Fred Knapp

Lincoln

Reporter and Producer at Nebraska Public Media

Reporter/producer for Nebraska Public Media

Featured in: Favicon

netnebraska.org Favicon

npr.org

illinois.edu Favicon

miamiherald.com Favicon

kansascity.com Favicon

kentucky.com Favicon

sacbee.com Favicon

wnyc.org

star-telegram.com Favicon

newsobserver.com + 102 more

Articles

Measure aimed at China and other 'adversary nations' advances

6 days ago | nebraskapublicmedia.org | Fred Knapp

A bill aimed at countering the activities of China and other “adversarial nations” is advancing in the Nebraska Legislature. Sen. Eliot Bostar introduced the bill for Gov. Jim Pillen. It would require people engaging in political activities for, consulting, raising or spending money, or representing those deemed “adversary nations” to register with the Nebraska Attorney General and describe their activities, or face fines up to $50,000.
Judges' pay, workers' compensation for firefighters considered by Legislature

1 week ago | nebraskapublicmedia.org | Fred Knapp

Nebraska lawmakers continued work on the state budget Thursday, debating pay raises for judges and also considered worker’s compensation for firefighters who develop cancer. Up for consideration Thursday was a proposal to raise judges’ pay by 1.5% for each of the next two years. Sen. Carolyn Bosn, chair of the Judiciary Committee, said the pay hikes are needed to compete for legal talent from attorneys in private practice.
Legislature gives first-round approval to main budget bill

1 week ago | nebraskapublicmedia.org | Fred Knapp

The Nebraska Legislature began debate Tuesday on the state budget for the next two years, considering whether the state should defer major capital projects in order to avoid other cuts. What’s at stake is spending of about $11 billion over the next two years proposed by the Appropriations Committee. Sen. Jason Prokop, a member of the committee, described the proposal.
Appropriations Committee makes attempts to balance budget

2 weeks ago | nebraskapublicmedia.org | Fred Knapp

The Nebraska Legislature’s Appropriations Committee dug deeper into the state’s couch cushions Thursday to find more funds to help balance the state budget. But not everyone is pleased with what they came up with. Toward the end of Thursday’s legislative floor debate, Speaker John Arch announced what senators would be considering for most of the next two weeks: the state budget. “We understand the challenge that is in front of us.
‘None of them want to sell to Nebraska’: Colorado landowners unite as Nebraska threatens eminent domain for canal project

2 weeks ago | nebraskapublicmedia.org | Fred Knapp

Kross, visiting for the day, owns land down the river, which is also in Nebraska’s sights. He objects to how Nebraska is trying to get land even before it's gotten the environmental permits that it will need for the canal. “Taking land from families that have had 100 years on that land, when you don't have the key elements of being able to build your project… seems premature and pretty devastating to that family,” Kross says. That frustration is leading to action.
Colorado landowners resisting Nebraska canal offers

2 weeks ago | nebraskapublicmedia.org | Fred Knapp

Kross, visiting for the day, owns land a little way down the river, which is also in Nebraska’s sights. He objects to how Nebraska is trying to get land even before it has gotten the environmental permits that it will need for the canal. “Taking land from families that have had 100 years on that land, when you don't have the key elements of being able to build your project… seems premature and pretty devastating to that family,” Kross says. That frustration is leading to action.
Plan to scale back minimum wage hikes gets second approval

2 weeks ago | nebraskapublicmedia.org | Fred Knapp

Minimum wage increases approved by voters would be scaled back under a bill that moved one step closer to final passage in the Legislature Wednesday. Three years ago, Nebraska voters approved increasing the minimum wage in stages. It’s now $13.50 an hour, scheduled to go up to $15 next January, and increase with inflation after that. But the advancing bill would change that. Employers would be allowed to pay 14 and 15 year-olds a $13.50 an hour youth wage.
New economic forecast tightens state's budget squeeze

2 weeks ago | nebraskapublicmedia.org | Fred Knapp

A new economic forecast Friday suggests the Legislature will have to consider further budget cuts or tax increases. Nebraska’s Economic Forecasting Advisory board reduced its estimate of state revenues for the current and next two fiscal years by nearly $400 million. The board lowered its estimate for the current fiscal year, which ends June 30, by $190 million, and for the next two fiscal years by a total of another $190 million.
State budget advances amid continued uncertainty

3 weeks ago | nebraskapublicmedia.org | Fred Knapp

The Nebraska Legislature’s Appropriations Committee advanced a budget proposal Thursday that would leave the state short of its legally-required reserve requirement. Two other bills advanced Thursday would close that gap. But a revised economic forecast on Friday could open it up again. The Appropriations Committee’s recommended general fund budget for the state would spend just over $5.5 billion in each of the next two fiscal years. Committee chairman Sen.
Legislative committee says China is a threat to Nebraska, though details remain confidential

3 weeks ago | nebraskapublicmedia.org | Fred Knapp

Nebraska’s agriculture, manufacturing and critical infrastructure are vulnerable to threats from China, according to the Committee on Pacific Conflict, a group created by the Legislature last year. But details about those threats are not available to the public, because the committee is exempt from the state’s public records and meeting laws. The job of the Committee on Pacific conflict is to watch over threats to Nebraska’s critical infrastructure in case of war in the Pacific.