Paid leave available for some working parents with children out of school or childcare due to COVID-19 The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) was the first aid package passed by Congress in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The FFCRA contains paid leave provisions related to the pandemic. The provision that has gotten the most attention provides expanded paid sick… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** Thursday, August 13, 2020 Contact: Magdalena Cazarez Mobile: 402-504-0074 mcazarez@neappleseed.org Kria Sakakeeny Mobile: 401-359-2219 ksakakeeny@oxfamamerica.org New national report highlights need for urgent protections in meat and poultry plants A new Oxfam America report features interviews with dozens of workers nationwide who cite dangerous practices in plants, as thousands of workers continue to contract COVID-19 Lincoln, NE— A… Read more →
This is the last week of the 2020 legislative session. After business concludes tomorrow, the Legislature will adjourn sine die for the remainder of the year. You can find today’s legislative agenda here and you can read more about our 2020 legislative priorities on our blog. Meatpacking workers and community members demand action Last week, AM3238, an amendment to LB667… Read more →
After today, senators only have 5 days of the 2020 session to address the many issues impacting Nebraskans this year. You can find today’s legislative agenda here and you can read more about our 2020 legislative priorities on our blog. Raise your voice: Essential workers must have essential protections Last week, Senator Tony Vargas filed a motion to suspend the… Read more →
On July 17, 2020, the Attorney General released an opinion on the authority of the Governor to distribute Coronavirus Relief Funds (CRF) granted to the State of Nebraska through the federal CARES Act. We had previously shared Appleseed’s analysis that the Governor acting unilaterally to spend CRF money violates Nebraska’s constitutional separation of powers. The Attorney General’s legal analysis contains… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** Wednesday, July 28, 2020 Contact: Magdalena Cazarez Communications Director Cell: (402) 504-0074 mcazarez@neappleseed.org The Nebraska Legislature failed to protect essential Nebraskans Motion to suspend the rules to introduce a bill to protect workers fails by only two votes LINCOLN, NE – Today, a motion filed by Nebraska State Senator Tony Vargas to suspend the rules to permit… Read more →
Today marks Day 50 of the 2020 legislative session. After today, senators only have 10 more days to address the many issues impacting Nebraskans this year. You can find today’s legislative agenda here and you can read more about our 2020 legislative priorities on our blog. Take Action: Essential protections for essential meat and poultry workers For the last several… Read more →
Victoria Ostenso, also known as Tori, joined our Economic Justice team as a Community Organizer focused on our payday lending work. Tori’s pronouns are she/her/hers. Fun fact: Tori was our first Weitz Fellow in 2015-16! Tori’s most memorable experience while working at Appleseed was going on 4-5 day outreach/advocacy trips with fellow organizers “out West” to some of the more… Read more →
Last week, 25 organizations across the state called on the Nebraska Legislature to take immediate action to protect our family members, friends, and neighbors working in meat and poultry plants from COVID-19. Now, you can take action, too. Meatpacking workers in Nebraska are among the hardest hit by the pandemic, and packing plants have been one of the state’s most… Read more →
Can you believe Medicaid expansion enrollment is only one week away? In these past seven years, we have worked together to bring Medicaid expansion to Nebraska. We put Medicaid expansion on the ballot, and in November of 2018, Nebraskans chose a healthier future for our state. Now, it is officially here. Enrollment for expanded Medicaid coverage is opening soon! On… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** Thursday, July 23, 2020 Contacts: Micky Devitt, Heartland Workers Center C: (402) 403-9864 micky@heartlandworkerscenter.org Magdalena Cazarez Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed C: (402) 504-0074 mcazarez@neappleseed.org Statewide Organizations Call on Legislature for Urgently Needed Meatpacking COVID-19 Protections Too many family members at risk, protections cannot wait until next legislative session NEBRASKA — On Thursday, July 23, 25 Nebraska community organizations,… Read more →
Yesterday, the Nebraska Legislature returned to session with now less than 16 days remaining to address the many issues impacting Nebraskans this year. You can find today’s legislative agenda here. Take Action: Essential protections for essential meat and poultry workers For the last several months, we have experienced the drastic impacts COVID-19 has had on meatpacking workers – our family… Read more →
