In the weeks leading up to Halloween, the UNMC hospital staff create costumes for the patients in the NICU. They always follow a theme and this year it's “Game Night in the NICU.” Some of the costumes featured are Mario and Princess Peach, Mr. Monopoly and even Scrabble. While the costumes and photos are cute, this yearly tradition holds a deeper meaning.

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is one of the country’s oldest Latino advocacy groups. For the first time, three national presidents are in Nebraska promoting Latino voters and making an endorsement.

The head of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development mission area took his first trip to Nebraska this week as Under Secretary. As part of his trip, Doctor Basil Gooden spoke at the Rural Community Assistance Partnership Conference and visited the Greater Omaha Packing Company. The company received a $20 million Meat and Poultry Procession Expansion Program grant from USDA Rural Development in 2022 in order to strengthen food supply chains.

The city of Fremont will host its first Hispanic Business Banquet to recognize the economic impact of Latino entrepreneurs in the state.

As Halloween draws near, opportunities for free candy are beginning to pop up. Amongst these are sensory friendly trunk or treating events. That’s when those hosting take into account people with different types of disabilities. Sensory friendly events like these are becoming more popular.

With the dust settled from Nebraska’s special legislative session on property taxes, the conversation now switches to how these policies will impact the state. Nebraska Public Media’s Brian Beach reports on what legislators and tax experts hope to see moving forward.

Students, parents and school staff have made about 3,500 reports through the Safe2Help Nebraska app since it rolled out in 2020. The program offers an anonymous way for individuals to report concerning incidents, like bullying and self-harm.

A festival in the Omaha-metro area highlights Latinas in what some may view as unconventional. The Midwest Chingona Fest empowers women by directly combatting a centuries-old philosophy.

More than 4,800 students are considered homeless in Nebraska, and school districts can do only so much to help. Many rely on partnerships with local organizations to support student needs outside of school.

Queer Nite, an organization in Omaha, celebrated an event called "Out in the Park" Sunday afternoon. It celebrated Omaha’s LGBTQ+ history through drag performances as well as promoting the Queer History of Omaha Mapping Project and UNO’s Queer Omaha Archives.

Election officials and security experts from across the country met in Omaha Wednesday to discuss how to mitigate security risks ahead of the general election. Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen said each ballot counting machine is tested three times prior to election day and county websites are monitored for cybersecurity threats weekly. He encouraged citizens to volunteer as poll workers and election observers to see the process firsthand.

Lincoln’s South Branch Library unveiled its new mural Wednesday. The library chose Chloe Burgett (BUR-Gitt), a local children’s book artist, to paint the installation. The process began in September with a community event where people from the neighborhood painted the background.

Republican Congressman Don Bacon and Democratic State Senator Tony Vargas clashed over issues of abortion, public safety and bipartisanship during their second debate Tuesday evening hosted by Nebraska Public Media. Vargas touted his record of cutting taxes in the Unicameral and criticized Bacon for cosponsoring the Life At Conception Act three times. Bacon spoke about his ability to work across the aisle in Washington, while accusing Vargas of being anti-police.

A Monday morning explosion in O’Neill Nebraska destroyed the St. Patrick’s Parish Center and damaged a nearby school and hospital. There are no injuries reported, but patients at Avera (uh-VAIR-uh) Saint Anthony’s Hospital were evacuated to another hospital and classes were canceled at St. Mary’s Grade School and High School. An investigation from the Nebraska State Patrol and Nebraska State Fire Marshal’s office is ongoing into the cause of the explosion.

A Monday morning explosion in O’Neill Nebraska destroyed the St. Patrick’s Parish Center and damaged a nearby school and hospital. There are no injuries reported, but patients at Avera (uh-VAIR-uh) Saint Anthony’s Hospital were evacuated to another hospital and classes were canceled at St. Mary’s Grade School and High School. An investigation from the Nebraska State Patrol and Nebraska State Fire Marshal’s office is ongoing into the cause of the explosion.

