The future of agriculture innovation is now centered in Nebraska.

Federal, state and campus leaders celebrated that future during the May 6 groundbreaking of the National Center for Resilient and Regenerative Agriculture at Nebraska Innovation Campus. Learn more in the video above.

The federally-funded $160 million laboratory will double the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s science and support staff presence at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. The first phase of construction will feature 15,000 square feet of greenhouses and 10,000 square feet of headhouse space. It will connect to the Greenhouse Innovation Center at NIC.

The new greenhouse space will allow ARS to perform research on wheat, barley, sorghum, forage and bioenergy grasses, and other crops. Research on how these plants respond to emerging pests and pathogens under a full range of environmental conditions will empower scientists to make cutting-edge discoveries with the goal of developing climate-resilient crops for the U.S. agriculture industry.

“This project is a testament to the long history of innovation, ingenuity and adaptability of agricultural producers across the United States and right here in Nebraska. It celebrates an incredibly productive 120-year partnership between USDA-ARS and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and it exemplifies the passion and dedication of agricultural, state, and federal leaders,” said Mike Boehm, vice chancellor for UNL’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. “Nebraska is a special place with incredible people, and the ripples of what we do here often extend around the globe. I believe the work that will take place in this facility will usher in a new era of American agriculture, and I’m thrilled that what happens next in agriculture will happen first in Nebraska.”

Leaders who provided remarks during the groundbreaking ceremony include: Chris Kabourek, interim president of the University of Nebraska system; Chancellor Rodney D. Bennett; Gov. Jim Pillen; U.S. Reps. Don Bacon and Mike Flood; U.S. Sens. Deb Fischer and Pete Ricketts; and Simon Liu, USDA-ARS administrator.

The groundbreaking also drew positive media coverage. Learn more by clicking the links below.

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – This is the time of year when neighborhood grants are typically awarded by the City of Omaha.

After a tornado ravaged several neighborhoods in the city 10 days ago, Mayor Jean Stothert thought it would be best to earmark the money for tornado victims this year. Omaha city councilmembers unanimously approved her plan to divert the $100,000 at Tuesday’s regular meeting.

The 39 neighborhoods that were set to receive grants were told to reapply next year — that the need this year is to help the victims of the Elkhorn tornado. In the Ramblewood section, early estimates of damaged homes climbed past 160. There were countless stories of survival — now, families are trying to navigate the bureaucracy of rebuilding and getting on with their lives.

The grant will be split between the Elkhorn Public Schools Foundation and Relevant Church.

“As of today, we have a spreadsheet of 75 families that have students in the Elkhorn Public School district that no longer have a home that’s habitable,” said Stacey Falk with the foundation. “The need in the last week has been crazy because they’re just trying to find places to live.”

“We’re here to help families,” said Relevant Church Pastor Ronnie Rothe. “I don’t know of anything the city wants to do or anything like that, but if you want to help families, and we obviously know a lot of families that are affected, we’re in the center of this — we’ll get this to families because we’re already doing that.”

Relevant Church and its parking lot, right across the street from two of the hardest-hit parts of Elkhorn, organically served as a staging area for the recovery effort. Rothe says over 13,000 volunteers have organized here before heading into the neighborhood to help. His congregation alone, he said, has already raised $70,000 to help those who lost everything.

Both organizations told 6 News Tuesday afternoon they reassured the city that all the dollars would go to the victims — not a dime for administrative costs.

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LINCOLN, Neb. (WOWT) – The Nebraska Public Service Commission is accepting applications for appointment to its 911 Service System Advisory Committee.

Created by Nebraska legislators, this committee makes recommendations to the PSC on matters pertaining to the implementation, operation, maintenance and funding of the 911 system as the state transitions to what’s known as Next Generation 911.

Nebraska 911 Department Director David Sankey says the terms of all current board members will expire in July. The 14 members appointed will serve for a three-year term. Members serve without pay but will be reimbursed for expenses related to committee duties.

Appointed members must represent public safety agencies (4 members), county officials or employees (2 members), municipal officials or employees (2 members), the telecommunications industry (2 members), Public Safety Answering Points (2 members), the Nebraska Association of County Officials (1 member), and the League of Municipalities (1 member).

Applications can be found on the PSC website and are due by close of business on Friday, May 24.

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