OMAHA — In a quest to reduce poverty, Omaha leaders on Thursday launched a citywide parent survey on childcare.

Representatives of the state’s most populous city — which, along with Lincoln, was mandated by a 2024 state law to create a Poverty Elimination Action Plan — will use survey findings to help its mayor shape new policy, grant or legislative recommendations.

LINCOLN — Nebraska’s state auditor is criticizing Douglas County’s handling of a program that helps the poor, including what he described as high administrative costs and “problematic” distribution of Dollar General gift cards.

State Auditor Mike Foley detailed concerns in a letter released last Tuesday to the governing board of Nebraska’s most populous county. Attached was a five-page response from the county.

LINCOLN — The number of Nebraskans receiving public food assistance continues a downward slide, punctuated by recent back-to-back record drops in monthly participation since the state began releasing public SNAP data in 2014.

The latest figures show that about 7,600 fewer Nebraskans were enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in July compared with the month before. Total participation was 116,703 Nebraskans, down from about 150,000 a year ago.