common sense action to help improve the situation is much better. Legislators in Nebraska have done this with the passage of the measure. With the governor’s signature, the doors to opportunity are open in Nebraska.
Why is this legislation necessary? First, it addresses a barrier created by Nebraska’s occupational licensing requirements. If either of us wanted to drive in Omaha, our driver’s license would be recognized, and we could drive. Unfortunately, occupational licenses do not work this way. If licensed barbers from Iowa wanted to move to Nebraska and begin working, they would face significant delays and hardship in moving forward with their careers.
The new measure addresses this critical labor market friction for many occupations by implementing universal recognition. The bill will allow licensed workers with licenses in good standing for at least one year to have their licenses recognized. Nebraska joins 21 other states in taking steps to reduce barriers to interstate mobility — an important step when
licensing reduces workers moving between states
by about 7 percent.

Nebraska is not alone in moving forward with these reforms. There are
21 additional states
with some version of licensing recognition, and 39 states have passed licensing reforms for people with criminal records. Now, Nebraska has joined all of its neighbors in reforming universal recognition and most of its neighbors in reforming requirements for people with criminal records. Only South Dakota lags in permitting blanket barriers to workforce opportunities for workers trying to make a fresh start reintegrating into society, limiting opportunities there compared with nearby states.
Workers on the sidelines in Nebraska — perhaps underemployed or out of the labor force entirely — will now be able to work with fewer bureaucratic delays. This can have beneficial effects on the labor market in Nebraska and for workers moving between states in the region.
Research bears this out, showing that states that pass universal recognition experience a 1 percentage point gain in employment. Where do these new workers come from? Some come from other states; other workers come from the sidelines.
Research also shows fiscal benefits for states that adopted universal licensing recognition. These states saw a $1.7 million increase in adjusted gross income after enactment, compared with states that keep interstate licensing barriers in place.
These fiscal benefits come from households moving to states with licensing recognition, including households with dependents. Licensing recognition enables families to move to places of economic opportunity together.
However, there is always room for improvement. Limiting exclusions for several occupations is one way to make a good reform even better.
People with criminal records can also make a fresh start in Nebraska, creating the groundwork for a safer community. These reforms make it easier for people starting over to actually make a fresh start in the occupation of their choice.
Nebraska and its neighbors still license
dozens of lower-income occupations
. When licensing boards bar qualified individuals with criminal records from becoming licensed, even after applicants have completed the required education and training,
they can worsen public safety
instead of protecting it.
Nebraska’s law states that individuals can be barred from a license only when their criminal offense is directly related to the occupation or represents a substantial risk to public safety. Combined with greater due-process protections and setting time limits for how long a criminal offense can bar someone from working in a licensed occupation, this legislation significantly expands the economic opportunities of people trying to restart their lives.
In recent years, Nebraska has reduced some of its licensing requirements for lower-income occupations, reducing barriers to work for people just starting out in a profession. Together with these reforms, Nebraska policymakers have taken bold policy action to ensure employers will continue to have access to the workers they need.
Edward Timmons is a service associate professor and director of the
Knee Center for the Study of Occupational Regulation
at West Virginia University. Darwyyn Deyo is an associate professor of economics at San Jose State University and a senior research fellow with the Knee Regulatory Research Center at West Virginia University. They wrote this for
InsideSources.com
.
Nebraska
Mental health by the numbers in Nebraska
OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – A deeper look tonight as First Alert 6 continues to dig deeper into the state of mental health care in Nebraska and possible solutions, ever since last week’s two instances involving law enforcement.
A Douglas County sheriff’s deputy was shot responding to a domestic call. Investigators said the suspect, Brian Huggins, had a history of behavioral health issues. Huggins died by suicide.
And then Noemi Guzman, who police say kidnapped a 3-year-old from inside an Omaha Walmart and cut him in the arm and face with a stolen kitchen knife. Omaha police officers shot and killed her before she could strike again.
Guzman had been on a court-ordered mental health treatment plan since last summer for her schizophrenia. According to court records, psychiatrists determined she could live in the community. Remember, this was after she was arrested for setting her father’s house on fire and threatening a priest with a knife.
Monitoring system
We wanted to know who is part of the system monitoring those who may not be following their mental health treatment plan and are a risk to others or themselves. When that happens, the Board of Mental Health will often notify the local sheriff so a warrant can be issued and deputies can track the individual down.
