February 4, 2012

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Omaha EITC Coalition report on unemployment and transition to knowledge economy

January 24, 2012 By

The Omaha EITC Coalition (Earned Income Tax Credit) released a new report today on the impact of long-term unemployment and the role it plays in the economic shirt that they and economists call the “knowledge economy”. Laurel Sariscsany compiled the report “The Poor We Will Always Have: A look at the new knowledge based economy and its effect on low to middle income individuals”. The “knowledge economy” is using knowledge to produce economic benefits. She used data collected by the Omaha EITC Coalition in this report that shows the impact unemployment has on individuals and communities.

Sariscsany stated that long term unemployment is a key factor in this knowledge economy. It is defined as being out of work 6 months or longer. 45-percent of those unemployed are long term unemployed and the majority of that 45-percent have been out of work a year.

Sariscsany says they “see that 23-percent of the long-term unemployed own their own home. Of our over-all customer base, 28-percent own their own home. This may seem like a small gap, only 5-percent but the loss of assets it represents is very significant. We suspect as time goes on this 23-percent will continue to decrease as individuals are not able to pay their mortgage or property tax and lose their own home. Individuals who are lucky enough to not lose their home are unlikely able to save much more for pay for house repairs. This may lead to them using investments such as early withdraws from retirement plans, pensions and stocks.”

This report does focus on the term “knowledge economy” and Sariscsany says more people will need an education beyond high school to compete with jobs in the future. The report shows that 26.5- percent of Nebraska residents do have an associate’s degree. However, by 2018, two-thirds of all jobs will require education beyond the high school level.

The Coalition feels policy changes are necessary to support individuals affected by this new economy and they suggest extending unemployment benefits for those experiencing long-term unemployment. Support the creation of and funding for a variety of Bridge Programs in Nebraska. They also would like to see expansion of asset limits in public benefits programs to allow for more educational opportunities.

The Nebraska Department of Labor released the December unemployment rate Tuesday. December’s unemployment rate came in at 4.1-percent, unchanged from November.

Filed Under: Economy, Education, News

Donation of old barn to Allwine Prairie Preserve

January 11, 2012 By

An old barn will get new life at Nebraska’s Allwine Prairie Preserve. Tom Bragg is with the Department of Biology at the University of Nebraska – Omaha and says the barn and silo will be moved from its current site on Thursday.

The barn was built in the 1880′s. Owner Barbie Hayes wanted to preserve the barn but due to road changes near the property she decided the best way to do that was to donate it to the Allwine Prairie Preserve. The barn will eventually be renovated into a state-of-the-art field lab, classroom, kitchen and library. They also hope to connect the barn and silo with a walkway that will be used as a lookout tower.

Bragg says over one-thousand grade school children visit the preserve each year but they are limited in what they can do because of lack of bathrooms and other facilities. The renovation of the barn will solve that problem.

Barbi Hayes also donated $605,000 to restore the structures into the education and research facility. An anonymous donor also gave $50.000. They continue to seek donations to complete the education facility.

Filed Under: Education, News

Girl Scouts make big change in cookie selling campaign

January 9, 2012 By

Nebraskans who like to munch on Girl Scout cookies will love a major change that will be implemented for the fundraiser later this week.

Kristin Hunter, a spokeswoman for the organization, says you will no longer have to place an order and wait weeks for your sweet snacks to arrive.

“The very first day of the sale, which is January 13th, Girl Scouts will have packages of cookies on hand to sell,” Hunter says. “So, when they’re going door-to-door or they have those cookie booths out there, you can get that cookie gratification immediately.”

This is the 100th year for the Girl Scouts and the cookie selling process has remained much the same for decades — until now.

Hunter says, “We listened to our volunteers and our parents and our customers who simply wanted us to make this a more streamlined, simplified process.”

Of all the money generated by the cookie sales, 73% stays with the local Girl Scout chapters to help send girls to camp and for other beneficial programs.

“It’s also really important for folks to understand that our girls are learning goal-setting and decision making,” Hunter says. “They’re learning how to manage money and get those people skills down as well as business ethics through this cookie program.”

The cookies sell for $3.50 a box and come in eight flavors, including: Thin Mints, Caramel DeLites and Peanut Butter Patties.

No Girl Scouts came to your door? You can place an order online, starting Friday, at www.girlscoutsnebraska.org.

 

Filed Under: Education, Human Interest, News

State study ranks Nebraska’s schools based on grad rates

December 9, 2011 By

A new state report ranks all of the state’s high schools by graduation rate. That number will become more important as states move toward the “Common Core” educational standards.

The report from the Nebraska Department of Education shows Hartington High School graduating nearly 87% of its students last school year and Crofton High graduating almost 98%.

Randy Anderson, superintendent for both districts, says there are always factors that affect individual students.

“The numbers don’t always reflect what’s actually transpiring,” Anderson says. “Sometimes students will perhaps have to attend an alternative school or a special educational school.”

Anderson says they always target a high graduation rate. He says, “It would be great to have 100% but that doesn’t always transpire, just simply because of extenuating circumstances.”

He says it’s a balance between high academic standards and making sure every student achieves the goals and graduates.

Jerry Oster, WNAX, Yankton

Filed Under: Education, News

Report: State anti-smoking programs see deep funding cuts

December 2, 2011 By

A new report shows funding to state anti-smoking programs in Nebraska and nationwide was cut by 12% in the past year. The report from the Coalition of Public Health Organizations says 36% of the funding has been cut in the last four years.

Peggy Huppert, spokeswoman for the American Cancer Society, says the foe they’re all fighting hasn’t cut its spending.

She says the tobacco industry continues spending “tens of millions of dollars” aggressively marketing its product.

Huppert says it’s unlikely state lawmakers would increase tobacco use prevention funding next year. She says the only thing that will likely lead to new money is an increase in smoking rates.

“It may take a few years, so when we can go back to the legislature and show them that smoking has increased, that smokeless tobacco usage has increased, especially among young people, which it will, then we’ll probably get more money to reverse the trend,” Huppert said. “It’s unfortunate that it has to be that way, but it probably is what will happen.”

In the meantime, Huppert hopes more can be done to prevent the increase in smoking among young people.

She says they will be keeping an eye on state programs to see if they use “evidence-based strategies.” Huppert says those programs don’t include adults talking to kids about smoking, which she says doesn’t work. “What is effective is kids talking to kids, peer-to-peer.”

The national report says states are spending less than two cents of every dollar of revenue from the tobacco settlement and taxes to fight tobacco use.

You can see the full report at: www.tobaccofreekids.org

 

Filed Under: Education, Health & Medicine, Legislature & Government, News
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