Nebraska

• Seventeen passengers from the MV Hondius cruise ship are being flown to the National Quarantine Unit in Omaha, Nebraska, the same facility used during the early COVID-19 pandemic, after potential hantavirus exposure aboard the vessel. • CDC officials confirmed three deaths related to the outbreak and are monitoring at least nine Americans across six states—Arizona, California, Virginia, Texas, Georgia, and New Jersey—for possible infections, though none have shown symptoms yet. • Dr. Michael Osterholm, director of the University of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, stated the outbreak "is on the end of its run right now," noting hantavirus has very limited person-to-person transmission capability and is a "rare exception" for spread.

• A dialysis unit in rural Nebraska closed after operating at a financial loss, leaving patients without local treatment access despite the state receiving $219 million in federal rural health transformation funding. • The closure highlights the challenges rural healthcare facilities face in maintaining operations even with substantial federal support aimed at rural health infrastructure. • The facility's closure upends the lives of dialysis patients who must now travel for treatment, raising questions about the effectiveness of federal rural health programs in sustaining critical services.

• Bluestem Health in Lincoln, Nebraska, serving 21,000 low-income and uninsured patients, has operated at a loss for two years and anticipates worsening conditions due to new Medicaid work rules under President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act. • Nebraska becomes the first state to enforce work requirements for certain Medicaid enrollees, risking coverage loss and threatening clinic viability, as stated by CEO Brad Meyer. • The policy darkens the outlook for government-backed clinics nationwide by reducing patient access to care amid rising operational costs.

• A new study from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln highlights how farmers' risk attitudes significantly influence crop insurance decisions and financial results. • Led by Associate Professor Cory Walters, the research analyzes behavioral factors in agricultural economics, published March 31, 2026. • Findings underscore the need for tailored insurance products to match diverse risk profiles, potentially improving farm resilience amid climate variability.