DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

Jim Pillen reversed course on Monday and announced that the state will accept roughly $18 million in federal funding to help feed hungry children over the summer break. “They talked about being hungry, and they talked about the summer USDA program and, depending upon access, when they'd get a sack of food,” Pillen said. A bill from state Sen. Jen Day of Omaha, a Democrat in the officially nonpartisan Legislature, would have forced the state to accept the federal funding. Kim Reynolds criticized the federal food program as doing “nothing to promote nutrition at a time when childhood obesity has become an epidemic." Pillen said Monday that Nebraska officials had already reached out to the USDA to confirm that the state would participate this year.

Persons: LINCOLN, Jim Pillen, Pillen, “, they'd, ” Pillen, ”, —, Sen, Jen, Ray Aguilar, Aguilar, Kim Reynolds, Reynolds, State Sen, Megan Hunt, ” Hunt Organizations: —, — Nebraska Gov, U.S . Department of Agriculture, Capitol, SNAP, Summer Food Service, Democrat, Republican, Nebraska, State, USDA Locations: Neb, — Nebraska, Nebraska, Pillen's, Omaha, Grand, Iowa

Tennessee is among 35 states, all five U.S. territories and four tribes that have opted into the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer program, or Summer EBT, for this summer. "Established during the pandemic, Summer EBT was intended to supplement existing food assistance programs in extraordinary circumstances. “I think it is a mistake to not continue with Summer EBT in 2025 and beyond,” Anderson said in an interview. Under the federal program, some 644,000 Tennessee children can receive $77.3 million more in aid this summer, creating a multiplied economic impact, according to the USDA Food and Nutrition Service. All 50 states administer the existing Summer Food Service Program, which provides sites where kids can eat for free.

Persons: won’t, Joe Biden's, Bill Lee's, ”, Elizabeth Johnson, Lee, EBT, Signe Anderson, she's, ” Anderson, Jim Pillen, Tom Vilsack, he’s Organizations: —, . Tennessee, Republican, Republican Gov, “ Tennessee, Tennessee Justice Center, U.S . Department of Agriculture, USDA, Assistance, Nebraska Gov, USDA Food, Nutrition Service, Food Service Program, Associated Locations: Tenn, — Tennessee, ., Tennessee, “, Nebraska, ” Tennessee

Nebraska is among more than a dozen states — all with Republican governors — that have opted out of receiving the funding. Kim Reynolds criticized the federal food program as doing “nothing to promote nutrition at a time when childhood obesity has become an epidemic. Statistics from the U.S. Department of Agriculture showing a steady increase in food insecurity among Nebraska families could help explain that flood of calls, Day said. “This places Nebraska above the national average and gives us the 11th highest food insecurity in the nation,” she said. “As many of you know, food is more expensive than ever, and it’s squeezing low-income Nebraska residents hardest."

Persons: Weeks, Jim Pillen, “, Omaha Sen, Jen Day, —, Kim Reynolds, Sen, Ray Aguilar, Aguilar, Day, Pillen Organizations: Republican Gov, Legislature's, Human Services Committee, SNAP, Democrat, Nebraska Legislature, Republican, Statistics, U.S . Department, Agriculture, Summer Food Service Program, U.S . Department of Agriculture Locations: Nebraska, Omaha, Iowa, Grand, U.S

☆ New Hampshire primary: What to expect from Trump, Haley and DeSantis
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-21 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Polls indicate New Hampshire offers Haley her best chance for a win, while DeSantis, polling a distant third, is already looking ahead to South Carolina. While Tuesday's primary result is expected to be narrower, the latest polls of likely New Hampshire GOP primary voters show Trump leading Haley by double digits. They have been joined in recent days by a growing number of Trump's one time Republican primary rivals — Nebraska Gov. In New Hampshire, Haley is right: She and Trump are the top two candidates by far in the polls, with DeSantis a distant third. Days away from the New Hampshire primary, DeSantis' campaign is already shifting resources to South Carolina, while still holding some events in New Hampshire.

