LINCOLN, Neb. (Nebraska Today) – Nebraska’s Leading Economic Indicator, designed to predict economic activity six months into the future, rose 0.42% in April.

“The monthly report suggests the Nebraska economy will grow during the fourth quarter of 2024,” said economist Eric Thompson, director of the Bureau of Business Research, department chair and K.H. Nelson College Professor of Economics. “Overall, while the Nebraska economy struggled in the first quarter of 2024, growth is expected to accelerate mid-year and continue through to the fourth quarter.”

The six components of the indicator are business expectations, building permits for single-family homes, airline passenger counts, initial claims for unemployment insurance, the value of the U.S. dollar and manufacturing hours worked. Three components improved during April.

“Nebraska manufacturing hours worked grew again in April, as the state and national manufacturing industry continued to strengthen,” Thompson said. “The labor market also strengthened during April.”

Business expectations were positive, as respondents to the April Survey of Nebraska Business reported plans to increase sales and employment over the next six months. Initial claims for unemployment insurance also fell.

Read the full report and a technical report describing the indicators.

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OMAHA, Neb. – Two days after devastating storms ravaged Nebraska and Iowa, causing widespread damage and flooding, another series of severe storms is poised to hit the same areas on Thursday.

These storms have the potential for tornadoes and unusually large hail, posing significant risks to the threatened regions.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

Within the Great Plains corridor, the FOX Forecast Center said an area of enhanced wind likelihood is most likely to develop across the Central Plains during Wednesday evening. Some of these gusts should be significant, reaching 75-85 mph before they move through the previously tornado-impacted areas overnight.

The best chance of severe storms will be from Nebraska into the Dakotas as a developing area of low pressure moves out into the Plains. While moisture may be limited, significant heating will result in a few storms across the western areas by late Thursday afternoon.

POWERFUL IMAGES CAPTURE DEADLY DEVASTATION FROM TORNADO’S AFTERMATH IN GREENFIELD, IOWA

NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center has placed a swath of eastern Nebraska and northern Kansas in a Level 3 out of 5 severe weather risk Wednesday with a much wider area covering over 20 million people across much of the Plains in a Level 2 out of 5 risk.

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Elsewhere, severe storms will remain rather scattered across the southern Plains through the Mid-South but could become quite strong during the afternoon and evening hours, the FOX Forecast Center said.

Wichita, Kansas, Oklahoma City and Dallas are among the major cities that may encounter this significant weather event.

A Level 1 severe weather threat also extends across the mid-Atlantic into the Interstate 95 corridor across New England on Thursday, including the major cities of New York City, Boston, Washington and Philadelphia. 

Thunderstorms may bring large hail or damaging wind gusts here, but the tornado threat is minimal. 

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Nebraska baseball defeated Purdue on Wednesday night to stay alive in the Big Ten tournament.

The Huskers won 6-2 at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, a different story from their bruising loss to Ohio State the night before.

The Boilermakers scored first, on a Luke Gaffney home run.

But Nebraska’s offense got going in the second inning, racking up four runs.

Gabe Swansen homered in the third inning, and Josh Caron hit another homer in the ninth to ice the game.

SEE ALSO: Husker baseball’s Brett Sears named Big Ten Pitcher of the Year

Husker pitcher Brett Sears struck out nine batters in his six innings on the mound. He recorded the win and is now 9-0.

The tournament is a double-elimination playoff.

Wednesday’s loss eliminates Purdue from the tourney.

The Huskers will play the loser of the Indiana vs. Ohio State game on Friday at 2 p.m.