Nebraska

Nearly half of Nebraska foster kids suffered parental substance abuse, report shows

Published

1 year ago

October 18, 2024

Nearly half of Nebraska foster kids suffered parental substance abuse, report shows

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – A new report shows nearly half of the children in the custody of Nebraska DHHS were removed from their home because of parental substance abuse.

The Foster Care Review Office’s annual report to the Nebraska Legislature also indicated that most families in the child welfare system struggle to access the treatment they need.

Julie Larson, of Malcolm, knows the impact of addiction firsthand. Her adult daughter has struggled on and off with substance abuse for years and is unable to reliably care for her 7-year-old child, Emory.

“We would have Emory for a period of time when she was in treatment. She’d get out of treatment, do well for a period of time, and then relapse,” said Larson.

Emory has been living with Larson and her husband for more than two years. Larson is her parental delegate, but now they are working to gain guardianship of Emory.

“It got to the point where I just felt like the relapse was too much and Emory needed a more stable environment,” said Larson.

Julie Larson, of Malcolm, and her husband are working to gain guardianship of their 7-year-old granddaughter, Emory.(Julie Larson)

Larson said getting the guardianship process started was intimidating. “I didn’t know where to go, where to start,” said Larson.

A recommendation from Emory’s school to contact Lutheran Family Services led them to join the free Kinship Navigation program.

“They take you step by step through everything that needs to be done, including getting services for the child, getting services for the grandparents that are taking in the child, and getting through the legal system without having to retain that attorney,” said Larson.

Larson said the program has lifted an emotional and financial burden off her family. The process has also helped Emory understand what is happening.

“We’ve been very open and honest with her about her mother’s addiction and substance abuse. Going through the guardianship program, she loves when our navigator comes, she draws little pictures for her. She understands that once this program is complete, that it will be a more permanent home for her,” said Larson.

Larson added, the program has also helped them gain a better understanding of addiction and has made it easier for them to speak with their family and friends about it.

“Nobody chooses to be an addict or an alcoholic or a substance abuser. It just sneaks up and it gets these claws in you that are very, very difficult to get out of,” said Larson.

Lutheran Family Services also offers treatment programs for adults struggling with substance abuse, including parents who have had their children removed from the home or are at risk of removal.

“If they are not successfully tending to everything that comes with addiction, then they won’t be able to provide a healthy home for their children,” said Jamie Rich, Clinical Supervisor of the Adult Behavioral Health Program & Treatment Court Program at Lutheran Family Services.

LFS offers outpatient treatment with therapy, groups, and medication-assisted treatment, regardless of someone’s income or if they have insurance.

“My team’s job is to work with the parents to help them find the resources and treatment they need to get well, to find a solid recovery program and to be able to reunify with their family,” said Rich.

Rich said she’s seen countless stories of parents getting sober and regaining custody of their children but said it can take time to get there.

“It’s a disease that effects so much of the person’s life and those around them. Recovery is a process and sometimes a very long process. The more support and the more resources that we can build around a person, the more chance they have for success,” said Rich.

Parental substance abuse can lead to child abuse and neglect, according to the Nebraska child advocacy center, Project Harmony.

“It’s not unusual for children to be experiencing more than one type of abuse, including possible addiction of parents. What that means is those caregivers as well as those children are much more vulnerable to other types of abuse when there’s substance abuse happening,” said Colleen Brazil, the VP of Children’s Services at Project Harmony.

Brazil said that this can impact a child’s brain development. “When children have adverse childhood experiences, they become adults that then maybe struggle with mental health, addiction, and chronic health conditions,” said Brazil.

Project Harmony conducts forensic interviews with children to identify abuse and offers preventative resources for families. They also stress the importance of kids having other adults looking out for changes in behavior and making a call if concerns arise.

“That would be calling child protective services. We don’t have to know that something is definitely happening to make that call. I think it’s important to keep in mind that we won’t regret that we’ve made a call to check on a child, we might regret if we haven’t,” said Brazil.

Both Lutheran Family Services and Project Harmony can connect families with mental health services for kids as well.

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Nebraska

Marijuana reclassification order divides Nebraska leaders, advocates

Published

1 hour ago

December 20, 2025

Press Room

Marijuana reclassification order divides Nebraska leaders, advocates

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – President Donald Trump’s executive order to reclassify marijuana at the federal level is reigniting debate in Nebraska, where voters approved medical marijuana in 2024.

Trump signed the executive order on Thursday, directing federal agencies to reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I drug to Schedule III. The move does not legalize marijuana nationwide but opens the door for more medical research.

Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers joined attorneys general from seven other states in releasing a statement saying they are “concerned” with the order. Hilgers said the science shows marijuana should remain a Schedule I drug.

Sen. Pete Ricketts also opposes the move. He signed a letter with 14 other Republican senators urging Trump not to reschedule marijuana. The letter argues marijuana is linked to mental health issues, impaired driving and workplace accidents.

Local medical marijuana advocate Lia Post disagreed with state leaders’ opposition.

“It just comes to the point, when is enough enough?” Post said.

Post said the argument from state leaders ignores what Nebraska voters decided in November 2024 when they overwhelmingly approved medical marijuana.

“It does open up the door for research, which really makes me happy, and the ability to speak to my doctor. It’s hard to be excited when you know you’re just a part of the big, giant grift that is going on,” Post said.

The federal change would allow the FDA to study marijuana’s medical uses. That could potentially help veterans, seniors, and people with chronic pain. Advocates said it also removes excuses for state leaders to delay implementation.

“I feel like we are in the exact same place we always are with the people wanting medical cannabis, the current law supporting medical cannabis, but the elected officials stopping medical cannabis,” Post said.

The federal rescheduling process could take several more months to finalize. The executive order does not legalize recreational marijuana. Trump made that clear Thursday, saying he is not open to that.

“It is a big deal, it is change, and change is always a big deal. Anything to do with medical cannabis and politics, I have to find the joy in whatever small wins there are, because there are so few,” Post said.

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Nebraska

Nebraska football adds run game coordinator, defensive edge coach to staff

Published

13 hours ago

December 19, 2025

Press Room

Nebraska football adds run game coordinator, defensive edge coach to staff

Courtesy Nebraska Athletics

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Nebraska football is bolstering its staff with the addition of a run game coordinator and a defensive edge coach.

On Friday, head coach Matt Rhule announced the hiring of run game coordinator Lonnie Teasley and defensive edge coach Roy Manning.

Teasley spent the last five seasons with South Carolina, serving as the Gamecocks’ offensive line coach for the last three years.

He was also an assistant offensive line coach on Rhule’s Temple staff in 2014. Teasley also had stints with the Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Tech.

“Lonnie Teasley brings a wealth of offensive line coaching experience to our staff,” Rhule said in a press release. “Lonnie has had great success throughout his career and specifically has been one of the elite offensive tackle coaches in the country. He also has a proven track record as an excellent recruiter. Lonnie will make a positive impact on our coaching staff and the Nebraska Football program.”

Manning worked with new defensive coordinator Rob Aurich as a defensive edge coach at San Diego State in 2025. He helped the Aztecs rank among the nation’s top defenses.

Manning has also spent time coaching at USC, Michigan and Cincinnati.

“We are excited to add Roy Manning to our defensive staff,” Rhule said. “Along with Coach Aurich, he was a key part of the defensive transformation at San Diego State this past season. Roy has experience coaching defense from front to back and has coached at high-level programs throughout his career.”

Nebraska fired three assistant coaches following a lopsided loss to Iowa in November: defensive coordinator John Butler, offensive line coach Donovan Raiola and defensive line coach Terry Bradden.

Aurich has been hired to lead the defense and Geep Wade is Nebraska’s new offensive line coach.

SEE ALSO: Report: Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola to enter the transfer portal

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Nebraska

Husker Fans flock to NCAA Volleyball final four despite no Nebraska

Published

1 day ago

December 19, 2025

Press Room

Husker Fans flock to NCAA Volleyball final four despite no Nebraska

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – With 2025 NCAA Volleyball Championships in Kansas City this season, many Nebraska fans made plans ahead time given the driving distance to Lincoln. The Huskers lost in the regional final at home yet many fans still attended the final four.

“We just want to watch high-quality volleyball, grow the sport, and it’s a competitive sport, and there’s still four very good teams here,” Elizabeth Wright, a life-long Nebraska Volleyball fan, said.

Hundreds of Husker faithful dawned their red Nebraska gear as they entered the T Mobile Center on Thursday night with their team not playing. When asked about which team Nebraska fans would support, the majority of interviewees said Texas A&M.

“Part of me wants to watch Texas A&M win just because they beat us, and if they win, it gives us a little validation that we lost to the best team,” Karla Huneke, a Grand Island native and Nebraska Volleyball fan, said.

Overall, the surprise of Nebraska not making the NCAA Volleyball Championship didn’t impact Nebraskans from attending the final four.

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