Every month tens of thousands of people go through the process to become U-S citizens—with hundreds choosing to have their naturalization ceremony in Nebraska. Dozens of New Americans in Grand Island became U.S. citizens this year with a main goal in mind: participating in the election.

The State Board of Education discussed a policy arming authorized school staff in smaller school districts at its meeting Friday.

Five years after the EPA first issued a no-drink order for the Santee Sioux reservation in northern Nebraska, the tribe has finally been assured they will have the funding to do something about it. But there’s still a long road ahead for the Santee - at minimum three years of planning and construction for a pipeline to bring in water from South Dakota.

Tuesday marks the beginning of Nebraska’s Black Maternal Health Month. Advocates are using this time of year to bring awareness to health disparities among Black birthing people. Nebraska Public Media’s Kassidy Arena was at the launch event.

The State Auditor criticized one school district’s use of nutrition funds to buy video boards. Chase County Schools in the southwest part of the state used almost $125,000 from the school nutrition fund to help purchase two new video boards in the gym.

A Nebraska man accused of quadruple homicide in Laurel has been found guilty by a Dakota County jury. Thursday morning, the jury convicted Jason Jones with four counts of first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree arson, and four counts of the use of a firearm to commit a felony. Thursday afternoon, the court held an aggravation hearing to determine whether the nature of Jones’ crimes make him eligible for the death penalty.

Ho Chunk Inc. celebrated its 30th anniversary as the economic development wing of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska Wednesday. Small Business Administrator Isabel Guzman, who serves in President Joe Biden’s cabinet, visited Winnebago and said Ho-Chunk Inc. serves as a model for other Native American economic development efforts. Since its founding in 1994, Ho-Chunk Inc. has reinvested $44 million dollars of dividends back into the Winnebago tribe.

Prosecuting attorney Sandra Allen encouraged the jury to charge defendant Jason Jones with first-degree murder and first-degree arson. She cited text messages and weapons purchases from Jones indicating his actions were premeditated. Defense attorney Matthew McDonald argued that Jones’ wife Carrie killed one of the victims and that his poor mental state makes him ineligible to receive first-degree murder charges for the three people he did kill. The jury is deliberating the case, and a decision is expected by the end of the week.

The FBI is launching a campaign to educate the public on scams after an increase in reported financial losses from fraud in the first part of the year. FBI Omaha Field Office special agent in charge Gene Kowel says the rise of artificial intelligence and cryptocurrencies have made it easier for criminals to scam people out of their money. Kowel says people should think before transferring large sums of money, especially through cryptocurrency kiosks, to ensure they are not a victim of fraud.

The U.S. Department of Education announced National Blue Ribbon Schools on Monday, with four from Nebraska making the list. Elkhorn Grandview Middle, Wilma Upchurch Elementary in Millard, West Point Elementary and Southern Valley Elementary received the honor this year for their academic achievements.

Republican Congressman Don Bacon visited Ukraine last week and met with the country’s leadership, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He said Ukrainians are asking for additional weapons, for help improving their air defense system and a path to join NATO. Bacon said abandoning Ukraine could embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin to take over other former Soviet Republics like Georgia and Moldova, costing the U.S. more money defending NATO countries.

After Texas Gov. Greg Abbott launched Operation Lone Star in 2021, the governors of Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska answered his call to tackle crime and illegal immigration along the state’s border with Mexico. Their efforts are failing, critics say.

Supporters of Kamala Harris spoke in Omaha Thursday about their fear that former President Donald Trump would repeal the Affordable Care Act if elected. During the September presidential debate, Trump said he was going to replace the the legislation, but didn’t offer specifics about an alternative plan. Nebraska State Sen. Jen Day, a registered Democrat who represents Sarpy County in the Unicameral, said repealing the act would force patients to choose between putting food on the table and getting the care they need.

Bennington middle school teacher will be the 2025 Teacher of the Year. Nebraska Education Commissioner Brian Maher surprised her with the honor on Thursday.

