Nebraska
Special education, reading, computer science and other bills advance from Nebraska committee • Nebraska Examiner
LINCOLN — A Nebraska lawmaker is hailing the advancement of an Education Committee legislative package that she says is solution-oriented and provides support from all sides.
The assortment of nine bills, with the possibility for a tenth, is tied with a bow under Legislative Bill 1284, introduced by State Sen. Lynne Walz of Fremont. The bills relate to training teachers in reading instruction and computer science and technology; dyslexia research; special education; and more.
“We, as the Education Committee, just put together a package of bills that will really provide good solutions for kiddos, for families, for people who may be going into the teaching profession,” Walz told the Nebraska Examiner.
The State Board of Education is in favor of nearly every bill in the package and neutral on one (LB 985). Board President Elizabeth Tegtmeier said Friday she appreciates that lawmakers recognize the need to support and fund education.
“It’s great to partner with our lawmakers to improve education,” Tegtmeier said.
Here is a breakdown of the Walz package:
Computer science and technology
Walz’s LB 1284 would put $1.5 million into a Computer Science and Technology Education Fund for training and support. Public and private entities may also donate to the fund.
The Legislature could annually add $500,000 to the fund upon receipt of matching donations.
This year’s proposal builds off a 2022 law by State Sen. Terrell McKinney of Omaha that requires students to graduate with education in computer science and technology. Walz said her bill would address the needs of schools that lack teachers or need staff training.
“This is a step in the right direction,” Walz said.
Reading instruction and dyslexia
LB 1254, introduced by State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, would set aside $10 million annually to create reading improvement mentorship programs and employ regional coaches. These would help provide sustained training to teachers in kindergarten through third grade to teach reading.
“If you can’t read, you’re not going to survive in today’s world,” Linehan said.
She described a cycle in which young students who haven’t been taught reading get in trouble because they don’t want to be embarrassed, and some may avoid school. Linehan said the Nebraska Department of Education brought the bill to her.
A second bill on reading improvement is LB 1253, which would establish the Dyslexia Research Grant Program.
It is a one-time $1 million investment that would support Nebraska companies researching artificial-intelligence-based writing assistance for individuals with dyslexia. Linehan prepared the legislation with a group of University of Nebraska-Lincoln students.
‘Special Educators of Tomorrow’
Two bills aim to bring more special education teachers to Nebraska after lawmakers sparred last fall with officials from Omaha Public Schools over such shortages.
LB 1238, the Special Educators of Tomorrow Act, from Walz, would provide scholarships and loans to individuals who work with disabilities as direct support professionals to become special education teachers.
Individuals would need at least two years of experience as a direct support professional.
Scholarship recipients would also need to enroll or plan to enroll at an eligible institution to pursue a teaching career in special education. Loan recipients would agree to complete a special education program and a related major and commit to teach in Nebraska.
A recipient could receive an annual scholarship of up to $2,500 for up to two years and an annual loan up to $4,000 for up to three consecutive years.
Each year of full-time teaching after two years would shave $4,000 off such loans.
The bill includes an initial $1.5 million investment for a Special Educators of Tomorrow Fund and a $250,000 appropriation for each fiscal year after that, ending after the 2029-30 school year.
Special education forgivable loans
LB 964, from State Sen. George Dungan of Lincoln, would allow the Nebraska Department of Education to award up to 25 forgivable loans per eligible institution per academic year. This means the Nebraska State College System and the University of Nebraska system.
Each year, 20% of loans would be forgiven as the graduate, with a special education endorsement, teaches in Nebraska.
The graduate must begin teaching at a Nebraska K-12 school within one year of graduation.
“It just seemed like something we could do to get more people into the field,” Dungan said.
The Dungan and Walz proposals require loan recipients to repay loans if they do not satisfy their related bill requirements.
Dungan’s bill would also extend eligibility for Nebraska Career Scholarships to include teaching in special education.
Mental health and recruitment grants
LB 986, from Linehan, would rework the Teach in Nebraska Today Act as a grant program, doubling its impact from $5 million to $10 million. Teachers would qualify if they are within their first five years of teaching and have an annual income of less than $55,000.
Also included in the package is LB 1014, from Walz, which would enable school districts to employ school psychologists who work for a service agency.
