Nebraska emerged from the pandemic in 2022 with the worst workforce shortage in the U.S.
Businesses and governments statewide had more than 80,000 job openings and only 32 people looking for work for every 100 of those openings, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Unfortunately, according to the same dataset, Nebraska and Utah currently have the lowest available worker ratio to job openings in the U.S. Only 56 Nebraskans are looking for work for every 100 job openings, while the national average is 84 people looking for work for every 100 openings.
This is not a short-term problem. In 2022, there were 2,000 fewer Nebraska students enrolled in kindergarten than in the 12th grade, according to Nebraska Public Schools data.
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A possible solution
Business and trade association leaders say: “Immigrants are the solution!”
Omaha Together One Community (OTOC) leaders conducted more than 100 meetings over the past three years with Nebraska agricultural, health-care, labor, education, hospitality, philanthropic, faith, construction, immigrant, legal, banking, and community leaders to learn more about our workforce needs.
We learned that an owner of a dairy farm had been awake for almost 48 hours milking his cows because his short-term immigrant staff had to leave Nebraska when their work visas expired. We heard of immigrants with work visas who can come to the U.S. with their families, but their spouses and working-age children are not allowed to work.
We learned of Nebraskans who travel 90 miles each way to see an elderly grandmother because their local long-term care facility is closed due to an inability to hire adequate staff.
We also heard of community leaders who were concerned that their schools and churches were at risk of closing. They no longer had pharmacies, hardware stores and car repair shops. They were at risk of losing their grocery stores and coffee shops. They said loud and clear: “We don’t need immigrant workers! We need immigrant families!”
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A new alliance
As result of these meetings, a statewide non-partisan alliance has formed. The Nebraska Alliance for Thriving Communities includes leaders from across the state. This 70-member Alliance agrees on a common-sense set of immigration priorities to enrich our communities and address Nebraska’s workforce shortage.
According to a recent study funded by the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce Foundation, “There is universal and widespread business support for immigration reform as a means to address the workforce gap in Nebraska. Participants clearly understood that the demand generated from the state’s current economic growth trajectory will exceed the state’s projected workforce supply. Nebraska’s decreasing birth rate coupled with a high labor force participation rate will require a talent influx in order to meet the needs of the state’s strong projected economic growth. There was universal consensus that immigration is critical to the state’s ability to continue to grow and prosper.”
Omaha Together One Community agrees! Nebraska needs more immigrants, not less!
Kathleen Grant is a leader of Omaha Together One Community Omaha Together One Community, a 30-year-old organization of 30 church congregations and community organizations that trains leaders to work across barriers for the common good.
Nebraska Cornhuskers (12-7, 2-6 Big Ten) at Wisconsin Badgers (15-4, 5-3 Big Ten)
Madison, Wisconsin; Sunday, 1 p.m. EST
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BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Badgers -7.5; over/under is 151.5
BOTTOM LINE: No. 18 Wisconsin faces Nebraska after John Tonje scored 24 points in Wisconsin’s 85-83 loss to the UCLA Bruins.
The Badgers are 10-1 on their home court. Wisconsin is sixth in the Big Ten scoring 82.5 points while shooting 47.1% from the field.
The Cornhuskers have gone 2-6 against Big Ten opponents. Nebraska is 0-3 in one-possession games.
Wisconsin makes 47.1% of its shots from the field this season, which is 5.7 percentage points higher than Nebraska has allowed to its opponents (41.4%). Nebraska averages 5.3 more points per game (76.4) than Wisconsin gives up (71.1).
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The Badgers and Cornhuskers match up Sunday for the first time in conference play this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Max Klesmit is averaging 10.4 points for the Badgers. John Blackwell is averaging 17.7 points over the last 10 games.
Brice Williams is scoring 18.5 points per game with 3.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists for the Cornhuskers. Juwan Gary is averaging 13.9 points and 4.5 rebounds while shooting 42.5% over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Badgers: 7-3, averaging 82.1 points, 31.6 rebounds, 15.5 assists, 4.5 steals and 2.1 blocks per game while shooting 48.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 73.0 points per game.
Cornhuskers: 5-5, averaging 73.2 points, 32.6 rebounds, 13.5 assists, 7.1 steals and 2.8 blocks per game while shooting 46.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 70.4 points.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Wisconsin will look to bounce back after failing to sweep its games out west with a home game on Sunday afternoon against a spiraling Nebraska squad.
The Badgers have asserted themselves as one of the best teams in the Big Ten this season, and with that comes taking care of business against the likes of a bottom feeding team in the conference like the Cornhuskers.
Can Wisconsin return home and win in a big way?
Let’s find out below.
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Moneyline
Total: 151.5 (Over -105/Under -115)
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook
Nebraska
Brice Williams: The veteran forward has struggled to shoot in Big Ten play, down to 32% after flirting with 40% shooting from behind the three-point line in non conference play. While he is a consistent scorer, it hasn’t been as efficient which has coincided with the Cornhuskers overall Big Ten struggles.
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Wisconsin
John Tonje: One of the best newcomers to any team in the country, Tonje responded to his quiet effort against USC last weekend in which he scored zero points to pour in 24 points on six three-point makes against one of the best defenses in the nation in UCLA. While it was a loss, Tonje is the straw that stirs the drink for the Badgers high octane offense.
Nebraska has struggled on both sides of the floor in Big Ten play, and I don’t see it getting better in this matchup against Wisconsin.
The Cornhuskers compact defense yields the three-point shot, allowing opponents to post a near-49% three-point rate this season that ranks in the top 10 in the country. However, this plays right into the hands of Wisconsin, a fantastic three-point shooting team (85th in the country) on a top 40 rate in the nation.