Nebraska Senator Pete Ricketts is calling for an investigation into the U.S. Secret Service following the second assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. Ricketts said the public should be confident that all presidential nominees will be protected equally. He also said Democrats need to "stop the violent rhetoric they’ve used against Donald Trump."

University of Nebraska chief financial officer Chris Kabourek is resigning effective at the end of September. Kabourek has worked in the NU system for 27 years. He submitted his resignation in a letter to NU President Jeffrey Gold on Monday.

The organization formerly known as the Immigrant Legal Center plus Refugee Empowerment Center has a new name.

Several community newspapers across Nebraska are the only sources covering local news. Here's how two such owners are keeping news alive in their towns.

The trial for a Nebraska man accused of killing four of his neighbors in the village of Laurel got underway in Dakota County Thursday. Defendant Jason Jones did not appear in court. Prosecuting attorney Corey O’Brien said the state has plans to show the jury more than 1,000 pieces of evidence, including photos, videos and physical objects incriminating Jones. Defense attorney Matthew McDonald said Jones had a mental breakdown the night of the homicides and therefore should not be charged with first-degree, pre-meditated murder. The trial is expected to continue over the next few weeks.

When destructive tornadoes hit Lincoln and other cities in eastern Nebraska a few months ago, it changed peoples’ lives. One manufacturing plant was entirely decimated. Here’s what happened to those who lost their jobs.

In August 2022, Jason Jones was arrested in connection with the deaths of four of his neighbors in Laurel, a northeast Nebraska town of 900 people. Jones is facing multiple charges of first-degree murder, first-degree arson, and the use of a firearm to commit a felony. If found guilty, Jones could face the death penalty. The trial is expected to last several weeks.

U.S. Senate candidates Republican Senator Deb Fischer and independent Dan Osborn announced endorsements from labor groups Tuesday. Fischer touted endorsements from 13 labor unions and trade associations, which include the Nebraska Farmers Union, Nebraska Hospital Association and the State Troopers Association of Nebraska. Meanwhile, Osborn announced support from 23 labor unions, including the Nebraska AFL-CIO, United Auto Workers and Communications Workers of America.

A parenting group for Spanish-speakers will continue its pilot program in Fremont starting today (Tuesday).

North Omaha community leaders say a housing plan from presidential hopeful Kamala Harris would help develop more affordable housing in the neighborhood. State Sen. Terrell McKinney, Omaha developer Don Curry and housing advocate Kimara Snipes endorsed Harris’ plan to build 3 million new homes in the next four years and provide down payment assistance to first time home buyers. The Harris plan would also provide tax incentives to builders constructing starter homes.

The University of Nebraska campuses in Omaha and Lincoln are dissolving offices focused on diversity. Students on both campuses are concerned with the closures.

The Madison County History Museum houses oddities of the county’s history from floor to ceiling. And one volunteer is known to be its walking encyclopedia. Stories of the county’s history aren't the only reason people visit.

Sen. Pete Ricketts hosted a forum at the Nebraska State Fair on Monday. Alongside Congressman Adrian Smith and other state and federal agribusiness leaders, the group focused on agriculture, trade and government regulations. Ricketts said government overregulation from the Biden administration is hurting Nebraska agriculture producers and he encouraged the audience of around 100 people to educate federal bureaucrats about the agriculture industry.

Minnesota Governor and Democratic Vice-Presidential Nominee Tim Walz spent the first half of his life in Nebraska, where he says he learned the value of hard work. While Walz was in Chicago for the Democratic National Convention, Nebraska Public Media’s Brian Beach visited the places Walz once called home.

The high schoolers in the construction trades program at Gering Public Schools helped expand the preschool program in the district. The students spent the last year building four new preschool classrooms that will open this fall.

A Nebraska nonprofit for Indigenous women is expanding its reach.

A new internal poll from independent Dan Osborn’s campaign found his race with incumbent Republican Sen. Deb Fischer within the margin of error. The poll, conducted by YouGov between July 31 and August 12, showed Fischer with 43% and Osborn with 41% of 500 registered voters. Most national election forecasters continue to show both Nebraska Senate races as solid Republican.