Two other bills are considered “cleanup” for recent legislation:
- LB 1005 (Walz) would establish a funding mechanism to provide grants and loans for student teachers during their student teaching semesters.
- LB 985 (Linehan) would require that teachers endorsed to become certified in special education, mathematics, science, technology or dual credit also agree to complete a school year of full-time employment in their endorsement area.
Period poverty proposal a ‘maybe’
A tenth bill, LB 1050 from State Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln, would require schools to provide access to menstrual products, including pads and tampons, in school bathrooms. The committee voted 4-1, one vote short of advancing the bill in the package. State Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha has not taken a position on LB 1050 and could still add his vote.
The committee did successfully adopt an amendment to Conrad’s bill, narrowing its impact last week to a one-year pilot program capped at $250,000. As amended, school districts classified as “needs improvement” or those in which 40% of students are poverty stricken would have funding priority.
Local school boards could adopt policies related to the bill.
“I think it’s really thrilling that we have a good opportunity to move the bill forward in some fashion this year,” Conrad said last week. “I think that speaks volumes to the power of student organizing and young voices being involved in the process.”
The State Board of Education is in support of Conrad’s bill, as is Linehan, who said a woman she knows has shoplifted just once — for tampons, because “she couldn’t get them any other way.”
“Sometimes people just need a little push to do the right thing,” Linehan said of school districts.
OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – For many families, beating a cancer diagnosis isn’t just about physical recovery. One Omaha cancer survivor is now using her voice to fight for medical debt relief across Nebraska.
Diana Gleisberg Meredith thought she had an upper respiratory infection in January 2024.
“In January of 2024, I felt like I had some kind of upper respiratory – maybe Pneumonia, RSV…” Meredith said.
She was sent from her primary care doctor to the emergency room to a hospital by ambulance in a five-hour span.
“The ER doctor identified that it was cancer, likely lymphoma,” Meredith said.
Diagnosis came as new mother started treatment
The diagnosis came as Meredith became a new mom. She knew she had to immediately start treatment.
“It’s life changing. You go from not having a care in the world to thinking you’re going to die and how is that going to affect my baby. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to go through emotionally, physically and mentally,” Meredith said.
Meredith said there’s an invisible burden that comes with the diagnosis.
“Not everybody is lucky to have the financial support or the human support to help them,” Meredith said.
Treatment costs could add up to millions
Meredith had 12 chemo treatments. Each used four medications, with one of those costing more than $130,000. For one family, this could add up to millions.
After Meredith entered remission, she began fighting for medical debt relief for other Nebraskans.
“Nebraskans all throughout the state and right here in Omaha – they’re having to make those decisions about should they save their life, or how do they care for their family,” Meredith said.
Advocacy group plans Washington trip
She works with Blood Cancer United alongside other Omaha mothers whose children are cancer survivors. They hold fundraisers like “Light the Night,” collecting thousands of dollars and supporters.
In May, they’ll travel to Washington, D.C., for training on how to push for change at the federal level.
“Our office of public policy gets together to help train these volunteers, help them get to know each other better and develop familiarity with what it means to go to a lawmakers office in Washington DC,” said Dana Bacon, senior director of government affairs for Blood Cancer United.
Meredith is fighting for lower interest rates on medical debt, no foreclosures on homes over medical debt and paused interest rates.
“It’s probably the most stressful thing that you’re going to go through, and then having to add medical debt on top of it? To be honest it’s hell,” Meredith said.
Other states are already protecting families from medical debt. Meredith said Nebraska should be next. Iowa is one of the states that limits liens and foreclosures when a family is drowning in medical debt.
Copyright 2026 WOWT. All rights reserved.
LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – Red Flag Warnings are in effect across Nebraska as dangerous fire conditions develop heading into the weekend, paired with unseasonably warm temperatures and strong winds that could quickly spread any flames.
Red Flag Warnings are in place for eastern Nebraska through 9 p.m. Friday night. The warning area expands significantly on Saturday, covering the entire state from throughout the entire day Saturday.
Friday: Moderate Fire Danger, Drying Trend
Friday’s fire concerns are lower than Saturday’s, but still significant. A Red Flag Warning remains in place for eastern Nebraska through 9 p.m. tonight as northerly winds pull in drier air throughout the afternoon. Dewpoints are expected to fall between 0° and 10° this evening as wind speeds taper.
