Latest news with #VoicesforChildreninNebraska
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Nebraska sees dip in national ‘Kids Count' ranking for youth well-being
Nebraska ranks No. 10 in overall child well-being, according to the latest Kids Count data book. In this photo, Dimensions Education Programs in Lincoln provides a hands-on, experiential approach to learning that is based on the needs and curiosity of young children. (Courtesy of We Care for Kids) OMAHA — Nebraska dropped a notch — from No. 9 to No. 10 — in a national ranking for overall child well-being, according to the latest Kids Count data book, a 50-state examination of how youths are faring in post-pandemic America. The report, released Monday, shows that while still in the top 10, Nebraska's overall ranking has been trending down over the past few years, according to information collected and analyzed for the national Annie E. Casey Foundation. In the 2023 and 2022 data books, Nebraska ranked No. 8 overall. It was No. 7 in the 2021 report. The data book, now in its 36th year, presents national and state information from 16 indicators in four broad areas: economy, education, health, and family and community factors. Each state gets an overall well-being ranking and also is ranked by each of the four broader areas or domains. Advocates say Nebraska's overall ranking was driven by the state's strong economic showing, which considers poverty rates and the share of teens who are working or in school. For its economic health impact on youths, Nebraska scored as the third-best state. Voices for Children in Nebraska, in providing perspective, noted that the state's economy remained stable throughout the pandemic and post-pandemic recovery. It said 11% of children were in poverty in 2023, the same as before the pandemic started in 2019. About 81% of Nebraska families with children had at least one parent working full time in 2019, the same percentage as in 2021, 2022 and 2023. Meanwhile, according to the latest report, only 4% of teens ages 16 to 19 were not attending school or not working (the second-lowest share in the nation, says Voices for Children in Nebraska). 'The economic picture didn't crumble with the pandemic,' said Josh Shirk, research coordinator for Voices for Children in Nebraska. He said expansion of food programs for kids and the child tax credit helped. Nebraska 'is dragging behind,' however, in education, Shirk said. Reading scores for fourth graders worsened since 2015 and, he said, the pandemic appeared to exacerbate the problem. According to the report, the share of kids in the fourth grade not reading at a proficient level rose from 63% in 2019 to 72% in 2024. In addition to Nebraska's No. 3 rank for economic well-being, Nebraska in the 2025 data book was ranked No. 21 in the education domain; No. 17 in health and No. 15 in family and community factors. The annual data book is intended to help policy makers, advocates and communities make decisions and policies that help young people thrive. 'We know what kids need to grow up healthy and connected so they can thrive as adults — stable homes, strong schools, nutritious food, meaningful relationships and opportunities to learn, play and grow,' said Juliet Summers, executive director at Voices for Children, Nebraska's representative in the Casey Foundation's Kids Count network. Summers said programs that meet those needs are smart investments. 'Nebraska has a lot to be proud of, but also plenty of work still to do to maximize opportunity for all our state's children,' she said. Shirk said the kids-focused organization is concerned with what is ahead, as Congress grapples with the national budget. 'Things like food insecurity, health insurance. Those numbers could get much worse over the next few years if we take away programs,' he said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Labor groups ring alarms over proposed changes to Nebraska minimum wage, paid sick leave laws
Anahí Salazar, policy coordinator at Voices for Children in Nebraska, spoke at the Nebraska statehouse on Mar, 6, 2025, about bills seeking to soften voter-approved ballot measures on requiring paid sick leave and increasing the minimum wage. (Juan Salinas II/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN — Labor activists stood in the Capitol Rotunda during Thursday morning's agenda and criticized a pair of legislative bills seeking to weaken voter-approved minimum wage and paid sick leave laws, which continue to march on in the Nebraska statehouse. Worker advocates and union leaders spoke out against the proposed changes as attempts to undermine the will of Nebraska voters, who over the past three years have approved increasing wages and paid leave for all workers via ballot measure. Nebraska voters approved a ballot measure last November to establish a minimum level of paid sick leave for all workers. The initiative mandates that Nebraska businesses provide employees up to seven days of paid sick leave for businesses with at least 20 employees and five days a year for those with fewer than 20 employees. In 2022, Nebraska voters passed a ballot measure to increase the state minimum wage to $15 per hour starting next year. The measure's design raised the minimum wage by increments to reach that point. Legislative Bill 258, by State Sen. Jane Raybould of Lincoln, would limit who can get a wage increase in 2027. The proposed change to the initiative would cap the minimum wage at $13.50 per hour for Nebraskans younger than 16 years old, except for those legally free from parental control and responsibility. LB 698, proposed by State Sen. Paul Strommen of Sidney, would raise the minimum number of employees a business must have to be obligated to provide paid sick leave from one to at least 11 employees instead of 10. His bill would make workers under age 15 and temporary and seasonal agricultural workers ineligible for the mandatory paid sick leave. It also would remove a section that allows workers to sue businesses if they violated the new paid sick leave law. LB 258 and LB 698 both advanced from the Legislature's Business and Labor Committee. Raybould proposed changes in LB 258 that also would cap the annual minimum wage increase at a lesser rate of one and one-half percent instead of being linked to the Consumer Price Index to keep up with inflation, which was what voters approved. Another change would modify the 90-day training wage for new employees under 18 to $13.50 and to '75% of the minimum wage' in 2027. The youngest someone can work in Nebraska is 14 years old, with hour restrictions. 