Nebraska is trying to catch-up with the demand for Thoroughbred race horses.

A program to make it easier for Nebraska communities to apply for federal transportation grants recently launched. Jodi Gibson with the Nebraska Department of Transportation said the Nebraska Infrastructure Hub was developed to help local and state agencies apply for money from the Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act. The Hub includes a grant pairing portal and two full-time staff members to assist communities with grant applications.

Lincoln will open its second bilingual preschool and childcare location this fall.

The Nebraska Association of Public Employees is appealing a labor court decision regarding remote work to the Nebraska Supreme Court. In July, the state labor court ruled that Governor Jim Pillen’s executive order requiring state employees to end most remote work arrangements without union bargaining was fully under his authority. Union executive director Justin Hubly said the appeal is necessary to protect workers rights and receive more clarity for the union’s upcoming labor contract with the state.

At the FBI’s Agriculture Threats Symposium in Omaha Monday, Special Agent in Charge Gene Kowel outlined major cybersecurity risks. The bureau is worried about potential ransomware attacks from criminal groups and foreign adversaries which could shut down farming operations during harvest or planting seasons. Kowel said the security risk is growing exponentially, and farmers should ensure they have multi-factor authentication for all digital farm operations.

Gering’s Japanese Hall highlights little-known history of Japanese Nebraskans and boosts local tourism

The inaugural Nebraska Summit on Justice and Disparities was held at Creighton University Friday. Prison reform activist and New York City councilman Doctor Yusef Salaam was the keynote speaker. The event focused on Nebraska’s criminal justice system, juvenile detention and equitable law enforcement.

Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers is joining 10 other states in requesting the EPA to require labeling rules for agricultural chemicals to be standardized nationwide. California previously enacted a rule mandating glyphosate, a common herbicide, to be labeled with a warning that the product could cause cancer, which Hilgers said makes the chemical more expensive for Nebraska farmers. If the EPA declines to make new rules, Hilgers said he could take the agency to court.

Current Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris announced Tuesday that Minnesota Governor and Native Nebraskan Tim Walz will be her running mate in 2024. Walz was born in West Point, Nebraska, and has lived in Valentine, Butte, Chadron and Alliance. Walz taught at Alliance High School and coached their football and basketball teams before moving to Minnesota in 1996.

Nebraska’s Lieutenant Governor Joe Kelly led a ten-day trade mission of the state’s business and agriculture leaders to Indonesia in late July. The delegation met with Indonesian chefs, business executives and university researchers to market Nebraska products and build stronger trading ties. Sherry Vinton, the Director of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, called the trip a "rousing success."

The U.S. Senate passed the Kids Online Safety Act this week on a bipartisan, 91 to 3 vote. The legislation requires social media platforms to provide minors with options to disable addictive product features, including algorithmic recommendations. Nebraska Senators Deb Fischer and Pete Ricketts were both co-sponsors of the bill.

August 3 marks the 10th anniversary of the Yazidi genocide in northern Iraq. A large number of them chose to relocate to Lincoln, Nebraska.

Legal Marijuana NOW Party candidate Kerry Eddy has ended her campaign for the U.S. Senate. Tuesday morning, Eddy announced she is endorsing independent Dan Osborn, who will face incumbent Republican Senator Deb Fischer in the general election. Eddy said polling indicated she did not have a path to victory, and she supports Osborn’s view on marijuana legalization.

Documentation status, language barriers and lack of information can all create barriers for immigrants to access federal grants. Now a number of organizations are stepping in to provide direct support.

Sen.Jen Day introduced a bill during Friday’s special session that would force the sale of the state plane Gov. Jim Pillen uses to get around the state. According to flight logs, on July 25, the first day of the special session, Pillen took three flights connecting Lincoln, Beatrice and Nebraska City. Day said selling the $3.6 million plane would provide additional money for the state’s general fund. That money, she said, could be put toward property tax relief or other purposes.