Persons: Timothy A, Clary, Donald Trump, Trump, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Haley, Chris Galdieri, State David M, Scanlan, Biden, —, Elise Stefanik, Sen, Ted Cruz, Sean Hannity, Doug Burgum, Vivek Ramaswamy, Tim Scott of, Faith Ninivaggi, Reuters Haley, Galdieri, Haley's, Chris Sununu, Scala, Matt McClain, DeSantis, Joe Biden, Nathan Howard Organizations: Getty, New, New Hampshire voters, Republican, Granite State, Florida Gov, United, New Hampshire, West Wing, Saint Anselm College, State, Democratic, Trump, GOP, New Hampshire GOP, Republicans, New York, Fox News, — Nebraska Gov, Tim Scott of South Carolina —, U.S, Omni, Washington Hotel, Resort, Reuters, The, New Hampshire Gov, CNBC, Florida, LaBelle, Washington Post, DeSantis, NBC News, Biden, Community Center Locations: Concord , New Hampshire, New Hampshire, Iowa, United Nations, South Carolina, Portsmouth , New Hampshire, Monday's Iowa, Granite State, New, Texas, Tim Scott of South Carolina, Bretton Woods , New Hampshire, U.S, Florida, The Granite, Granite, Palmetto, Derry, NH, Raleigh , North Carolina

(AP) — Longtime Omaha community activist Preston Love Jr. has announced he is seeking the Democratic nomination to challenge Republican U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts for the seat Ricketts was appointed to fill last year. Love, 81, launched his campaign Wednesday in north Omaha before a crowd of about 100 with the endorsements of some of the state's top Democrats, including state party executive director Precious McKesson and state Sen. Tony Vargas. Ricketts also gave more than $1 million to the political action committee Conservative Nebraska, which ran a slew of attack ads against Pillen’s primary opponents. It is the second time the state party has backed Love for the Senate seat — although the first time came under unusual, scandal-plagued circumstance. Love is the founder and executive director of the nonprofit Black Votes Matter Institute of Community Engagement and an adjunct professor of Black studies at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Persons: —, Preston Love Jr, Sen, Pete Ricketts, Ricketts, Precious McKesson, Tony Vargas, Vargas, Don Bacon, Love, haven't, Lyndon, Johnson, Ricketts —, “ I'm, Jim Pillen, Ben Sasse, Pillen, Chris Janicek, Brad Ashford, Alisha Shelton, Nebraska’s, Sasse Organizations: — Longtime, Democratic, Republican U.S, Congress, Republican, GOP, Senate, “, United, Republican Gov, University of Florida, Conservative Nebraska, Democrats, U.S . Rep, of Community, University of Nebraska Locations: OMAHA, Neb, — Longtime Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska, U.S, United States, Love

☆ 15 states mostly led by Republicans refuse federal funds to feed hungry children during the summer months
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( Katie Balevic | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Biden Administration has launched a permanent Summer EBT program to feed hungry children. AdvertisementFifteen states, all currently led by Republican governors, were notably absent from the Summer EBT announcement. AdvertisementIn Mississippi and Oklahoma, spokespersons from their respective health departments told BI their states have existing summer food assistance programs. A spokesperson from the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare said there is a budget request in its state legislature to approve funding for the Summer EBT program in 2025. Some who declined to participate in the Summer EBT program, however, were more direct.

Persons: —, Tom Vilsack, John Bel Edwards, Jeff Landry, South Carolina –, Jim Pillen Organizations: Biden Administration, Republicans, Service, Administration, Republican, US Department of Agriculture, USDA, Former Louisiana Gov, Democrat, Republican Gov, Iowa Department of Health, Human Services, Idaho Department of Health, Welfare, Vermont Public Radio, Lincoln Journal Star Locations: Alabama, Alaska , Florida, Georgia , Idaho , Iowa, Louisiana , Mississippi , Nebraska , Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota , Texas , Vermont, Wyoming, Texas , Oklahoma , Louisiana , Mississippi, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Vermont, Nebraska

(AP) — An effort to enshrine abortion rights in the Nebraska Constitution is being launched, following on the heels of successful efforts in other reds states where Republicans had enacted or sought abortion restrictions. Protect Our Rights, the coalition behind the effort, submitted proposed petition language to the Nebraska Secretary of State's office late last month. That's proving consistent in other states where voters have backed abortion rights — including in Ohio, where voters last week resoundingly approved an amendment to the state constitution to protect abortion access. Paige Brown, a spokesperson for the Nebraska Catholic Conference that has lobbied hard for abortion restrictions, telegraphed that abortion opponents are aware of the public pushback. Ashley All, who helped lead the effort in Kansas to protect abortion rights, echoed that warning, noting Kansas voters rejected that state's anti-abortion effort by nearly 20 percentage points.

