Nebraska
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.”
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.
“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.
Nebraska Game and Parks is offering residents a chance to win prizes simply for getting outside and moving, as part of a challenge honoring America’s 250th birthday.
The Outdoor Nebraska 250-Mile Challenge invites participants to log miles through activities like walking, running, kayaking, horseback riding and more using any fitness app. The goal is to reach 250 miles before the end of the year. Once completed, participants fill out a form on the Nebraska Game and Parks website to become eligible for prizes.
Mike Selman, a regular walker at Zorinsky Lake, said the challenge caught his attention.
“I think it’s great, as long as you put in the time and effort,” Selman said.
Selman said getting outdoors is already a big part of his routine.
“I absolutely love it, I love being outdoors, just the beauty, the nature, the trees, the water,” Selman said.
He said one of his favorite aspects of the challenge is the opportunity to explore Nebraska’s many outdoor spaces.
“Especially here, around Zorinsky, Standing Bear, Flanagan, you got great opportunities and great places to go,” Selman said.
When asked if he planned to submit his miles, Selman did not hesitate.
“I’ll definitely think about it, most definitely,” Selman said.
Between Memorial Day and the end of the year, logging just over 1 mile a day would be enough to reach the 250-mile goal and qualify for prizes.
Download our apps today for all of our latest coverage.
Get the latest news and weather delivered straight to your inbox.
We’ll have to wait a bit longer to get into the Cowgirls’ Super Regional.
A rainy night in Lincoln meant the teams only managed to get four outs into the Super between Oklahoma State and Nebraska. The game is tied at 0. The weather delay lasted about two hours before they called it.
The game will resume at 4 p.m. Friday and be televised on ESPN2. They will not play another game Friday, as Game 2 will now take place at 4 p.m. Saturday.
The Nebraska football team added its third 2027 offensive line commitment and addition from the state of Georgia on Wednesday.
Loganville (Ga.) Grayson offensive lineman KD Jones officially announced his commitment to NU this week. The 6-foot-4, 270-pound Jones picked the Huskers over Georgia Tech, Auburn, Kentucky and Virginia Tech. He visited Lincoln on May 6 and is scheduled to take his official visit to Nebraska on June 6.
***JOIN HuskerOnline for $1 for your first 5 days, then get 50% off your first year***
The Huskers first offered Jones in April, after offensive line coach Geep Wade had previously been recruiting him at Georgia Tech.
“Coach Wade called me and offered me today,” Jones told HuskerOnline on Apr. 25. “He has been on me for a long time, ever since he was at Tech. So his interest wasn’t anything new to me. He came to watch me train at school and was amazed. He offered the next day.”
Jones joins safety Corey Hadley from the state of Georgia in NU’s 2027 recruiting class.
“I knew nothing about Nebraska before the offer,” Jones said in April. But now that Coach Wade and Coach (Lonnie) Teasley are there, I know I can trust them.”
Jones had planned to take official visits to all the schools recruiting him, but his early commitment to NU appears to have shut down those visits.
He jones Omaha (Neb.) Millard North’s Matt Erickson and fellow Grayson product Jordan Agbanoma are the other offensive linemen in the Huskers’ 2027 recruiting class. He’s now the 10th commitment in Nebraska’s class of 2027.
Never miss breaking news or another HuskerOnline article again. Click HERE to sign up for HuskerOnline’s Daily and Breaking News Newsletters
-
Utah2 minutes agoUtah man pardoned for Jan. 6 discusses new $1.7B ‘anti-weaponization fund’ from Trump DOJ
-
Vermont8 minutes agoYankee Magazine names these Vermont spots among New England’s prettiest
-
Virginia14 minutes agoVirginia Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 Night results for May 22, 2026
-
Wisconsin26 minutes agoWisconsin Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 results for May 22, 2026
-
West Virginia32 minutes agoNo. 9 West Virginia Battles Past No. 21 Arizona State, Punches Ticket to Big 12 Final
-
Wyoming38 minutes ago$1.1 million Wyoming home sale among the week’s top property transfers
-
Crypto44 minutes agoKraken Secures VARA Approval to Launch Crypto Trading and Staking in UAE
-
Finance50 minutes agoAussie who turned teen side hustle into $100 million empire pushes back at retail trend