'LB 258 does not reflect the will of Nebraska citizens who voted overwhelmingly for stepped increases to minimum wage,' said Anahí Salazar, Policy Coordinator at Voices for Children in Nebraska. Raybould, whose family owns grocery stores 'throughout the state of Nebraska' wrote in her conflict of interest form filed with the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission that 'providing a youth and training wage would benefit our company with some savings. The cap on the increases in 2027 would also keep the projected minimum wage increase to a more reasonable and predictable one. This would also benefit our company.' She explained in the form why she won't abstain from voting on LB 258 despite the conflict of interest, because, 'this legislation would impact more businesses besides our grocery stores, including, but not limited to, all retailers, restaurants, detasselers, day care facilities and other small and independent businesses in our state.' Raybould has made LB 258 her priority bill this session. Strommen described his sick leave measure during its hearing as an attempt to 'clean up' initiative language and shield workers from 'unintended consequences.' Some business owners and groups that testified for the bill referred to it as a 'lifeline' and said costs could rise and be passed along to the consumer. Others said they welcomed the initiative's original language. State Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair also said the Legislature with LB 698 must determine a balance between what voters supporting the paid sick leave initiative want and what the state can provide. Student activist Sam Washburn said both bills disappointed him as a young person in the workforce, because they aim to 'undermine protection for workers at small businesses' for young workers. 'I don't understand how democratically elected senators can so easily go against these democratically supported initiatives,' said Washburn. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Labor groups ring alarms over proposed changes to Nebraska minimum wage, paid sick leave laws
Anahí Salazar, policy coordinator at Voices for Children in Nebraska, spoke at the Nebraska statehouse on Mar, 6, 2025, about bills seeking to soften voter-approved ballot measures on requiring paid sick leave and increasing the minimum wage. (Juan Salinas II/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN — Labor activists stood in the Capitol Rotunda during Thursday morning's agenda and criticized a pair of legislative bills seeking to weaken voter-approved minimum wage and paid sick leave laws, which continue to march on in the Nebraska statehouse. Worker advocates and union leaders spoke out against the proposed changes as attempts to undermine the will of Nebraska voters, who over the past three years have approved increasing wages and paid leave for all workers via ballot measure. Nebraska voters approved a ballot measure last November to establish a minimum level of paid sick leave for all workers. The initiative mandates that Nebraska businesses provide employees up to seven days of paid sick leave for businesses with at least 20 employees and five days a year for those with fewer than 20 employees. In 2022, Nebraska voters passed a ballot measure to increase the state minimum wage to $15 per hour starting next year. The measure's design raised the minimum wage by increments to reach that point. Legislative Bill 258, by State Sen. Jane Raybould of Lincoln, would limit who can get a wage increase in 2027. The proposed change to the initiative would cap the minimum wage at $13.50 per hour for Nebraskans younger than 16 years old, except for those legally free from parental control and responsibility. LB 698, proposed by State Sen. Paul Strommen of Sidney, would raise the minimum number of employees a business must have to be obligated to provide paid sick leave from one to at least 11 employees instead of 10. His bill would make workers under age 15 and temporary and seasonal agricultural workers ineligible for the mandatory paid sick leave. It also would remove a section that allows workers to sue businesses if they violated the new paid sick leave law. LB 258 and LB 698 both advanced from the Legislature's Business and Labor Committee. Raybould proposed changes in LB 258 that also would cap the annual minimum wage increase at a lesser rate of one and one-half percent instead of being linked to the Consumer Price Index to keep up with inflation, which was what voters approved. Another change would modify the 90-day training wage for new employees under 18 to $13.50 and to '75% of the minimum wage' in 2027. The youngest someone can work in Nebraska is 14 years old, with hour restrictions. 'LB 258 does not reflect the will of Nebraska citizens who voted overwhelmingly for stepped increases to minimum wage,' said Anahí Salazar, Policy Coordinator at Voices for Children in Nebraska. Raybould, whose family owns grocery stores 'throughout the state of Nebraska' wrote in her conflict of interest form filed with the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission that 'providing a youth and training wage would benefit our company with some savings. The cap on the increases in 2027 would also keep the projected minimum wage increase to a more reasonable and predictable one. This would also benefit our company.' She explained in the form why she won't abstain from voting on LB 258 despite the conflict of interest, because, 'this legislation would impact more businesses besides our grocery stores, including, but not limited to, all retailers, restaurants, detasselers, day care facilities and other small and independent businesses in our state.' Raybould has made LB 258 her priority bill this session. Strommen described his sick leave measure during its hearing as an attempt to 'clean up' initiative language and shield workers from 'unintended consequences.' Some business owners and groups that testified for the bill referred to it as a 'lifeline' and said costs could rise and be passed along to the consumer. Others said they welcomed the initiative's original language. State Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair also said the Legislature with LB 698 must determine a balance between what voters supporting the paid sick leave initiative want and what the state can provide. Student activist Sam Washburn said both bills disappointed him as a young person in the workforce, because they aim to 'undermine protection for workers at small businesses' for young workers. 'I don't understand how democratically elected senators can so easily go against these democratically supported initiatives,' said Washburn. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