Nebraska voters could decide whether to legalize online sports betting in the state this November, thanks to legislation introduced in the special legislative session dedicated to lowering state property taxes. Thursday morning, Sen. Elliot Bostar put forth a bill and constitutional amendment that would put legalization on the November ballot. It will advance if 60% of the legislature is in favor.

Both campaigns in the U.S. Senate race between Deb Fischer and Dan Osborn have very different perspectives on where things stand. An internal poll from the Fischer campaign found the senator has a 26-percentage point lead over Osborn, while a poll from the Osborn campaign showed the candidates tied at 42% each. According to the latest fundraising numbers, the Fischer campaign has more cash on hand, but Osborn raised more than his opponent in the last three months.

A dozen state senators from a variety of political perspectives hosted a listening session on property taxes in Lincoln Monday evening. The event comes ahead of a likely special legislative session devoted to reducing property taxes in Nebraska. Gov. Jim Pillen has said he wants to reduce property taxes by at least 40% by having the state pay for K-12 schools and eliminating some sales tax exemptions.

A group hoping to repeal Nebraska legislation regarding private school scholarships turned in enough signatures to put the issue on the November ballot. If passed, the referendum would repeal legislation passed in April allocating 10 million dollars to the state treasurer’s office to be used for private and religious school scholarships.

A two-megawatt solar energy facility is coming to Madison, Nebraska thanks to an investment from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The project was selected to receive a Powering Affordable Clean Energy program award, which pays for 40% of the project. Clare Sierawski with the USDA said the solar facility could spur economic development in Madison and help residents save money.

Omaha Performing Arts is receiving an additional 2.5 million dollars in funding from the state for the construction of a new building on its campus. Upon completion, the Tenaska Center for Arts Engagement will include three rehearsal halls, classrooms and practice rooms, enabling the organization to offer new arts programs. The 108-million-dollar building is expected to open in the spring of 2026.

Children in the foster care system with severe behavioral health issues and trauma are often treated in group homes that specialize in individualized care. In at least two states, there is space at these centers for boys but not for girls.

Children in the foster care system with severe behavioral health issues and trauma are often treated in group homes that specialize in individualized care. In at least two states, there is space at these centers for boys but not for girls.

After five years under a no-drink order from the EPA, the Santee Sioux Nation in northern Nebraska is one step closer to getting clean water infrastructure. A bill passed in the Nebraska Legislature this spring prioritizes money in the Water Sustainability Fund to go toward infrastructure projects in areas under a no-drink order.

Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen will no longer be going on a trade mission to Indonesia this month. Instead, Lieutenant Governor Joe Kelly will lead the 12-day mission, while Pillen prepares for a special session on property taxes. Pillen has yet to release a written tax plan and says there is still work to do to get consensus, though he is optimistic that progress is being made.

Seven people were shot in Crete last week in what is being investigated as a hate crime. The Hispanic family all survived. Now statewide groups are coming together to make sure the incident doesn’t happen again.

The University of Nebraska Board of Regents approved the almost $1.1 billion budget for NU near the end of June. Chris Kabourek, chief financial officer for the university and the recent interim president, spoke with Nebraska Public Media’s Jolie Peal about the reductions and investments laid out in the budget for this fiscal year.

Nearly two years after Nebraska received more than 30 million dollars in federal grant funding to build electric vehicle charging stations, none of that money has been dispersed. Ryan McKinnon with the electric vehicle advocacy group Charge Ahead Partnership said Nebraska is one of around 15 other states that has not yet opened up the grant application process for businesses to request funds. “Because Nebraska hasn't even put out an application yet, these businesses are not able to access that money in order to build EV charging stations,” he said.

Water has begun receding along most of Nebraska’s eastern border, but the flood is peaking in Rulo in the state’s southeast corner. Further north, Nebraska City is past the worst of the flooding. However, Jim Terrell with the Missouri River Basin Forecast Center said the water has risen back into a moderate flood stage after several inches of rainfall in the area Monday night and Tuesday morning.

