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Medicaid cuts threaten Nebraska youth

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Medicaid cuts threaten Nebraska youth


Advocates for young Nebraskans worry proposed federal cuts could affect families who rely on Medicaid for their health care.

A new national report showed the number of children covered by the program is already heading in the wrong direction. The Georgetown University Center for Children and Families said nearly 4.2 million fewer children were enrolled in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program by the end of 2023, as states cut their Medicaid rolls when pandemic-related assistance programs ended.

Rebecca Firestone, executive director of Nebraska’s Open Sky Policy Institute, said further cuts could affect children whose families have Medicaid as their health insurance.

“Fifty-three percent of the Medicaid population in Nebraska is children,” Firestone pointed out. “Potentially, their health insurance coverage is affected if there has to be substantial cuts to Medicaid.”

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Firestone noted the number is on the rise. Nebraska already faces a $432 million budget shortfall, which means if federal Medicaid cuts happen, there are no state dollars in the budget to make up the difference.

Firestone emphasized reduced federal funds would also have an outsize effect on Nebraska’s rural health care providers.

“Sixty-eight percent of hospitals in Nebraska are located in rural areas,” Firestone noted. “Most of them are very reliant on Medicaid as well as Medicare. About half of all of Nebraska’s hospitals are operating in the red, including about 60% small, rural hospitals.”

She explained state lawmakers were able to leverage $1.4 billion in additional federal Medicaid money last year, $260 million of which was directed to local hospitals. She added funding shortfalls would force them to consider cuts to public schools to help pay for Medicaid.

Joan Alker, executive director of the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families, said Medicaid should have been an issue in the November election.

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“There was complete silence about it, despite the fact that it is the largest source of public coverage by far in the United States,” Alker stressed. “It’s also a very popular program with the voters of all political stripes.”

Alker added some proposals in Congress call for nearly $2.5 trillion in cuts to Medicaid.





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Nebraska legend Ndamukong Suh picked for College Football Hall of Fame

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Nebraska legend Ndamukong Suh picked for College Football Hall of Fame


Nebraska legend Ndamukong Suh was selected to the 2026 College Football Hall of Fame class. Suh is one of 18 players announced by the National Football Foundation and the College Football Hall of Fame.

Suh played at Nebraska from 2005 to 2009. His senior season is one of the legendary seasons in college football.

During that year, he played in 14 games and recorded 85 tackles, 20.5 for loss, and 12.0 sacks. He was a finalist for the 2009 Heisman trophy and was the first defensive player named the Associated Press College Football Player of the Year.

The Portland, Oregon native was drafted second overall by the Detroit Lions in the 2009 NFL draft. He also played for Miami, Los Angeles, Tampa Bay and Philadelphia during his NFL career.

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Suh becomes the 21st Nebraska player inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. He is the fourth Husker defensive lineman, joining Wayne Meylan, Rich Glover and Grant Wistrom.

The 2026 NFF College Football Hall of Fame Class will officially be inducted on Dec. 8, 2026, at Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. 

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes and opinions.





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Two Nebraska schools receive national recognition for academic achievement

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Two Nebraska schools receive national recognition for academic achievement


OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Two Nebraska schools have been nationally recognized for academic achievement. One of the schools is here in Omaha.

Adams Elementary in Omaha and Bridgeport Elementary in Bridgeport are among the 63 schools nationwide named to the 2025 National ESEA Distinguished Schools.

Nebraska’s Department of Education says Adams Elementary was recognized for closing the achievement gap between student groups.

Bridgeport Elementary is recognized for exceptional student performance and academic growth.

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2026 Men’s NCAA Tournament Projections: Nebraska Jumps to No. 1 Seed, Michigan Falls

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2026 Men’s NCAA Tournament Projections: Nebraska Jumps to No. 1 Seed, Michigan Falls


Is Nebraska for real? That’s the million-dollar question at the midway point of the 2025-26 men’s college basketball season.

The Cornhuskers sit at 16-0 heading into a home matchup against Oregon on Tuesday night. They’re one of just five remaining undefeated teams in Division 1, but is that enough for Fred Hoiberg’s team to be pegged as a No. 1 seed?

With a loaded week of college basketball on deck, FOX Sports bracket forecaster Mike DeCourcy is here to share his latest NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament projections.

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Here’s where DeCourcy’s projected bracket stands on Jan. 13.

EAST REGION

SOUTH REGION

MIDWEST REGION

WEST REGION

And it’s never too early to check in on the bubble.

According to DeCourcy’s projections, Texas A&M, Indiana, Missouri and Virginia Tech are the last four teams in the tournament, while UCLA, Ohio State, NC State and TCU are the first four out.

As for conference representation, the SEC leads the way with 10 teams in DeCourcy’s latest tournament projections, followed by the Big Ten and ACC with nine teams, the Big 12 with eight teams and the Big East with four teams. The West Coast Conference and Atlantic 10 also have two teams each.

Selection Sunday is two months away, and these projections will inevitably evolve. But for now, DeCourcy’s latest bracket forecast offers a clear snapshot of who’s rising, who’s falling, and which programs are already building the résumés they’ll need when March arrives.

Michael DeCourcy covers college basketball for FOX Sports with an emphasis on NCAA Tournament bracket projections. He has appeared on FOX Sports college basketball game broadcasts, while also serving as a college basketball studio analyst with Big Ten Network. He has been covering college basketball for nearly three decades at the Sporting News. You can follow him at @tsnmike.

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