Nebraska
LULAC leadership, in rare visit to NE, lays plans for pilot program focused on immigrant workers
OMAHA, Neb. (Nebraska Examiner) – Top leaders of the nation’s oldest and largest Latino civil rights group made a rare visit to Nebraska this week to meet with business and civic officials as they seek to strengthen a local presence and forge new opportunities for Latinos and immigrants.
“We see it as the new frontier and growth opportunity for LULAC and Nebraska and the Heartland,” said David Cruz, senior advisor and national communications director for the Washington D.C.-based League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC).
Cruz said the trip marks the first to a state chapter for president Roman Palomares since he was elected to his post July 1, a sign he said recognizes Nebraska’s “strategic importance” for the country’s fastest-growing economic and labor demographic.
The two were joined by Hector Flores, past president and senior advisor to the LULAC president.
Used like a piñata
State LULAC director Elsa Aranda of Lincoln said a key meeting was held with Bryan Slone, president of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry. The hope, she said, is to develop a pilot program that better taps the immigrant workforce to address the state’s labor shortage, and perhaps spread that model nationally.
“Immigration is being used like a piñata right now politically,” said Flores. He said LULAC is interested in ensuring that rights of immigrant workers are respected and in demonstrating how their contributions can contribute to local economies.
The group on Friday toured Metropolitan Community College’s 100,000-square-foot Automotive Training Center, which opened in late 2021 to prepare students for high-paying careers in the auto industry.
Palomares said he was impressed with the operation. He foresees LULAC working with Metro, whose student population is 18% Latino, to help build upon programming and perhaps bring successful models to other LULAC sites.
“My big deal is growing the youth and opportunities for young adults,” said Palomares.
While not a new presence in Nebraska, the LULAC advocacy organization, which has 535 councils and 145,000 members nationwide, has recently started to become more active locally.
It identifies as nonpartisan. But after their Omaha meetings, the LULAC team headed to Nevada, where members of the organization’s PAC executive board and others planned Saturday to announce their endorsement of Kamala Harris for president.
The political arm of the nearly century-old LULAC, formed in 1929 to protect rights of Americans of Mexican descent, says it marks the organization’s first endorsement of any president.
Attention to Nebraska
Within the last year, the national LULAC sent out media releases drawing attention to Nebraska events, including a fatal shooting of two Hispanic men by off-duty Omaha police officers and the Omaha City Council’s decision to overlook “three highly educated, successful Latino candidates” to fill a vacant seat and instead appoint a white male to represent the council district with the highest concentration of Latinos.
The national group also called out the Nebraska Chamber for not inviting LULAC to an earlier event regarding the state’s immigrant workforce.
Palomares said it was the same general subjects that prompted the visit: underrepresentation of Latinos in elected positions, police relations and immigration.
He said much work is ahead, but that he felt “well received” by those he met, including Slone, a few Omaha City Council members, a deputy Omaha police chief, Douglas County Commissioner Roger Garcia, State Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha.
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News
Nebraska Farm Bureau wants to capitalize on SAF potential
Nebraska Farm Bureau president Mark McHargue says his state has an opportunity to capitalize on the sustainable aviation fuel market.
Speaking to Brownfield at the American Farm Bureau Convention in San Antonio, Texas, he said Nebraska is developing a pipeline to capture carbon dioxide.
“So I think using our ethanol or corn stover to go into sustainable aviation fuel is going to be important.”
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – John Cook and the Nebraska volleyball team landed a big time transfer Sunday, getting a commitment from former Baylor star Allie Sczech.
The 6-foot-4 opposite hitter announced her commitment in a post on Instagram:
Courtesy @allie.sczech on Instagram
The Sugarland, Texas, native was previously the No. 32 recruit in the nation when she committed to Baylor in 2022.
Sczech finished the 2024 season with 268 kills, totaling 2.44 kills per set. She had a .273 hitting percentage and also totaled 0.65 blocks per set.
The Huskers have a big hole in the offense with the departure of outside hitter Merritt Beason, and Sczech’s high production will help fill that void.
Sczech will have one season of eligibility remaining.
Date: Sunday January 26th, 2025
Tipoff: Noon (CT).
Arena: Kohl Center (Madison, Wisconsin)
Radio: Sunday’s game will be carried on the Huskers Radio Network with Kent Pavelka and Jake Muhleisen on the call, including KLIN (1400 AM) in Lincoln, KXSP (590 AM) in Omaha and KRVN (880 AM) in Lexington. The pregame show begins an hour before tipoff and will also be available on Huskers.com and the Huskers app.