The strongest winds and driest air won’t occur at the same time Friday, which is why confidence in Red Flag conditions is lower than normal today. By sunset, winds will become light and shift to the south as a surface high pressure system moves through the area.
Saturday: Extreme Fire Danger
Saturday brings the most critical fire weather conditions of the period. The Red Flag Warning expands to encompass the entire state as relative humidity values plummet to 8-15% — dangerously dry levels that will allow fires to spread rapidly.
Winds will be the primary concern. Southerly winds are expected to be sustained between 20 and 30 MPH for most — with gusts between 40 and 50 MPH possible at times. These powerful winds combined with extreme dryness create a recipe for rapid fire spread.
Temperatures will warm into the 60s and low 70s on Saturday — warmer in the west — but the heat is secondary to the wind and dryness threat. Relative humidity values will fall below 30% as early as 9 a.m. when the Red Flag Warning begins.
Sunday: High Fire Danger, Lighter Winds
Fire danger remains high to very high Sunday as an upper ridge moves overhead. Temperatures will climb to the upper 70s to upper 80s. The good news: southerly winds won’t be as strong, with gusts peaking at only 20 mph. This provides some relief from the most critical conditions, though fire danger will still be elevated.
Record Heat Monday
Monday will be the week’s warmest day, with mid- to upper-80s and low 90s forecast across Nebraska. Records are within reach — for many areas across the state. Lincoln’s forecast high of 88 degrees would tie the 1917 record.
Pattern Change Ahead
A cold front will slice through the area Tuesday morning, bringing cooler and cloudier conditions back to Nebraska. Highs will fall back to the 50s and 60s — a dramatic 30+ degree temperature drop from Monday. Winds will remain gusty from the north.
Precipitation chances will increase by early to mid-week. Tuesday through Thursday will see low chances (~20%) for light precipitation, with a mixture of rain and snow possible at times. No winter impacts are expected. Better chances are forecast for Wednesday night and Friday night as a wholesale pattern change develops, bringing southwest flow and surface moisture back to the region.
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Copyright 2026 KOLN. All rights reserved.
Iowa coach Ben McCollum met with the media following his team’s 77-71 victory over the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the Sweet 16. The Cornhuskers led by three at the half but Iowa was able to outscore Nebraska 34-25 in the second half.
Pryce Sandfort led all scorers with 25 points while shooting 8 of 13 from the field and 6 of 10 from the 3-point line. Bennett Stirtz led the Hawkeyes with 20 points and played for all 40 minutes.
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Iowa shot 52% (27-52) from the floor, 43% (13-30) from beyond the arc and 83% (10-12) from the free throw line. Nebraska struggled shooting 41% (24-58) from the field, 34% (13-38) from the 3-point line and 91% (10-11) from the charity stripe.
The Hawkeyes’ head coach acknowledged that his team had a poor start but a great finish and said that his team will need to play better to advance beyond the Elite Eight.
Yeah, I think to start we weren’t fantastic to start. They had an elite game plan to start. They played with elite pace. They adjusted their defense quite a bit. I think a lot of people will talk about the rivalry. I was around it when I was in Iowa, you know, and grew up in Iowa and understand the rivalry and whatnot. It’s nice to have — I guess if you would a call it rival that runs such a class program.
I think Coach Hoiberg, they have got great kids. They completely turned everything around from the previous season, and they have absolutely nothing to hang their heads about or anything. I have the utmost respect for them, all their players, and especially Coach Hoiberg. Heck of a season. I know it’s no consolation, but we still want to beat ’em every time and they want to beat us every time.
But from and internal perspective, there’s not a lot of bad blood there. It’s actually a lot of respect. I was really pleased with our second-half performance. I thought we actually decided we were going to try — not try. They had a lot to do with it, but kind of. Yeah, they’re smiling over there because they saw me break my marker.
And I thought our kids did a good job of executing offensively in both halves. We spent a lot of time trying to make sure that we could score, and you saw the result of that. We didn’t defend. But we were able to score, so we were able to stay in the game long enough and then get enough stops and had some big possessions down the stretch. Really good program win for everybody, coaches, managers, everybody included.
Iowa advances to the Elite Eight with the victory. Nebraska’s season ends with a record of 28-7.
Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes and opinions.
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This article originally appeared on Cornhuskers Wire: What Iowa coach Ben McCollum said after defeating Nebraska on Thursday
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