Nebraska

Summer food aid program Gov. Jim Pillen at first snubbed is deemed a ‘success’ • Nebraska Examiner

Published

1 year ago

October 17, 2024

Summer food aid program Gov. Jim Pillen at first snubbed is deemed a ‘success’ • Nebraska Examiner

LINCOLN – A federally funded summer food aid program for low-income youths — which Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen initially rejected but later accepted — wrapped up with greater-than-anticipated participation.

Nebraska officials have already signed up for next summer.

“Lots of families we’ve talked to are saying they were able to stretch their dollars longer, buy healthier foods because of these benefits,” said Eric Savaiano, food and nutrition access for nonprofit Nebraska Appleseed. “We’re really proud of our state for getting it up and going.”

A Nebraska Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer card for Summer EBT program. (Courtesy of Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services)

Early on, state officials estimated that 175,000 students, or 80,000 households, would be eligible to receive grocery assistance through the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) program.

Appleseed, in pushing Nebraska to participate in the optional program largely funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, had estimated that 150,000 kids who qualify for free and reduced school lunches would be eligible.

As it turned out, the initiative across the state served 199,272 students, or 121,855 families, according to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.

This program reflects our dedication to ensuring that every child has access to healthy meals, and we look forward to continuing this important work together.

– Shannon Grotrian, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services

Under the Summer EBT initiative, each qualifying child receives a card to be used like a debit card loaded with a total of $120 in grocery-buying benefits. The effort, administered by DHHS in partnership with the Nebraska Department of Education, is designed by the federal government to provide access to nutritious food during summer months when school is out.

Nebraska’s participation translated into the distribution of nearly $24 million in grocery benefits, the state said.

Shannon Grotrian, director of the DHHS Office of Economic Assistance, said officials are “thrilled with the success” of the program she said has made a “significant impact on our communities.”

“This program reflects our dedication to ensuring that every child has access to healthy meals, and we look forward to continuing this important work together,” said Grotrian.

A sign noting the acceptance of electronic benefit transfer cards. (Courtesy of Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

The summer food program drew extensive attention after Pillen balked late last year at opting into it, describing Summer EBT as a leftover from the pandemic that he said was now over.

He later added that he didn’t believe in “welfare,” which prompted more criticism.

Pillen ultimately reversed his stand on accepting the youth-focused food aid.

He added a twist when implementing the program, which state officials dubbed the “Nebraska way” of providing additional outreach that connected families with other resources as well.

The DHHS said the outreach led to about 5,000 referrals for Nebraska families in need of help with utility payments, health care, child care assistance and behavioral health resources.

About 2,000 families were referred to a separate and supplemental food service program, operated by the Nebraska Department of Education, in which kids visit community sites that offer free meals. A total of 6,650 families were provided meals in 2024 through that Summer Food Service Program, DHHS said, a 21% increase from the previous year.

Federal rules for the Summer EBT program called for benefits to be used within 122 days of issuance via the cards — or they’d be expunged and returned to the federal government.

Savaiano suspects that a better system of “getting the word out” contributed to higher than expected participation in the summer program.

He credited the state for its efforts, which also included informational websites.

The state more recently sent out letters notifying families of expiration dates as they approached.

GET THE MORNING HEADLINES.

Source link

Click to comment

Nebraska

What Iowa coach Ben McCollum said after defeating Nebraska on Thursday

Published

12 hours ago

March 27, 2026

Press Room

What Iowa coach Ben McCollum said after defeating Nebraska on Thursday

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.

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.

This article originally appeared on Cornhuskers Wire: What Iowa coach Ben McCollum said after defeating Nebraska on Thursday

Source link

Nebraska

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen appoints Antonio Gomez to Racing and Gaming Commission

Published

24 hours ago

March 26, 2026

Press Room

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen appoints Antonio Gomez to Racing and Gaming Commission

LINCOLN, Neb — Gov. Jim Pillen has appointed Antonio Gomez of Jackson to the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission, adding a longtime Siouxland business leader and public servant to the panel.

Commission members serve four-year terms and are subject to approval by the Nebraska Legislature.

Gomez launched Gomez Pallets in South Sioux City in 1983. He has since retired from daily operations, but last year the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce recognized him with the W. Edwards Deming Business Leadership and Entrepreneurial Excellence Award.

Gomez previously served on the Nebraska Commission on Latino Americans from 1981 to 2002. He also served as a Dakota County commissioner for 12 years and was on the Foundation Board for Northeast Community College.

Gomez’s appointment is effective April 1.

Source link

Nebraska

CBS Sports predicts Nebraska-Iowa basketball in the Sweet 16

Published

1 day ago

March 26, 2026

Press Room

CBS Sports predicts Nebraska-Iowa basketball in the Sweet 16

The Nebraska Cornhuskers will face the Iowa Hawkeyes on Thursday in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. This is the Huskers’ first Sweet 16 in program history, while Iowa is playing in its first Sweet 16 since 1999.

Nebraska defeated Vanderbilt 74-72 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Iowa advanced after beating the defending national champion, the Florida Gators, 73-72.

CBS Sports reporter Isaac Trotter broke down Thursday’s Sweet 16 matchup. Trotter started by looking at the two previous matchups in this series.

These teams have played twice. Iowa won at home in a 57-52 rockfight. Nebraska returned the favor by winning at home, 84-75 in overtime, in another to-the-death brawl.

It’s no secret that Nebraska’s defense caused significant problems for the Iowa offense in the second game, and if the Hawkeyes are going to win the rubber match, Trotter believes that turnovers will be the key.

There are no secrets in the rubber match. Nebraska’s no-middle defense has given Iowa real problems both times. The Hawkeyes turned it over 20% of the time in Game 1 and 26% of the time in Game 2. That can’t happen in the third encounter.

CBS Sports believes that Iowa has the best player on the floor in Bennett Stirtz, but Trotter also believes that Nebraska’s defense is just too much in the end for Iowa.

Iowa has the best player on the floor, Bennett Stirtz, and can hurt Nebraska on the glass, but the Huskers get the nod because of this pick-and-roll defense. You have to be able to guard ball screens effectively to shut down Iowa, and Nebraska has been an elite pick-and-roll defense, rating in the 99th percentile nationally, per Synergy.

In the end, Trotter selected Nebraska as his pick. Should the Huskers advance to the Elite Eight, Nebraska would play the winner of the Illinois-Houston game. Nebraska-Iowa play in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 26 at 6:30 p.m. CT on TBS.

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Cornhuskers Wire: CBS Sports predicts Nebraska-Iowa basketball in the Sweet 16

Source link