TV/Online: Sunday’s game will be on BTN with Kevin Kugler and Stephen Bardo on the call. It will also be available online on the Fox Sports app.
Jarek’s Pre-tipoff Thoughts: Ok, eventually Nebraska has to win a game in the conference again, right? This will be a big game for Connor Essegian, the former Badger who gets to play against his old team at his old home. The rest of the Huskers will have to match his intensity levels, as it is a different breed of animal to face a former team. If, and it’s a big if, they can do that, Nebraska just might have a chance. Nebraska’s last road game, which was Maryland, was a much better performance on the road than any other this season. Hopefully that momentum continues. Having said all of that, I just don’t see Nebraska winning, making the Conference losing streak 6 games. Prediction: Wisconsin 91 Nebraska 76.
Women’s Basketball
The style of play used by the Buckeyes – a full court press and pressure defense has flustered the Huskers in their most recent matchups. The Buckeyes try to take their opponent out of the game early and has an offense that comes at you from every position on the floor.
Can the Huskers stay composed and handle the early punches from the Buckeyes? Will they be in position to pull off one of their patented fourth quarter surges?
RV/25 Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. 12/12 Ohio State Buckeyes
Sunday, January 26, 2025, 2 p.m. (CT)
Pinnacle Bank Arena – Lincoln, Nebraska
Special Event: Pack PBA
Giveaway: ”For Three” Roller Banners (500)
Live TV: B1G+
Live Radio: Huskers Radio Network (1:30 p.m.)Matt Coatney (PBP), Jeff Griesch (Analyst)Lincoln (107.3 FM), Huskers.com, Huskers App
Live Stats: Huskers.com (statbroadcast – public)
RV/25 Nebraska Cornhuskers (15-4, 6-2 Big Ten)
12 – Jessica Petrie – 6-2 – So. – F – 5.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg
40 – Alexis Markowski – 6-3 – Sr. – C/F – 14.5 ppg, 8.2 rpg
2 – Logan Nissley – 6-0 – So. – G – 7.1 ppg, 1.8 rpg
14 – Callin Hake – 5-8 – Jr. – G – 6.9 ppg, 3.2 rpg
23 – Britt Prince – 5-11 – Fr. – G – 13.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg
Off the Bench
5 – Alberte Rimdal – 5-9 – Sr. – G – 6.4 ppg, 1.7 rpg
44 – Petra Bozan – 6-3 – Fr. – F/C – 5.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg
33 – Amiah Hargrove – 6-2 – Fr. – F – 4.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg
15 – Kendall Moriarty – 6-1 – Sr. – G – 3.9 ppg, 1.7 rpg
32 – Kendall Coley – 6-2 – Gr. – F/G – 2.3 ppg, 1.1 rpg
22 – Natalie Potts [Out] – 6-2 – So. – F – 14.4 ppg, 7.4 rpg
3 – Allison Weidner [Out] – 5-10 – RJr. – G – 3.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg
4 – Kennadi Williams – 5-4 – Fr. – G – Redshirt
Head Coach: Amy Williams (Nebraska, 1998) Ninth Season at Nebraska (152-115); 18th Season Overall (345-224)
12/12 Ohio State Buckeyes (18-1, 7-1 Big Ten)
32 – Cotie McMahon – 6-0 – Jr. – F – 16.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg
1 – Ajae Petty – 6-3 – Gr. – F – 10.4 ppg, 7.5 rpg
2 – Taylor Thierry – 6-1 – Sr. – G/F – 10.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg
21 – Chance Gray – 5-9 – Jr. – G – 15.1 ppg, 1.8 rpg
22 – Jaloni Cambridge – 5-7 – Fr. – G – 15.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg
Off the Bench
5 – Ava Watson – 5-8 – Fr. – G – 5.8 ppg, 1.0 rpg
22 – Kennedy Cambridge – 5-8 – RSo. – F – 4.9 ppg, 3.3 rpg
12 – Elsa Lemmila – 6-6 – Fr. – C – 4.6 ppg, 4.9 rpg
0 – Madison Greene – 5-8 – Gr. – G – 4.4 ppg, 1.1 rpg
55 – Eboni Walker – 6-0 – Gr. – F – 2.6 ppg, 2.1 rpg
Head Coach: Kevin McGuff (St. Joseph’s, Ind., 1992) 12th Season at Ohio State (216-107); 22nd Season Overall (471-206)
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