Over two months ago, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the HEROES Act, which closed gaps in previous relief measures to further support families and communities as they continue to confront the COVID-19 public health crisis. It is far past time for the Senate to act to provide critical and inclusive relief to thousands of Nebraskans, including Black and Latinx… Read more →
At Nebraska Is Home we know that vibrant communities are ones in which people from all different backgrounds respect and celebrate each other’s values and talents. In celebration of June Immigrant Heritage Month, we began sharing stories from some of the immigrants who bring vitality and passion to Nebraska. There are so many wonderful immigrants and refugees that call Nebraska… Read more →
On Monday, July 20th, the Legislature will resume the rest of the 2020 session. There will be 17 days remaining for senators to address the many issues impacting Nebraska this year. You can find Day 44’s agenda here. A lot has changed in the world since the Unicameral last met in March. We’re experiencing the ongoing impacts of a global… Read more →
Every fall, Nebraska Appleseed’s Good Apple Awards fundraiser is a special moment to gather and celebrate people creating a just, vibrant, and inclusive Nebraska. It’s a time for community, and lifting up inspiring voices and partners who lead the call for change. I know many of us yearn to renew that sense of community. We all have deeply felt the… Read more →
Advocacy Training: Racial Justice & COVID-19 in Nebraska The effects of the pandemic are widespread, but its health and economic impacts have fallen hardest on Nebraskans of color. The coronavirus has already claimed the lives of hundreds of Nebraskans, but Latinx, Asian, and Black Nebraskans are being hospitalized and dying at significantly higher rates. Join us tonight to prepare and… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** Tuesday, July 7, 2020 Contact: Magdalena Cazarez Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed C: (402) 504-0074 mcazarez@neappleseed.org Nebraskans celebrate at the Countdown to Coverage After years of waiting, Nebraskans will be able to enroll in Medicaid expansion LINCOLN, NE – Today, Nebraskans in the coverage gap and health care community advocates kicked off the long-awaited ‘Countdown to Coverage’ summer… Read more →
Diane Amdor joined our team as a Staff Attorney in the Economic Justice program this spring! Diane’s pronouns are she/her/hers. As a Staff Attorney, Diane works to combine litigation and policy to create effective pathways out of poverty for everyone in Nebraska. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts from Duquesne University in 2006, and graduated from the University… Read more →
Last week, we shared Appleseed’s analysis that the Governor acting unilaterally to spend Nebraska’s Coronavirus Relief Funds (CRF) violates the state’s constitutional separation of powers. There has been no legislative action taken to provide the required and specific appropriation of CRF needed for the Governor to spend these funds, which means the Legislature must formally appropriate CRF to provide the… Read more →
Thanks to community efforts across the state, Nebraska now joins 44 states and the District of Columbia in participating in the Pandemic-EBT (P-EBT) program. P-EBT addresses the loss of food access for children during school closures by providing electronic benefits for food assistance to students eligible for free or reduced-price meals. 156,257 Nebraska children will now be able to receive… Read more →
At Nebraska Is Home we know that vibrant communities are ones in which people from all different backgrounds respect and celebrate each other’s values and talents. In celebration of June as Immigrant Heritage Month, we want to share a few stories from some of the immigrants who bring vitality and passion to Nebraska. Meet Nibras, a young global leader who… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** Friday, June 19, 2020 Contact: Magdalena Cazarez Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed C: (402) 504-0074 mcazarez@neappleseed.org Nebraska approved to implement Pandemic EBT, a federal option under SNAP Ensuring over 150,000 Nebraska children and families have the meals they need to stay healthy Lincoln, NE — On Thursday, June 18, 2020, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services… Read more →
This week has been historic for our nation, including two monumental U.S. Supreme Court victories for LGBTQ+ and immigrant communities. Today, we honor Juneteenth, commemorating the day enslaved Americans fought and gained freedom in Texas, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. This Juneteenth, we remember lives lost this year, and we also celebrate a DACA ruling that is a step… Read more →
The coronavirus pandemic has caused major hardship in Nebraska, with unemployment soaring and people facing difficulty making ends meet. Recognizing the damage to be wrought by the pandemic, Congress passed the CARES Act, which included providing Coronavirus Relief Funds (CRF) for states. CRF are designed to help states respond to the pandemic and weather the first months of the crisis.… Read more →
