Nebraska

Nebraska voter survey shows heavy support for more state investment in early learning, child care • Nebraska Examiner

Published

2 years ago

May 1, 2024

Nebraska voter survey shows heavy support for more state investment in early learning, child care • Nebraska Examiner

LINCOLN — More than 80% of respondents in a new statewide survey agree, and about half strongly agree, that Nebraska lawmakers should support child care and early learning programs as they do for K-12 grades and higher education.

About the same proportions believe state legislators should make child care and early learning a higher priority than it is today.

And the bulk of parents, nonparents, rural and urban folks alike favored using a portion of a state budget surplus to help pay for better services.

Those were among results of the survey released Wednesday and conducted for We Care for Kids/Por todos los niños and the Nebraska Extension early childhood development arm.

“This survey is a message from Nebraskans for lawmakers to act, and act big, on access to quality, affordable child care and early learning,” said Kathleen Lodl, associate dean at Nebraska Extension.

Dimensions Education Programs in Lincoln provides a hands-on, experiential approach to learning that is based on the needs and curiosity of young children. We Care for Kids is a campaign in the state that is raising awareness of the importance of quality early childhood education in Nebraska. (Courtesy of We Care for Kids)

New Bridge Strategy in January interviewed 501 registered voters representing various backgrounds, political affiliations and parts of the state. The margin of error is plus or minus 4.38% for the overall sample.

Results of the partnership’s third annual survey are to be distributed to legislators, policymakers and others in an effort to rally for increased attention to affordable and quality child care services, says Claire Wiebe of We Care for Kids.

The partnership of more than 120 state and community-based organizations is coordinated by the Buffett Early Childhood Institute at the University of Nebraska. The survey comes amidst alarm in the industry.

According to the partnership, 91% of counties in Nebraska with child care facilities do not have enough available slots to meet demand, and 11 counties have no licensed child care facilities.

Nearly 30% of home-based child care providers and 20% of center-based teachers depend on some type of public assistance.

Wiebe said various communities are working to improve access to affordable child care and early learning programming and “can’t do it alone.”

Citing the survey, she said, “Clearly, there is a strong desire to fix Nebraska’s child care crisis and for state government to do its part.”

Morgan Williams reads to her son in Eustis, NE. We Care for Kids is a campaign in the state that is raising awareness of the importance of quality early childhood education in Nebraska. (Courtesy of We Care for Kids)

Lori Weigel of New Bridge led the survey and said a “bottom line” takeaway was that Nebraska voters value early education and childcare as a key to the state’s economic and social well-being.

“People are connecting the dots with the economy, ” she said.

Weigel pointed to the 83% of respondents who said access to quality and affordable child care is essential or very important to strengthening the economy.

She also pointed out feedback to a question about whether those surveyed would support investing as much as $190 million annually over a decade to boost early learning and child care programming. Respondents were told Nebraska has a $2 billion surplus.

To that spending proposition, 79% were supporters and 18% opposed the idea.

Online respondents were asked to explain their support. Top answers: children are the future of Nebraska (21%); early childhood education is important and education is a priority (17%); quality education helps children develop properly (14%).

Top reasons among the share who opposed the investment: too much money overall (24%); money should go to other priorities (24%); more money to schools won’t help (14%).

Wiebe said some positive movement was made during the past legislative session, including an amended Legislative Bill 856, which changed a Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services rule that prohibited home child care providers from receiving free child care assistance for their own children. She said LB 1416, amended into LB 164, also supported early childhood education and showed lawmakers were interested in improvements.

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Nebraska

Nebraska Cornhuskers could lure 4,000-yard QB away from Big Ten football rival | Sporting News

Published

4 hours ago

December 23, 2025

Press Room

Nebraska Cornhuskers could lure 4,000-yard QB away from Big Ten football rival | Sporting News

The Nebraska Cornhuskers are in search of a new quarterback. While there appear to be a few on the market, one of them appears to reportedly be interested in replacing Dylan Raiola.