Randy Olson's farmland was buried beneath several feet of murky water. By Friday afternoon, the water had receded a few feet from its peak, leaving behind a swamp of rotting corn, soybeans and other debris in its wake.

A group campaigning for paid sick leave for Nebraskans announced Thursday it has collected 138,000 signatures through its petition drive, which would be enough to put the issue on the ballot in November. If passed, the initiative would require businesses in Nebraska to offer at least one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours an employee worked. Jo Giles, a ballot sponsor for Paid Sick Leave for Nebraskans, says the accomplishment is the result of years of organizing and strategizing.

Floodwaters continue to rise in Omaha and Bellevue as the Missouri River crest flows southward this week. The NRD has closed slide gates and culverts that empty into rivers and installed a flood wall barrier along railroad tracks in Bellevue. Winkler says water levels should begin to subside by Sunday.

Despite a controversial ordinance, some Fremont residents are working to ensure their community embraces its diversity

During the Nebraska Broadcaster’s Association Governor’s Monthly Call In Show, Pillen said he would advocate for the state to take over the funding of K through 12 schools in Nebraska. To pay for the plan, Pillen says he wants to broaden the tax base through the elimination of sales tax exemptions.

The U.S. Senate unanimously passed a bill to transfer land along the Missouri River in Iowa back to the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska. The Winnebago Land Transfer Act returns 16-hundred acres to the tribe after it was seized by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the 1970s for a proposed recreation project. Nebraska Senator Deb Fischer, who introduced the bill, says the Corps was wrong to take the land through eminent domain.

More than 100 business leaders from across southeast Nebraska met at Southeast Community College on Friday to brainstorm ideas for regional economic development projects. The meeting represents the launch of the “6 regions, One Nebraska” initiative in the southeast part of the state. Similar meetings are taking place in the other five community college districts this summer.

This inaugural summit will focus on how employers can create more inclusive workplaces.

The University of Nebraska Board of Regents approved the budget for the upcoming year and approved Dr. Jeffrey Gold’s contract for university president on Thursday. The budget includes $11.5 million in spending cuts, a tuition increase at all four campuses and additional investment into the new Presidential Scholars program.

Residents of Douglas and Washington Counties are eligible for business physical disaster loans and home disaster loans to replace damaged property. Nebraskans from Burt, Dodge, Douglas, Sarpy, Saunders and Washington Counties qualify for economic injury disaster loans which help small businesses meet financial obligations impacted by the April storms. The deadline for physical damage loan applications is July 15, while the economic injury loan applications are available through February 2025.

June commemorates events in two historically marginalized groups: those in the LGBTQ plus community for pride month as well as Black communities for Juneteenth. Nebraska Public Media’s Kassidy Arena spoke with someone very involved in both celebrations.

The National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2025 passed in the U.S. House Friday. Nebraska Representative Don Bacon served as the chairman of the quality-of-life subcommittee and helped draft 21 amendments that were put in the bill. Bacon says the cornerstone of the legislation is a 19% pay raise for junior enlisted troops, which Bacon says is necessary to help recruitment and reduce financial stress for members of the armed services.

Recently, Fischer introduced the Amtrak Transparency Act, which would expand Amtrak board meetings to include additional stakeholders and require public notices 30 days prior to meetings. The legislation would also require bonuses exceeding $50,000 dollars to Amtrak employees be disclosed to Congress.

What may be the world’s largest collection of clown dolls is in a northeast Nebraska city with a population of just over 1,000 people.

Rocco’s Pizza and Cantina was buzzing Thursday afternoon on the first day of the annual College World Series Jell-O shot challenge. Fans from across the country can buy five-dollar Jell-O shots in their favorite school’s color and for each shot purchased, one dollar is donated to a food bank in the university’s hometown, while 50 cents goes to an Omaha food bank. Owner Kevin Culjat said the competition began in 2018 and has grown each year since.

