Nebraska
Survey shows Nebraska rural youths like their small-town living • Nebraska Examiner
LINCOLN — Five years of data from a student survey coordinated by the Nebraska Community Foundation is in. The consensus: Rural youths like their small-town living.
The foundation on Monday released cumulative results of an annual youth survey conducted since 2020 in partnership with the Center for Public Affairs Research at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Respondents are about 4,000 middle and high school students from 43 schools in cities and towns as small as Diller, population less than 250, and as large as Norfolk, which has nearly 26,000 residents.
Future of rural Nebraska
With a network that stretches across 270 Nebraska communities, foundation officials said the survey was designed to better understand priorities and perspectives of young people growing up in rural areas — and their expectations for the future.
An goal is talent retention, said the survey team.
Brain drain, or educated professionals leaving the state, has been a persistent concern, noted Josie Schafer, who heads CPAR at UNO.
But the exodus of Nebraskans overall from the state, those of all ages and education levels combined, has slowed down, according to the most recent U.S. Census data for 2023. That suggests that perhaps younger people may not be fleeing in the same way and speed as in the past, Schafer said. Specific and updated brain drain census data won’t be available until later this year.
Jeff Yost, president and CEO of the foundation, said he is encouraged by the findings of the rural youth survey.
“In our global society, young people have more options than ever, but because of technology, the opportunities our rural communities present are also abundant,” he said. “These five years of data indicate great promise for the future of our rural hometowns and our state.”
Survey highlights
Key five-year findings reported by the foundation:
- Nearly three-fourths reported no negative stigma with returning or staying in the place they now lived.
- Of the students surveyed, 59% said they were somewhat or extremely likely to live in the area they now live when they are an adult. In 2020, 68% of the students surveyed said they felt connected to the place they lived. The cumulative five-year percentage showed 76% reporting connection to their community.
- When asked about ideal community size, students most often answered “small like my hometown.” In 2020, 47% of those surveyed answered as such, and in the following years that percentage rose, averaging 55% over the five years.
- When asked to rank qualities of an ideal community, students put safety from violence at the top. Good schools and proximity to family followed, in that order, for five straight years.
Schafer said the multi-year trend of the Greater Nebraska Youth Survey shows that, for the most part, “rural youth really love their communities.”
The middle and high schoolers feel positive about what their hometowns have to offer, she said.
However, respondents cited job opportunities elsewhere as the main reason they would not live in their community as an adult.
According to a more extensive 2023 survey, students said they recognized availability of health care and agriculture jobs in their towns, but do not see as much opportunity in other fields of interest such as the arts, recreation, tourism, business management, information technology and media.
That’s when “we worry they might trail off” and look for bigger places with more growth for economic advancement, Schafer said.
“Can we promise brain drain will turn around? I can’t,” she said. “But the kind of energy and passion we see from these youths (who participated in the survey) is a good sign.”
DEI valued by youth
Schafer said the data offers more clarity to rural communities about what they’re doing well and where opportunity exists to keep young people in their midst.
Since the survey was launched in 2020, for example, only 34% of students have agreed with the statement: “I play a role in this community.”
Foundation representatives said their affiliates are seeking ways to better engage youths with decision-making opportunities that could strengthen ties.
The foundation said in a news release that the survey reinforced the importance of inclusion, equity and diversity — “something students say is of great value to the places they choose to live in the future.”
Can we promise brain drain will turn around? I can’t. But the kind of energy and passion we see from these youths is a good sign.
– Josie Schafer, Center for Public Affairs Research
Headquartered in Lincoln, the foundation said that since 1994 it has reinvested $553 million in Nebraska’s people and places.
Carrie Malek-Madani, foundation spokeswoman, said this year’s youth survey was less widespread than prior years but capped a five-year accumulation of data with just over 4,000 respondents. She said organizers view results as solid and received confirmation of trends they saw early on.
Basic key questions remained consistent over the years, though some questions were added as years went on.
Differences arise by gender, race
The foundation last year surveyed nearly 1,000 students and reported that, overall, the group expressed positive sentiments about their communities. Differences were evident, however, when broken down by gender identity, race and ethnicity. Female students, for instance, reported being less likely to live in their current community as adults.
Students of color reported feeling less connected to their communities and were more likely to report having been bullied and having witnessed someone being treated unfairly in the community due to age, race, gender, sexual orientation, physical illness or mental health, the foundation said.
Three-fourths of all students reported they would act to stop unfair treatment, and 60% said they were likely to advocate for diversity and inclusion.
Malek-Madani said that when the survey began, some were surprised at the degree of positive attachment youths felt to their communities.
Conventional thought was that rural youths want to move on to bigger places as soon as they can, she said. “I think there’s been a real shift.”
Malek-Madani said the youths surveyed consistently ranked safety, good schools and proximity to family as aspects of their ideal community.
“Small towns offer those things,” she said.
GET THE MORNING HEADLINES.
OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – A deeper look tonight as First Alert 6 continues to dig deeper into the state of mental health care in Nebraska and possible solutions, ever since last week’s two instances involving law enforcement.
A Douglas County sheriff’s deputy was shot responding to a domestic call. Investigators said the suspect, Brian Huggins, had a history of behavioral health issues. Huggins died by suicide.
And then Noemi Guzman, who police say kidnapped a 3-year-old from inside an Omaha Walmart and cut him in the arm and face with a stolen kitchen knife. Omaha police officers shot and killed her before she could strike again.
Guzman had been on a court-ordered mental health treatment plan since last summer for her schizophrenia. According to court records, psychiatrists determined she could live in the community. Remember, this was after she was arrested for setting her father’s house on fire and threatening a priest with a knife.
