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Brand inspectors have been ensuring the ownership of cattle at ranches and feedlots in the parts of Nebraska for more than 100 years. Now, a bill in the Unicameral seeks to exempt feedlots from paying for this inspection. Nebraska Public Media’s Brian Beach visited southwest Nebraska to learn why ranchers and beef producers are passionate about the legislation.

The Nebraska Legislature continued debating paid sick leave, with a vote likely Friday.

Nebraska Health Districts are assessing how much money they might lose after the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services canceled nearly 12 billion dollars' worth of federal grants to state and local health departments this week, citing the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Nebraska Legislature on Wednesday resumed debating proposed exclusions to a voter-approved sick leave requirement.

Nebraska state senators advanced bills designed to pay for expanded health care, despite concerns about possible federal cuts.

The CDC has counted nearly 400 measles cases in the U.S. since January- a 33% increase from last year's total cases. While there are no cases in Nebraska, there are 10 in Kansas, and state experts warn of a potential spread following the spring break travel season.

Certified Naturally Grown offers farmers a cheaper and less time-consuming option to communicate how they produce their food. But terms like “natural” on food labels can be confusing for consumers.

The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference has fined Chadron State College for behavior by a student athlete who was attending a softball game against New Mexico Highlands last month.

Several state organizations are keeping an eye on the potential impacts from starting to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. President Donald Trump signed an executive order aiming to dismantle the federal department last week, although it would take an act of Congress to officially eliminate the department.

A proposal to scale back who would be covered by a paid sick leave requirement approved by voters drew opposition in the Legislature Thursday.

Nebraska’s sandhill crane migration is stronger than ever, despite the worries about bird flu. Hear what the experts are saying about this year's migration and the effects that it has on south central Nebraska.

A legislative proposal to give all Nebraska counties the option to conduct elections entirely by mail was discussed Wednesday/this afternoon. Currently, only counties with populations under 10,000 can apply to the Secretary of State to mail ballots to all registered voters. In the last general election, 11 of the state’s 67 eligible counties did just that. In most counties, voters must request an absentee ballot to vote by mail.

The Nebraska Legislature advanced bills Wednesday taxing alternative nicotine products and offering housing help to survivors of domestic violence.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is ending its Local Food to Schools program. Current funding will continue through December, leaving food producers and schools wondering what will happen to their partnerships when the funding is gone.

Congressman Mike Flood was greeted with a relatively hostile crowd at his town hall in Columbus Tuesday evening. Flood represents Nebraska’s First Congressional District, which includes Columbus, Lincoln and Norfolk. Attendees booed references to President Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. The biggest applause of the night came when Flood expressed his support for funding Ukraine.

Bills moving through the Nebraska Legislature were temporarily sidetracked by objections to the process Tuesday, while the Appropriations Committee heard proposals to divert money from the Perkins County Canal project.

A proposal to reduce the number of reports required on health topics drew opposition in the Nebraska Legislature Monday.

Nebraska universities would be able to pay athletes name, image and likeness compensation directly under a bill heard Monday afternoon in a legislative committee. Last year, former college athletes brought a case against the NCAA claiming that it unfairly restricted them from profiting from NIL. The NCAA agreed to a nearly $3 billion settlement, allowing universities to pay current and former athletes the money they may have missed out on. But current Nebraska law prohibits universities from directly paying NIL compensation to athletes.

For years, it’s been up to teachers to control cell phones in their classrooms. Now, many school districts have started creating a wider policy, and a bill in the state legislature would require all districts to follow suit.

The Legislature’s Revenue Committee considered proposals to end taxes on tips and overtime pay. During a hearing Friday afternoon, Sen. Danielle Conrad said she introduced the bills to show her support for working families. She acknowledged opposition to the policies from both left and right-leaning think tanks, but she said the policies have majority support from both parties according to polling.