Persons: “ We're, ”, Ashlei Spivey, Spivey, ” Spivey, Roe, Wade, resoundingly, Paige Brown, “, Brown, ” Brown, Jim Pillen, Sen, Merve Riepe, Ashley All Organizations: Nebraska, American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska, Women's, U.S, Supreme, Republican, Nebraska Catholic Conference, Nebraska Gov Locations: OMAHA, Neb, Nebraska, Omaha, Ohio, “ Ohio, Kansas

Jim Pillen is facing backlash after comments he made about the Chinese nationality of a reporter whose story cited environmental concerns at farms owned by the governor. Consuming high levels of nitrate has been linked to health problems such as thyroid disease, birth defects and cancer, according to the report. Political Cartoons View All 1211 Images“As a Nebraskan, it embarrasses me,” Wynn wrote. She has worked for the Flatwater Free Press, an independent, nonprofit news organization based in Omaha, for two years. Several journalists were among those who criticized Pillen on social media for his comments.

Persons: LINCOLN, Jim Pillen, Yanqi Xu, ” Pillen, “, Matt Wynn, ” Wynn, wasn't, Xu, Pillen Organizations: —, — Nebraska Gov, Flatwater Free Press, Republican Locations: Neb, — Nebraska, China, U.S, Omaha

☆ Former Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts to Fill Vacant U.S. Senate Seat
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Shannon Najmabadi | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Jim Pillen speaking in Lincoln, Neb., after the Nebraska gubernatorial election was called in his favor in November. Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen on Thursday appointed his predecessor to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Ben Sasse , a Republican who resigned earlier this month to become president of the University of Florida. Pete Ricketts , a Republican who served two terms as Nebraska’s governor, will hold the seat until a special election is held in 2024 in the solid conservative state. He would have to run again in 2026 to serve a full six-year term in the Senate.

☆ Nebraska Gov. Pillen appoints former Gov. Pete Ricketts as Ben Sasse's Senate replacement
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Summer-Concepcion-Byline-Jm.Jpg | Summer Concepcion | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

Ricketts, a Republican like Pillen and Sasse, will serve two years ahead of a 2024 special Senate election. Sasse, a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump and his supporters, officially resigned from the Senate on Sunday. Pillen said Ricketts was tapped for Sasse’s seat after more than 100 people applied and nine were interviewed. Following Pillen’s remarks, Ricketts thanked the governor, saying he was proud to support his campaign, and also thanked Sasse for his service. A top political ally of Pillen, Ricketts endorsed Pillen to succeed him and was a favorite to replace Sasse.

☆ One of the most powerful rich families in American politics just got their son in the Senate
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Ricketts' family owns the Chicago Cubs and has broadly supported conservative causes. Ricketts will replace former Republican Sen. Ben Sasse who left the chamber. Pete Ricketts will be joining the US Senate, an appointment that caps his political comeback and cements his family, which owns the Chicago Cubs, as one of the most powerful forces in American politics. Sen. Deb Fischer, a two-term Republican incumbent and loyal ally of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, is also up for reelection then too. Along with owning the Cubs, the Ricketts family has long been among the biggest funders of Republican campaigns.

☆ Former Nebraska Governor Ricketts to become U.S. senator
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Katharine Jackson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, Jan 12 (Reuters) - Nebraska's former Republican Governor Pete Ricketts is due to become a U.S. senator after being appointed on Thursday to fill the seat left vacant by Republican Senator Ben Sasse. In an anticipated move, Nebraska's Republican Governor Jim Pillen announced the appointment of his predecessor at the state Capitol on Thursday morning. Ricketts, 58, served two terms as Nebraska's governor, wrapping up his second term last week. The senator was one of seven Republican senators who voted to impeach then-president Donald Trump. Ricketts' appointment will not alter the balance of power in the Senate.

☆ Republican Sen. Ben Sasse officially steps down, opening up appointment to seat
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-08 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Summer-Concepcion-Byline-Jm.Jpg | Summer Concepcion | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., an outspoken critic of former President Donald Trump, officially resigned from the Senate on Sunday as he prepares to step back into academia as president of the University of Florida. The state's previous governor, Republican Pete Ricketts, has said he would seek the appointment. The university’s Board of Trustees later approved Sasse as the school's next president despite vocal opposition from some faculty and students. Sasse frequently aired grievances with Trump as well as his supporters in the Republican Party. “Those lies had consequences, endangering the life of the vice president and bringing us dangerously close to a bloody constitutional crisis,” Sasse said at the time.

Another focus of the conference was “electability,” with many Republicans expressing increased interest in making sure that candidates who emerged from primaries were best positioned to win in November. Pete Ricketts, who just finished a term as RGA co-chair, suggested that the group could get more involved in primaries. The RGA did spend to defend incumbents facing primaries but now may consider spending in open races. “The idea that Trump would make an announcement yesterday — and I’ve been proven right, because it’s barely a story — it was just stupid,” he said. It’s clearly from a position of weakness, and for his own self-serving purposes, whatever they may be legal or otherwise.

Search resuls for: "Nebraska Gov"

14 mentions found