Here are the numbers since 2023:
In 2023, 842 warrants were issued for those not following their treatment plans according to the Board of Mental Health. In 2024, 756. In 2025, 690. So far in 2026, 190.
But out of these 2,500 warrants, 85% of them didn’t have a second warrant, meaning deputies picked them up, got them back into treatment and the individuals continued to thrive after the one hiccup.
But in 15% of these cases, the individuals messed up again and had another warrant issued by the Board of Mental Health. Twenty-five individuals had five or more issued in Douglas County.
Sheriff Hanson said there has to be a better way, a more team approach for this.
One model to explore is the way Nebraska’s problem-solving courts work like drug court and veterans’ treatment court where experts from a variety of stakeholders help individuals who are on the fringes to do everything to make them productive citizens.
Copyright 2026 WOWT. All rights reserved.
Nebraska
‘Nothing can hold me back’: Nebraska teen scores on first play after open heart surgery
(InvestigateTV) — Sometimes sports are about more than the final score.
For Jack Burke, a high school football player in Nebraska, a medical diagnosis at birth has never stopped him from competing — and a touchdown catch in his first play back from open heart surgery proved it.
Born with a rare heart defect
Burke was born with Scimitar syndrome, a rare heart defect in which babies are born with an underdeveloped right lung and pulmonary artery. The condition also affects blood flow to the right lung. Treatment often includes surgery, and many adults with the condition go on to live healthy lives.
“As a kid, I never really understood,” Burke said. “It was always natural for me that I had to push myself harder to keep up.”
His mother, Bridget Burke, says the condition was not initially considered dangerous for sports participation.
“His Scimitar Syndrome never really came into play as being dangerous for him to play sports,” she said.
The decision to operate
That changed in the spring of 2025, when Burke’s family and doctors decided it was time for a surgery that had been anticipated for years.
“I’ve kind of known I’ve had to get surgery my whole life,” Burke said. “Once I knew I could get the surgery sooner, I was all in. I wanted to get it so I could get back to sports.”
His father, Ryan Burke, says the timing was deliberate.
“This will be done before school gets started, and still have a chance to do almost everything you want to do,” Ryan Burke said.
Jack Burke underwent open-heart surgery, leaving a visible reminder of what he went through.
“There’s a six-inch scar in the middle of his chest that represents a pretty big thing that happened,” Ryan Burke said.
For Bridget Burke, the moment her son was taken to the operating room was difficult.
“When the rubber hits the road and your kid is being wheeled back to the OR, it is scary and emotional,” she said.
The comeback
Burke eased back into football following his cardiologist’s recommended recovery timeline. His return came in week three of the season.
“Before the Schuyler game I talked to his dad and he’s like, ‘I think we might be ready,’” said coach Jay Landstrom.
Bridget Burke says the family approached the return with caution.
“I mean, I was nervous. We didn’t really know how much he would play. It was going to be some cautious situations,” she said.
Those concerns were set aside — at least for a moment — when Burke caught a touchdown pass on his very first play back.
“All the parents were high-fiving everybody and they were like, ‘Was that really Jack?’” Bridget Burke said.
Landstrom called it a special moment.
“It was just meant to be and that was really special,” he said.
For Burke, the touchdown meant something beyond the scoreboard.
“I just remember one of my teammates came up to me and said, ‘He’s back. He’s back,’” Burke said. “It kind of shows something that tried to stop me — I hurdled that obstacle.”
Burke says the surgery has given him a new sense of freedom.
“Now I can do whatever I want. Nothing can hold me back,” he said.
Copyright 2026 Gray Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Nebraska
Nebraska Lottery results: See winning numbers for Pick 3, Pick 5 on April 19, 2026
The results are in for the Nebraska Lottery’s draw games on Sunday, April 19, 2026.
Here’s a look at winning numbers for each game on April 19.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from April 19 drawing
4-3-3
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 5 numbers from April 19 drawing
14-19-24-30-34
Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning 2 By 2 numbers from April 19 drawing
Red Balls: 01-02, White Balls: 09-26
Check 2 By 2 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning MyDay numbers from April 19 drawing
Month: 08, Day: 16, Year: 61
Check MyDay payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from April 19 drawing
32-42-52-53-55, Bonus: 05
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Nebraska Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 3, 5: By 10 p.m. CT daily.
- Lucky For Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
- 2 By 2: By 10 p.m. CT daily.
- MyDaY: By 10 p.m. CT daily.
- Lotto America: 9:15 p.m CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a USA Today editor. You can send feedback using this form.
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