Nebraska

Nebraska gets its name from an Indian word meaning “flat water” after the Platte River that flows through the state. The Nebraska Territory was formed in 1854 at the same time as the Kansas Territory. Nebraska was admitted into the Union in 1867 as the 37th state. Its nickname, “Cornhusker State,” refers to the way that corn (a leading product of the state) was commonly harvested, “husking” it by hand, before the invention of husking machinery. Another nickname, the “Beef State,” refers to one of Nebraska’s main industries, cattle. Omaha has been a major meatpacking center since the 1880s. Although Omaha was the territorial capital, Lincoln, named in honor of the 16th president, is the state capital. The flower is the goldenrod.

Human trafficking is a serious issue that affects people all around the world, including in Nebraska. It is a form of modern slavery in which individuals are exploited for labor, sexual exploitation, or other purposes.

According to data from the National Human Trafficking Hotline, Nebraska has consistently had relatively low numbers of human trafficking cases reported compared to other states in the United States. In 2020, the state ranked 43rd in the country for the number of cases reported to the hotline, with a total of 18 cases.

Human trafficking can take many forms in Nebraska, including forced labor, domestic servitude, and sexual exploitation. It often affects vulnerable populations, such as immigrants, children, and people who are homeless or in poverty.

If you suspect that someone you know may be a victim of human trafficking, there are steps you can take to help. You can report the situation to the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or by text at 233733. You can also contact local law enforcement or a trusted organization that provides services to victims of human trafficking. It is important to remember that the safety of the victim should be the top priority and to handle the situation with care and sensitivity.

 

 

More Than 100 Children Worked in Dangerous Jobs at Slaughterhouse Cleaning Firms, Officials Say
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More Than 100 Children Worked in Dangerous Jobs at Slaughterhouse Cleaning Firms, Officials Say

One of the country’s largest cleaning services for food processing companies employed more than 100 children in dangerous jobs at 13 meatpacking plants across the country, the U.S. Department of Labor said Friday as it announced over $1.5 million in civil penalties. The investigation into Packers Sanitation Services Inc., or PSSI, began last summer. Department officials…

Food sanitation company fined for illegally employing children across U.S.
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Food sanitation company fined for illegally employing children across U.S.

Packers Sanitation Services, a food sanitation contractor, has been fined $1.5 million by the U.S. Department of Labor for illegally employing over 100 children in meat processing facilities across eight states, including facilities belonging to some of the largest distributors in the country, such as Tyson Foods, JBS Foods, and Cargill. The department found that…

Meat plant cleaning service fined $1.5M for employing over 100 children across US locations
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Meat plant cleaning service fined $1.5M for employing over 100 children across US locations

The U.S. Department of Labor announced Friday that Packers Sanitation Services, Inc. (PSSI), paid over $1.5 million in civil penalties after the company was discovered to have more than 100 children working in dangerous jobs at meatpacking plants across the country. PSSI, one of the country’s largest cleaning services for food processing companies, started being…

Cleaning service employed four minors at JBS in Greeley, Department of Labor says
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Cleaning service employed four minors at JBS in Greeley, Department of Labor says

DOL said one of the country’s largest cleaning services for food processing companies employed more than 100 children in dangerous jobs across the country. GREELEY, Colo. — One of the country’s largest cleaning services for food processing companies employed more than 100 children in dangerous jobs at 13 meatpacking plants across the country including JBS Foods…

Company that hired minors to clean skull-splitters and bone saws at meatpacking plants fined $1.5 million
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Company that hired minors to clean skull-splitters and bone saws at meatpacking plants fined $1.5 million

One of the country’s largest cleaning services for food processing companies employed more than 100 children in dangerous jobs at 13 meatpacking plants across the country, the U.S. Department of Labor said Friday as it announced over $1.5 million in civil penalties. The investigation into Packers Sanitation Services Inc., or PSSI, began last summer. Department officials…

Meat plant cleaning service fined $1.5M for hiring more than 100 children
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Meat plant cleaning service fined $1.5M for hiring more than 100 children

The Department of Labor says one of the country’s largest cleaning services for food processing companies employed more than 100 children in dangerous jobs. MINNEAPOLIS — One of the country’s largest cleaning services for food processing companies employed more than 100 children in dangerous jobs at 13 meatpacking plants across the country, the U.S. Department…

Meat plant cleaning service fined $1.5M for hiring minors
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Meat plant cleaning service fined $1.5M for hiring minors

MINNEAPOLIS — One of the country’s largest cleaning services for food processing companies employed more than 100 children in dangerous jobs at 13 meatpacking plants across the country, the U.S. Department of Labor said Friday as it announced over $1.5 million in civil penalties. The investigation into Packers Sanitation Services Inc., or PSSI, began last…

California and Nevada may ban forced prison labor, involuntary servitude
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California and Nevada may ban forced prison labor, involuntary servitude

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Lawmakers in Nevada and California are advancing legislation to remove “involuntary servitude” from their states’ constitutions, a move that follows four states’ bans on forced labor that passed in ballot measures last fall. The goal of these proposals is to remove exceptions from the states’ constitutions that allow forced labor as criminal…

California may ban forced prison labor, servitude
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California may ban forced prison labor, servitude

Lawmakers backing the legislation hope to replicate the success of similar measures that passed last fall in Alabama, Oregon, Tennessee and Vermont. SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Lawmakers in Nevada and California are advancing legislation to remove “involuntary servitude” from their states’ constitutions, a move that follows four states’ bans on forced labor that passed in ballot…