With the rapid rise in internet use among children, the dangers of online exploitation have grown alarmingly. Children’s access to the internet has become nearly ubiquitous, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hearing loss affects millions of Americans. In fact, by age 75 over half of adults will have some form of hearing loss. Signs of hearing loss include having trouble hearing speech in noisy places, finding it hard to follow speech in groups, trouble hearing on the phone, listening makes you tired, or if you need to turn the volume up on the TV or radio while others complain it is too loud.

Manufacturing is critical for Nebraska’s economy. It contributes $21.6 billion to our annual gross domestic product. That’s a 57% increase from five years ago. Manufacturing is our second-largest economic sector. It’s easy to see why. Whether it’s the food we eat, the machines we use, or the tools that help farmers and ranchers thrive, manufacturing touches every part of our daily lives. As we end Manufacturing Month, let’s celebrate the many successes of this growing industry.

With the upcoming holidays and all the “craziness of life” we need to be reminded that relationships and listening are important topics! Conversations happen daily where someone is talking, and another is supposed to be listening. However, are they truly listening? How often does the person listening check their phone or look at their computer in the midst of a conversation? Maybe the person is nodding their head or even saying a few words.

As harvest draws to a close, Nebraska’s producers are worried. Farmers especially feel the weight of higher costs and interest rates.

What do warts, pap smears, cervical cancer, head and neck cancer, and a vaccine all have in common? Three letters: HPV Human papillomavirus ( HPV) is a common virus that can cause growths on skin and mucous membranes. There are over one hundred different types of HPV, and while some cause common warts, others can cause cancer.

In America, elections are about choices. Choices have consequences. A president’s policies and priorities shape our economy, our freedoms, and our standing in the world. We saw it in 2016 when voters chose Donald Trump. His policies built a strong economy that included lower taxes and energy independence. He also brought strength and security at home and abroad. We saw the consequences of our elections again in 2020. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have brought stubbornly high costs of living and higher taxes. Under Biden-Harris, we’ve also seen an open border and appeasement to adversaries. The implications of our choices in the coming election will impact America for generations to come.

A few years ago, the Nebraska Legislature debated on how to help families access a school that best fit their needs no matter the zip code where they reside. On the floor sat a bill aimed at creating tax credit scholarships to pay for low-income students to have the choice to attend a private school. Both sides of the aisle agreed that not every family felt their needs were met, there was more work to be done, and while committed to doing so understood that struggling education systems don’t get cleaned up overnight.

The saying goes, “newer isn’t always better,” and while I typically tend to agree with that, newer might be better when it comes to glucose monitoring technology. In recent years we have seen rapid development and uptake of new types of glucometers, leaving fewer and fewer patients with diabetes using the old standby fingerstick method of blood sugar monitoring.

Last Monday, the FBI arrested an Afghan national planning an Election Day attack on U.S. soil. The man was paroled into the country following the U.S.’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. He was one of tens of thousands of Afghans evacuated to the U.S. and granted entry under a humanitarian parole program.