Enter Michigan State Spartans transfer quarterback Aidan Chiles.

Nebraska coach Matt Rhule is focused on what’s best for his team, and although he didn’t mention Chiles by name, he is intrigued by the possibilities of a new signal-caller.

“We’re really grateful for all he did, and if he needs a fresh start,” Rhule told reporters. I’ll pray that he finds the right place and has a lot of success. With that being said, there are a lot of great quarterbacks out there, and a lot of them want to play at Nebraska.”

According to On3’s Pete Nakos, Raiola’s Nebraska exit opens the door for Chiles.

“Two schools have been mentioned early on for the Michigan State quarterback,” Nakos wrote. “Sources have linked Aidan Chiles to Cincinnati and Nebraska. The Cornhuskers are not only looking at one quarterback.”

Nakos followed up by reiterating how strategic this process will be in Lincoln.

“Sources have said Matt Rhule is evaluating the entire quarterback field in the portal, and that could include Boston College’s Dylan Lonergan and Notre Dame’s Kenny Minchey, among others.”

We’ll see how the Cornhuskers end up, but it seems some preliminary movement is just beginning.

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Nebraska

Nebraska Emerging as Contender for 2027 Edge Rusher

Published

16 hours ago

December 22, 2025

Press Room

Nebraska Emerging as Contender for 2027 Edge Rusher

Nebraska continues to make its presence felt on the recruiting trail, this time turning attention toward 2027 three-star edge prospect Griff Galloway.

The Cornhuskers have positioned themselves as a serious contender early in the process, signaling their intent to build future defensive depth with a versatile pass rusher who’s already drawing national interest. As Galloway’s recruitment heats up, Nebraska’s involvement underscores the program’s commitment to securing impact talent for the years ahead.

Galloway, a defensive line prospect from Providence Day School in Charlotte, North Carolina, stands at 6-foot-3 and weighs 240 pounds. A member of the Class of 2027, Galloway has already drawn attention on the recruiting trail, earning a player rating of 88 from 247Sports. He ranks as the No. 45 defensive lineman nationally and is among the top prospects in North Carolina, positioning himself as a name to watch as his timeline unfolds.

Galloway’s recruitment has quickly gained momentum, with the Providence Day standout already collecting ten scholarship offers. Among the programs showing strong interest, Nebraska, SMU, Notre Dame, and Tennessee have emerged as the schools in the final mix. As the Class of 2027 defensive lineman continues to evaluate his options, these four programs stand out as the leading contenders for his commitment, underscoring the national attention his talent has drawn at an early stage.

According to MaxPreps, Galloway has shown steady production across his high school career at Providence Day. As a junior, he recorded 27 solo tackles and 39 assists for a total of 66 stops, averaging 5.5 tackles per game with 13 tackles for loss. His sophomore campaign was even more impressive, as he tallied 31 solo tackles and 48 assists, finishing with 79 total tackles, 6.6 per game, and ten tackles for loss.

Several schools are starting to stand out for 2027 EDGE Griff Galloway, according to @ChadSimmons_ 👀
Read: https://t.co/x6Oa8PXNGy pic.twitter.com/mMAQszZZgb
— Rivals (@Rivals) December 19, 2025
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Galloway first made his mark as a freshman, posting 39 solo tackles and 21 assists for 60 total, averaging 4.6 per game with 9 tackles for loss. The numbers highlight his consistency and growth as a disruptive force on the defensive line.

On film, Galloway flashes several standout traits that make him a compelling defensive prospect. His quick first step allows him to penetrate gaps and disrupt plays right at the snap, while his relentless motor ensures he pursues ball carriers across the field with consistent energy. Galloway’s versatility is another asset, as he has lined up both inside and outside, showing the flexibility to play on the edge or slide into a 3-tech role depending on scheme.

The production backs up the tape. His MaxPreps numbers reveal steady growth in tackles and tackles for loss each season, underscoring his ability to finish plays and impact games at multiple levels of the defense.