With the ability to run its preferred offense, the Badgers should dictate the terms of this one while also contending nicely on the defensive side of the floor. The Cornhuskers’ three-point shooting is limited and is reliant on getting to the rim, but that’s tough to come by on the Badgers, who rank top 80 in the country in average shot proximity, per Haslametrics.
Nebraska has been competitive despite being mired in a five game Big Ten losing streak, losing its last three games by five points or less, but the matchup edges side with Wisconsin that I can’t look past laying it with the home team.
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PICK: Wisconsin -7.5
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The Nebraska women’s basketball team may be able to give some pointers to Nebraska men’s basketball.
As the men continue to fall apart, the Husker women have the train rolling, crushing Wisconsin 91-60 Monday night at Pinnacle Bank Arena to extend its winning streak to five games thanks to a balanced scoring attack, including a team-high 17 points from Kendall Moriarty off the bench. Jessica Petrie (15), Britt Prince (14), Alexis Markowski (12) and Petra Bozan (10) made up the five double figure scorers for NU who shot over 54% from the field while going a staggering 16-for-32 from beyond the arc.
It was a perfect tune up game as Nebraska puts that winning streak on the line against a top-12 Ohio State team with only one loss on its schedule in 18 games.
Here’s all you need to know as the Huskers battle the No. 12 Buckeyes Sunday in Lincoln for the “Pack PBA” game.
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How to Follow Along
No. 12 Ohio State Scout
Head Coach: Kevin McGuff | 12th Season at Ohio State; 23rd as HC | 216-103 (.676) at Ohio State; 471-202 (.699) Career Record | 13x NCAA Tournament Appearances, 2x Elite Eights, 3x Sweet 16s; As AC: National Champion (2001) | 4x B1G Regular Season titles, 1x B1G Tournament title, 3x A10 Regular Season titles, 4x A10 Tournament titles | 1x B1G Coach OTY (2024) | Previous Head Coach at Washington and Xavier | Previous Assistant at Notre Dame and Miami (Ohio).
2023-24 Record: 26-6 (16-2 B1G, 1st) | 1x All-American, 1x All-American Honorable Mention, B1G Defensive Player & Coach OTY, 2x All-Big Ten First Team, 2x All-Big Ten Second Team, 2x All-Defensive Team, 2x Honorable Mentions | L, 75-63 to Duke in NCAA Round of 32.
All-Time Series: Ohio State leads 14-9 (February 14, 2024 last matchup; 80-47 OSU).
Key Returners: Cotie McMahon, F, Jr. | Taylor Thierry, G/F, Sr. | Madison Greene, G, Gr.
Key Departures: Jacy Sheldon, G (Eligibility) | Celeste Taylor, G (Eligibility) | Rebeka Mikulášiková, F (Eligibility) | Rikki Harris, G, Gr. (Dayton) | Emma Shumate, G, R-Jr. (Michigan State) | Taiyier Parks, F (Eligibility) | Eboni Walker, F (Eligibility).
Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Kevin McGuff motions during the first half of the NCAA women’s basketball game against the Charlotte 49ers at Value City Arena on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. Ohio State won 94-53. / Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Outlook: With at least 24 wins in seven of his 12 seasons, including an Elite Eight and three Sweet 16s, Kevin McGruff has established Ohio State as a perennial contender in the Big Ten, and that hasn’t changed so far through the 2024-2025 season.
Coming off 26 wins and an appearance in the NCAA Round of 32, OSU lost a ton of production which included All-Big Ten AP All-American Jacy Sheldon and All-Big Ten second team pick Celeste Taylor who was also named the conference defensive player of the year by the coaches. In total, 62% of last season’s minutes departed the program including the transfer of Rikki Harris to Dayton after playing in 31 of the 32 games for the Buckeyes.
Despite the turnover, McGruff and OSU returned two of its biggest stars with AP All-American Honorable Mention Cotie McMahon coming back for her junior season in Columbus. She’s been leading the charge for Ohio State despite missing four games with a team-high 16.6 PPG while grabbing 4.6 rebounds per contest. Hybrid guard Taylor Thierry is back for her senior season and is once again averaging double digits (10.2 PPG) while shooting over 58% from the field and grabbing 5.7 rebounds per game which is second on the team.
Ohio State Buckeyes forward Cotie McMahon (32) moves down court on defense during the NCAA women’s basketball game against the Charlotte 49ers at Value City Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024. Ohio State won 94-53. / Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
A trio of newcomers replenished the star power lost by OSU over the offseason. Oregon transfer Chance Gray has poured in 15.9 points per game through her first 18 games as a Buckeye while shooting 40.6% from three. More impressively, true freshman guard Jaloni Cambridge has cracked the starting lineup and has taken off with 15.4 points per game and leads the team with 4.1 assists per game. The other big addition through the transfer portal has been Kentucky’s Ajae Petty who has come into Columbus averaging 10.6 PPG and 7.9 RPG as a 6-foot-3 forward.
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Averaging 83.4 points (2nd in B1G) and 13.6 steals (1st in B1G) per game, Ohio State is dangerous on both ends of the floor. Coming off a shocking 62-59 loss to Penn State on the road, the Buckeyes will be out for blood to rebound from its first loss of the season. Put me down for an Ohio State win, but with a huge crowd expected for Sunday afternoon, crazier upsets have happened inside PBA.
MORE: How to Watch Nebraska Men’s Basketball at No. 18 Wisconsin: Preview, Breakdown, TV Channel
MORE: Remembering Calvin Jones
MORE: Big Ten Basketball Games of the Weekend: Michigan and Purdue Highlight a Loaded Slate
MORE: Nebraska Softball to Play Nationally Televised Game on MLB Network
MORE: Nebrasketball Brunch Show: What Happens Next?
Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI, subscribing to HuskerMax on YouTube, and visiting HuskerMax.com daily.
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