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The Nebraska Legislature on Thursday debated a proposal aimed at setting policies about schools' use of technology to monitor students.

Representative Don Bacon, who represents Nebraska’s second congressional district, spoke with Nebraska Public Media on national cybersecurity, federal spending cuts and foreign relations.

More than 15,000 influenza cases have been reported this flu season, according to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.

Nebraska senators advanced a proposal to treat gig employees as independent contractors, and heard a proposal designed to limit Chinese influence.

A proposed state budget from Gov. Jim Pillen includes cuts to several water recreation projects in Nebraska. But a bill from Sen. Barry DeKay would give authority to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission to carry out other, cheaper park enhancements. DeKay, who represents a northeast Nebraska district that includes Lewis and Clark Lake and Niobrara State Park, said in a hearing Wednesday his legislation will help get projects across the finish line despite potential budget cuts.

Some of Nebraska’s elected officials are weighing in on negotiations in the war between Russia and Ukraine. They are also addressing President Donald Trump’s comments saying that Ukraine “should have never started it.”

Faith leaders from across the state and across denominations have responded to a recent immigration enforcement policy that would allow arrests in places of worship. Here's how some Nebraska church leaders disagree with the policy and even plan to disregard it.

The national effort to cut federal funding has trickled down to some University of Nebraska-Lincoln programs. The future of one program focused on recruiting and retaining teachers is now up in the air.

Sen. Loren Lippincott's newspaper column criticizing diversity, equity and inclusion programs in aviation sparked heated discussion Tuesday in the Nebraska Legislature.

Sen. Barry DeKay, a rancher from Niobrara, introduced a bill at the request of Gov. Jim Pillen that would ban the manufacturing, sale and distribution of cultured protein products. These products are made by cultivating animal stem cells for several weeks and combining them with other ingredients. They are not yet for sale in Nebraska. DeKay said he wants the product banned until there is more information about its health ramifications.

Nebraska State Trooper, Kyle McAcy , was struck and killed by a snowplow on I-80 Monday morning. He was responding to a crash involving the snowplow and two other vehicles when the plow backed into him.

Girls wrestling is the fastest growing Nebraska high school sport in the last four years, according to the Nebraska School Activities Association. Tuesday’s state tournament is more evidence of that growth. It’s the first time girls have their own championship event, separate from boys wrestling, at the CHI Health Center in Omaha.

Peat bogs sequester a massive amount of the Earth's carbon dioxide. But even as scientists work to better understand bogs' sequestration, the wetlands are under threat.

President Donald Trump has published several executive orders that could directly impact agriculture, Nebraska's top industry. Nebraska Public Media's Jackie Ourada asked U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts about those impacts and what legislation we could see this session from the former governor.

The Nebraska Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee heard proposals Thursday for further restrictions on abortions.

The Nebraska Legislature debated expanding the definition of who would be considered an independent contractor, in contrast to an employee.

The University of Nebraska Medical Center budget would take a major hit if a Trump administration policy to reduce National Institutes of Health grant funding goes into effect. The change would cap UNMC's funding for indirect research costs, which cover things like water and electricity, at 15%, instead of their previously negotiated 53%.

The Nebraska Legislature’s Natural Resources Committee heard a proposal to merge two state agencies Thursday. Sen. Tom Brandt introduced a bill to merge the state’s Department of Natural Resources and Department of Environment and Energy. Gov. Jim Pillen testified in favor of the bill, citing it as an important step to protect Nebraska’s water.

Dangerously cold temperatures, high wind gusts and a wintery mix come to south central NE this weekend, causing a potential for icy roads. Subzero temperatures also continue following Tuesday's winter storm.

Nebraska has never had a State Poet like Jewel Rodgers. She is the youngest person to hold the position at 27 and she is the first African American. Nebraska Public Media's Dale Johnson caught up with the Omaha native as she travels the state impressing audiences with her form of spoken word poetry.