While Galloway’s film shows plenty of promise, there are clear areas for growth that could elevate his game. He needs refinement in hand usage and pad level to consistently win battles against stronger offensive linemen, ensuring he can maintain leverage and control at the point of attack. In addition, developing a wider array of pass-rush counters will be crucial to his progression, helping him move beyond being a solid disruptor to becoming a true difference-maker on the defensive front.

Grateful to be named RBC player of the week vs Rolesville @ChadGrier_ @PrepRedzoneNC @pepman704 @247recruiting @RBC pic.twitter.com/zlqa4DFMah
— Griff Galloway (@Griff_Galloway) September 6, 2025

Nebraska’s defensive vision under Matt Rhule emphasizes toughness and versatility up front, and Galloway’s skill set fits seamlessly into that approach. With the ability to line up both on the edge and inside, his size and motor make him a natural fit for the Huskers’ multiple 3 looks. Nebraska is actively recruiting pass rushers to strengthen its defensive line rotation, and Galloway’s recruitment shows the program’s commitment to targeting national prospects with high upside.

With continued development, Galloway projects as a player who could contribute early in a rotational role before growing into a starter capable of setting the edge and generating consistent pressure. If the Huskers can secure him, he’d be a valuable addition to their 2027 class, offering both immediate depth and long-term upside as a disruptive edge presence.

No. 15 Nebraska’s offense picks up in second half to put away UND

Published

1 day ago

December 22, 2025

Press Room

No. 15 Nebraska’s offense picks up in second half to put away UND

LINCOLN, Neb. — No. 15 Nebraska found itself in a rock fight with UND at halftime on Sunday evening.

The Cornhuskers shot 28.1% from the field, barely worse than the Fighting Hawks’ 31.3%, and trailed by two points.

It didn’t take long for the Husker offense to find its rhythm in the second half, though.

Undefeated Nebraska (12-0) pulled away quickly for a 78-55 win at the Pinnacle Bank Arena, shooting 63.3% in the second half.

The Huskers found scoring from across the lineup, as four different players notched 12 or more points. Forward Braden Frager led the way with 17 points.

UND freshman forward Marley Curtis (0) shoots the ball against Nebraska Cornhuskers forward Braden Frager (5), forward Pryce Sandfort (21) and guard Cale Jacobsen (31) during the second half at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Neb., on Sunday, Dec 21, 2025.

Dylan Widger/IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

UND fell to 5-10. The Hawks will close up non-conference play next Sunday, hosting Dakota State.

The Hawks ended the day shooting 33.3%. They actually were better from beyond the arc than from the field, shooting 34.5% from deep with 10 triples.

Senior guard Eli King scored a team-high 13 points. Freshman forward Marley Curtis contributed 10 points and six rebounds after missing last Thursday’s game against Winthrop.

Redshirt sophomore guard Zach Kraft did not play against Nebraska. He was out due to illness, according to the broadcast.

King started hot, nailing two 3-pointers as UND jumped out to an 8-2 lead.

NCAA Basketball: North Dakota at Nebraska — UND freshman guard Anthony Smith III (9) drives against Nebraska Cornhuskers guard Cale Jacobsen (31) during the second half at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Neb., on Sunday, Dec 21, 2025.

The Hawks clung onto a slight advantage for the entire first half, leading by as much as nine points. By halftime, they led the Huskers 26-24.

Nebraska, which entered Sunday’s contest averaging 11.2 3-pointers per game, shot 2-for-18 from beyond the arc in the first half.

The Huskers ripped off a quick 6-0 to start the second half, capturing a 30-26 lead.

UND counterpunched with a layup from freshman guard Anthony Smith III and a triple from senior guard Garrett Anderson for a one-point advantage.

That was the last time the Hawks led. Nebraska responded with a 13-1 run, and its lead slowly ballooned as the second half progressed.

The Huskers made a concerted effort to push the ball inside. They made just four triples, content to create easy field goals and force contact by attacking the rim.

Nebraska was 12-for-13 from the stripe in the second half.