Nebraska
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.
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.”
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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This story has been updated with new information
LINCOLN, NE — Ole Miss baseball will have to wait until May 31 to finish its second game of the Lincoln Regional.
The game between Ole Miss (37-20) and Nebraska (43-15) will resume May 31 at noon. TV information has not been announced. The game went in a weather delay at 10:20 p.m. before the ninth inning on May 30 because of rain and lightning.
No. 2 Rebels are leading No. 1 Nebraska 6-3. It’s a winner’s bracket game in the Lincoln Regional at Haymarket Park.
Ole Miss has taken control of the game after entering the sixth inning down 1-0. Starting pitcher Taylor Rabe pitched six innings and gave up one run.
Owen Paino had a two-run double in a three-run sixth for the Rebels. Ole Miss scored two runs on bases-loaded walks in the seventh.
The other two games on May 31 remain in their originally scheduled timeslots. If Ole Miss wins, the Rebels will face the winner of Nebraska and Arizona State on May 31 at 7 p.m. The Cornhuskers and Sun Devils play an elimination game at 2 p.m. to get to the night game.
If Ole Miss wins that game, the Rebels will move on to a super regional against the winner of the Auburn Regional. If Ole Miss loses, the Rebels will play in an if-necessary game against the same team on June 1 to decide who wins the regional.
Lincoln Regional schedule in 2026 NCAA Tournament
Friday, May 29
Game 1: Nebraska 4, South Dakota State 1
Game 2: Ole Miss 7, Arizona State 6
Saturday, May 30
Game 3: Arizona State 17, South Dakota State 0
Game 4: Nebraska vs Ole Miss, suspended ninth inning
Sunday, May 31
Game 5: Arizona State vs Game 4 loser, 2 p.m. CT
Game 6: Game 4 winner vs Game 5 winner, 7 p.m. CT
Monday, June 1
Game 7: Game 6 winner vs Game 6 loser, if necessary
Sam Hutchens covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at Shutchens@gannett.com or reach him on X at @Sam_Hutchens_
Jordy Frahm and the Nebraska Cornhuskers face Jocelyn Briski and the Alabama Crimson Tide in an NCAA softball Women’s College World Series winners’ bracket game Saturday at Devon Park in Oklahoma City.
The Cornhuskers (51-6) beat Arkansas 5-3 in 10 innings on Thursday, while the Crimson Tide (54-7) beat UCLA 6-3 in its WCWS opener.
Here’s how to watch the Cornhuskers-Crimson Tide game today, including time, TV schedule and streaming information:
What time is the Alabama vs Nebraska softball Women’s College World Series game on TV?
- Date: Saturday, May 30
- Time: 6 p.m. CT
The Alabama Crimson Tide and Nebraska Cornhuskers will play in a 2026 Women’s College World Series winners’ bracket game on Saturday at Devon Park in Oklahoma City.
What channel is the Nebraska softball vs Alabama WCWS game on? Where to watch Cornhuskers-Crimson Tide
When is the Women’s College World Series? What is the 2026 WCWS schedule?
The 2026 Women’s College World Series gets under way with four games at Devon Park in OKC on Thursday, May 28.
Here’s the full schedule for the 2026 Women’s College World Series at Devon Park in Oklahoma City:
All times Central
Thursday, May 28
Friday, May 29
Saturday, May 30
Sunday, May 31
- Game 9: Texas vs. Game 8 loser, 2 p.m., ABC (Fubo)
- Game 10: UCLA vs. Game 7 loser, 6 p.m., ESPN2 (Fubo)
Monday, June 1
- Game 11: Game 7 winner vs. Game 9 winner, 11 a.m., ESPN (Fubo)
- Game 12 (if necessary): Game 7 winner vs. Game 9 winner, 1:30 p.m., ESPN (Fubo)
- Game 13: Game 8 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 6 p.m., ESPN2 (Fubo)
- Game 14 (if necessary): Game 8 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 8:30 p.m., ESPN2 (Fubo)
Tuesday, June 2
Wednesday, June 3
- WCWS finals Game 1: TBD vs. TBD, 7 p.m., ESPN (Fubo)
Thursday, June 4
- WCWS finals Game 2: TBD vs. TBD, 7 p.m., ESPN (Fubo)
Friday, June 5 (if necessary)
- WCWS finals Game 3: TBD vs. TBD, 7 p.m., ESPN (Fubo)
Nebraska
What channel is Ole Miss baseball vs Nebraska on today? Time, TV schedule to watch NCAA regional game
Ole Miss baseball continues on in the winner’s bracket of the NCAA Lincoln Regional with a game against host Nebraska on May 30.
The Rebels (37-21) outlasted Arizona State 7-6 in 14 innings on May 30 after a Brayden Randle walk-off RBI single.
Nebraska (43-15) pulled away late in a 4-1 win over South Dakota State to open regional play on May 30.
The winner will play in the regional final on May 31, with two games to win one. The loser will play in the first game on May 31 against the South Dakota State-Arizona State winner.
Here’s how you can watch Ole Miss baseball vs. Nebraska:
Ole Miss baseball vs Nebraska on May 30 in Lincoln, Nebraska will be televised on ESPNU. Karl Ravech and Kyle Peterson will call the game in Lincoln.
- Game date: Saturday, May 30
- Start time: Approximately 7 p.m.
Friday, May 29
- Game 1: Nebraska vs. South Dakota State, 3 p.m. on ESPN+
- Game 2: Ole Miss vs. Arizona State, 8 p.m. on ESPN2
Saturday, May 30
- Game 3: South Dakota State vs. Arizona State, 2 p.m. on ESPN+
- Game 4: Nebraska vs. Ole Miss, approx. 7 p.m. on ESPNU
Sunday, May 31
- Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 2 p.m. on TBD
- Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, approx. 7 p.m. on TBD
Monday, June 1
- Game 7: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner (if necessary), Time and TV TBD
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