Monitoring system
We wanted to know who is part of the system monitoring those who may not be following their mental health treatment plan and are a risk to others or themselves. When that happens, the Board of Mental Health will often notify the local sheriff so a warrant can be issued and deputies can track the individual down.
Here are the numbers since 2023:
In 2023, 842 warrants were issued for those not following their treatment plans according to the Board of Mental Health. In 2024, 756. In 2025, 690. So far in 2026, 190.
But out of these 2,500 warrants, 85% of them didn’t have a second warrant, meaning deputies picked them up, got them back into treatment and the individuals continued to thrive after the one hiccup.
But in 15% of these cases, the individuals messed up again and had another warrant issued by the Board of Mental Health. Twenty-five individuals had five or more issued in Douglas County.
Sheriff Hanson said there has to be a better way, a more team approach for this.
One model to explore is the way Nebraska’s problem-solving courts work like drug court and veterans’ treatment court where experts from a variety of stakeholders help individuals who are on the fringes to do everything to make them productive citizens.
Copyright 2026 WOWT. All rights reserved.
(InvestigateTV) — Sometimes sports are about more than the final score.
For Jack Burke, a high school football player in Nebraska, a medical diagnosis at birth has never stopped him from competing — and a touchdown catch in his first play back from open heart surgery proved it.
Born with a rare heart defect
Burke was born with Scimitar syndrome, a rare heart defect in which babies are born with an underdeveloped right lung and pulmonary artery. The condition also affects blood flow to the right lung. Treatment often includes surgery, and many adults with the condition go on to live healthy lives.
“As a kid, I never really understood,” Burke said. “It was always natural for me that I had to push myself harder to keep up.”
His mother, Bridget Burke, says the condition was not initially considered dangerous for sports participation.
“His Scimitar Syndrome never really came into play as being dangerous for him to play sports,” she said.
The decision to operate
That changed in the spring of 2025, when Burke’s family and doctors decided it was time for a surgery that had been anticipated for years.
“I’ve kind of known I’ve had to get surgery my whole life,” Burke said. “Once I knew I could get the surgery sooner, I was all in. I wanted to get it so I could get back to sports.”
His father, Ryan Burke, says the timing was deliberate.
“This will be done before school gets started, and still have a chance to do almost everything you want to do,” Ryan Burke said.
Jack Burke underwent open-heart surgery, leaving a visible reminder of what he went through.
“There’s a six-inch scar in the middle of his chest that represents a pretty big thing that happened,” Ryan Burke said.
For Bridget Burke, the moment her son was taken to the operating room was difficult.
“When the rubber hits the road and your kid is being wheeled back to the OR, it is scary and emotional,” she said.
The comeback
Burke eased back into football following his cardiologist’s recommended recovery timeline. His return came in week three of the season.
“Before the Schuyler game I talked to his dad and he’s like, ‘I think we might be ready,’” said coach Jay Landstrom.
Bridget Burke says the family approached the return with caution.
“I mean, I was nervous. We didn’t really know how much he would play. It was going to be some cautious situations,” she said.
Those concerns were set aside — at least for a moment — when Burke caught a touchdown pass on his very first play back.
“All the parents were high-fiving everybody and they were like, ‘Was that really Jack?’” Bridget Burke said.
Landstrom called it a special moment.
“It was just meant to be and that was really special,” he said.
For Burke, the touchdown meant something beyond the scoreboard.
“I just remember one of my teammates came up to me and said, ‘He’s back. He’s back,’” Burke said. “It kind of shows something that tried to stop me — I hurdled that obstacle.”
Burke says the surgery has given him a new sense of freedom.
“Now I can do whatever I want. Nothing can hold me back,” he said.
Copyright 2026 Gray Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
The results are in for the Nebraska Lottery’s draw games on Sunday, April 19, 2026.
Here’s a look at winning numbers for each game on April 19.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from April 19 drawing
4-3-3
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 5 numbers from April 19 drawing
14-19-24-30-34
Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning 2 By 2 numbers from April 19 drawing
Red Balls: 01-02, White Balls: 09-26
Check 2 By 2 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning MyDay numbers from April 19 drawing
Month: 08, Day: 16, Year: 61
Check MyDay payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from April 19 drawing
32-42-52-53-55, Bonus: 05
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Nebraska Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 3, 5: By 10 p.m. CT daily.
- Lucky For Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
- 2 By 2: By 10 p.m. CT daily.
- MyDaY: By 10 p.m. CT daily.
- Lotto America: 9:15 p.m CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a USA Today editor. You can send feedback using this form.
-
San Francisco, CA9 minutes agoSanta Rosa: The 1906 earthquake almost lost to history
-
Dallas, TX16 minutes agoJohnston scores twice, Stars hold off Wild in Game 2 to even West 1st Round | NHL.com
-
Boston, MA29 minutes agoBetween Providence And Boston Is A Vibrant Massachusetts Town Bursting With Diverse Entertainment – Islands
-
Denver, CO35 minutes agoMinnesota Timberwolves vs Denver Nuggets Apr 20, 2026 Game Summary
-
Seattle, WA41 minutes agoAthletics Beat Mariners in Seattle 6-4
-
San Diego, CA47 minutes agoEl Cajon crisis unit opens, bringing county’s total to eight
-
Milwaukee, WI53 minutes agoWhat to know about Michael Lock as police execute warrant on his former home
-
Atlanta, GA59 minutes agoHavana in Atlanta: 6 Cuban restaurants we keep craving