Across the country, electric demand is growing and could explode if green goals like electrifying home heating, industry and transportation come to fruition. At the same time, many states, utilities and businesses have pledged to decarbonize, helping push older coal and gas power plants that have struggled to stay economically competitive into retirement.

As private firms and governments struggle to fill jobs – and with the cost of college too high for many students – employers and elected officials are searching for alternative ways for people to get good jobs without having to earn a traditional college degree.

Microcredentials are one such alternative. But just what are microcredentials? And do they lead to better jobs and higher earnings?

LINCOLN — Advocates for the developmentally disabled filled the Capitol Rotunda on Tuesday to rally for adequate funding for service providers.

One speaker, Sarah Graham of Duet Nebraska, said that her agency has been forced to close eight to nine group homes and shutter a long-running day service center because of inadequate state reimbursement for services.