Nebraska
Summer food aid program Gov. Jim Pillen at first snubbed is deemed a ‘success’ • Nebraska Examiner
LINCOLN – A federally funded summer food aid program for low-income youths — which Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen initially rejected but later accepted — wrapped up with greater-than-anticipated participation.
Nebraska officials have already signed up for next summer.
“Lots of families we’ve talked to are saying they were able to stretch their dollars longer, buy healthier foods because of these benefits,” said Eric Savaiano, food and nutrition access for nonprofit Nebraska Appleseed. “We’re really proud of our state for getting it up and going.”
Early on, state officials estimated that 175,000 students, or 80,000 households, would be eligible to receive grocery assistance through the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) program.
Appleseed, in pushing Nebraska to participate in the optional program largely funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, had estimated that 150,000 kids who qualify for free and reduced school lunches would be eligible.
As it turned out, the initiative across the state served 199,272 students, or 121,855 families, according to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.
This program reflects our dedication to ensuring that every child has access to healthy meals, and we look forward to continuing this important work together.
– Shannon Grotrian, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services
Under the Summer EBT initiative, each qualifying child receives a card to be used like a debit card loaded with a total of $120 in grocery-buying benefits. The effort, administered by DHHS in partnership with the Nebraska Department of Education, is designed by the federal government to provide access to nutritious food during summer months when school is out.
Nebraska’s participation translated into the distribution of nearly $24 million in grocery benefits, the state said.
Shannon Grotrian, director of the DHHS Office of Economic Assistance, said officials are “thrilled with the success” of the program she said has made a “significant impact on our communities.”
“This program reflects our dedication to ensuring that every child has access to healthy meals, and we look forward to continuing this important work together,” said Grotrian.
The summer food program drew extensive attention after Pillen balked late last year at opting into it, describing Summer EBT as a leftover from the pandemic that he said was now over.
He later added that he didn’t believe in “welfare,” which prompted more criticism.
Pillen ultimately reversed his stand on accepting the youth-focused food aid.
He added a twist when implementing the program, which state officials dubbed the “Nebraska way” of providing additional outreach that connected families with other resources as well.
The DHHS said the outreach led to about 5,000 referrals for Nebraska families in need of help with utility payments, health care, child care assistance and behavioral health resources.
About 2,000 families were referred to a separate and supplemental food service program, operated by the Nebraska Department of Education, in which kids visit community sites that offer free meals. A total of 6,650 families were provided meals in 2024 through that Summer Food Service Program, DHHS said, a 21% increase from the previous year.
Federal rules for the Summer EBT program called for benefits to be used within 122 days of issuance via the cards — or they’d be expunged and returned to the federal government.
Savaiano suspects that a better system of “getting the word out” contributed to higher than expected participation in the summer program.
He credited the state for its efforts, which also included informational websites.
The state more recently sent out letters notifying families of expiration dates as they approached.
GET THE MORNING HEADLINES.
LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – The Nebraska baseball team lost to Kansas 9-7 on Tuesday in front of a record crowd at Hoglund Park. The Huskers took an early lead on an RBI single by National Freshman of the Week Drew Grego. After giving up three unanswered runs, Nebraska rallied to go back in front on a 3rd-inning single by Will Jesske. Both Grego and Jesske finished with two hits in the game.
Kansas, however, took control in the middle innings. The Jayhawks got home runs from Tyson Owens and Josh Dykoff in the sixth frame. Both round-trippers came off NU relief pitcher Ty Horn. Kansas added insurance in the 7th inning before a late rally by the Huskers.
Nebraska trimmed a five-run deficit to two, but couldn’t complete the comeback on the road.
The Huskers’ loss is their second to the Jayhawks this season. Nebraska’s record drops to 31-10 overall.
Will Bolt’s team returns to action on Friday at Illinois. Game one is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. in Champaign.
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Copyright 2026 KOLN. All rights reserved.
Softball
April 21, 2026
Nebraska jumps up to No. 2 in college softball Power 10 rankings
April 21, 2026
Check out Michella Chester’s updated college softball Power 10 rankings for the week of April 21, which sees Nebraska rise to No. 2 behind an 11-game win streak.
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.
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