$1,079

According to a recent report released by the Education Law Center (ELC), which analyzed the share of federal, state and local contributions to K-12 education funding, Nebraska received $1,079 per pupil from the federal government in 2019. The year was used for analysis to avoid data being skewed by one-time federal infusions of cash via the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER), granted to states to mitigate impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The federal contribution of $1,079 represents about 9% of the total cost per pupil in K-12 education in Nebraska, which ranked Nebraska #19 in share of education funding coming from the federal government. 

Federal funds for K-12 education are largely centered in a few categories: grants received under the Child Nutrition Act, Title I and IDEA Part B. These programs combined represent about 75% of total federal funding to school districts, according to the ELC report. Each of them includes some measure of student poverty to determine allocation. The Child Nutrition Act provides reimbursements to districts for school meals, Title I uses four different funding formulas and examines Census poverty estimates, and IDEA Part B is a block grant program allocated to the state, which applies a formula that considers student population, poverty and prior allocations. 

Because most federal funds are allocated based on poverty, English learner status, migrant status, rural location, etc, federal funds target additional needs and fill gaps left by local resource discrepancies. According to ERC, when federal funds are considered, Nebraska’s school funding formula gets 16% more progressive, allocating additional resources to districts with a high percentage of students experiencing poverty. Plans in motion by the current administration to shift funding to the states in the form of block grants administered by various federal agencies could erode or completely erase progress made in ensuring each district has adequate resources for the demographics they serve. 

$12 billion

The federal government announced $12 billion in one-time bridge payments to American farmers this week, a reaction to difficult conditions largely caused by tariffs and international trade policy. The administration announced that the majority of these funds, approximately $11 billion, would be earmarked for row crop farmers, such as those producing corn and soybeans, the dominant crops for Nebraska’s agricultural producers. The source of the funds is the USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation, which the President used to give similar bridge payments during his first term after similar economic policies caused a loss of $27 billion (annualized losses of $13.2 billion) in agricultural exports, according to a USDA analysis. Nebraska was one of the most severely affected states, with the Nebraska Farm Bureau estimating that farmers in the Cornhusker state lost $943 million in revenues as a direct result of retaliatory tariffs. 

The bridge payments come soon after an economic bailout of $40 billion to Argentina after the South American country capitalized on Chinese refusal to import American soybeans due to retaliatory tariffs. China only began importing soybeans in the last quarter of 2025, reopening a prominent market for American soybean farmers after months of no exports. Meanwhile, purchases from Argentina have soared over the last year, increasing nearly 92%. The country has boosted that sum by reducing previous export taxes of 26% on soybeans to 0%. 

$1,200 

As the cost of groceries in the United States continues to rise, an investigation by More Perfect Union revealed that artificial intelligence algorithms by online shopping services may be a contributing factor. The group collaborated with Consumer Reports, the Groundwork Collaborative, and a group of community organizers to determine how previous purchasing data, buying behavior, loyalty program participation and other factors can impact pricing for the exact same items at the exact same stores through algorithmic pricing. They estimate that the practice could increase grocery prices for the average American family by $1,200 per year, while improving profits for services like Instacart and their partner grocery stores by “millions of dollars”. 

The technology uses several data points to determine the maximum price a consumer is willing and able to pay for each grocery item, thus maximizing profit for the grocery stores. Lina Khan, former chair of the Federal Trade Commission, began an investigation to better understand these pricing strategies, but little information has been made publicly available as to the continuation of that investigation. Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego introduced the “One Fair Price Act” prohibiting the practice of algorithmic pricing this week. California and New York have already passed state-level restrictions on the practice, as have several local jurisdictions. Twenty-four state legislatures have considered legislation dealing with the practice to varying degrees, including Illinois, Texas, Massachusetts, Colorado, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Gallego points to the legislation as a critical step toward affordability for American consumers, and a safeguard against data sharing among competitors. 

As we approach the end of 2025, OpenSky Policy Institute has a goal to raise $70,000 to support our work in 2026 and beyond. Whether you read our Friday blogs, attend our webinars, or follow our work in the Nebraska Legislature, we would be grateful if you considered a gift to OpenSky this month. Give here.