Senators Deb Fischer and Pete Ricketts are cosponsors of legislation to overturn a U.S. Department of Education rule extending Title Nine protections to include gender identity. The Congressional Review Act allows Congress the ability to overrule federal regulations from government agencies by passing a joint resolution. The resolution can be vetoed by the president and would need a two-thirds majority of the House and Senate to override the veto.

The Forbes Advisor team analyzed more than 20 metrics from 95 cities across the country, considering affordability, availability, amenities and safety. Kasey Ogle with Nebraska Appleseed, an organization that advocates for affordable housing, says conditions are difficult for renters in Nebraska and she is surprised to see Lincoln at the top of the Forbes ranking.

The five-member board, led by Gov. Jim Pillen, voted unanimously to approve the results. Secretary of State Bob Evnen said the 2024 primary was a historic election for Nebraska, as it was the first to require voter ID.

Nonpublic schools now have more flexibility in choosing books through the state’s textbook loan program. That’s a change from when they could only request what the public school in their district asked for.

At a series of town halls across the state, Governor Jim Pillen has said he wants to reduce property taxes in Nebraska by 40% by expanding the sales tax base in a special legislative session this summer. Ernie Goss, an economics professor at Creighton University, said high property taxes hurt economic growth more than high sales taxes.

Kansas City musician Nate Hofer took his pedal steel guitar 30 feet down into an inter-continental ballistic missile silo to record a hopeful reminder that nuclear war is not inevitable.

The Omaha Summer Arts Festival is host to around 130 art booths, live music, local food vendors and a hands-on children’s fair. This weekend is the festival’s 50th anniversary, but it’s also its final year.

A survey of manufacturing supply-chain managers in the Midwest found that economic growth slowed in the month of May. Creighton economics professor Ernie Goss, who leads the Mid-America Business Conditions Index, said high inflation and fewer exports are resulting in lower growth in the manufacturing industry.

Dead Timber State Recreation Area is set to receive more than a half million dollars for a redevelopment project. The park north of Scribner received a $589,000 grant from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development.

In 2019, major flooding altered the Platte River near its junction with Highway 75, creating a large sandbar and restricting the channel size to a third of what it had been previously. Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District general manager John Winkler says the sandbar makes communities like Louisville and Cedar Creek, which are upstream, more susceptible to additional flooding.

The competition includes an obstacle course where snowplow drivers swerve through cones, make sharp turns and back up into tight spaces, all while competing against the clock. Competitors also take a written test and perform snowplow inspections where they must find vehicle defects.

Doug Kristensen stepped onto the University of Nebraska at Kearney campus as chancellor in 2002. After 22 years, he's retiring.

According to the Governor’s Policy Research Office, Nebraskans paid 5.3 billion dollars in property taxes in 2023. Pillen wants to cut that amount by 40%, or more than 2 billion dollars. He says he intends to present a plan to cut spending by 500 million dollars through streamlining government operations.

The American Red Cross is regularly busy in the Midwest as a natural-disaster-prone area. But one woman is working doubly hard to ensure one group of people receive the support they need from the organization.

More than 150 people squeezed into the Warner Chamber, just off the Capitol Rotunda to witness Wednesday’s induction ceremony. Everyone wanted to catch a glimpse of the bust of Malcolm X, a Black activist and human rights champion who was born in Omaha.

The higher a Nebraska student’s ACT score is, the more likely they are to go to an in-state college. As that score increases about 30, it becomes more likely that students will go out of state for university. These insights come from a Nebraska Statewide Workforce & Educational Reporting System, or NSWERS, report released this month. Researchers looked at how ACT scores related to college going patterns for about 80,000 to 90,000 students from four years of ACT tests.

More than 87 hundred additional ballots from Tuesday’s primary election were counted by the Douglas County Election Commission Friday morning. That number includes early voting ballots that were delivered to the election office on election day. While most races have been called, Friday's count has widened the gap between two candidates vying for second place and a chance to advance to the general election.

The United States Department of Agriculture partnered with the Tri-Faith Center in Omaha to host a summit this week about countering antisemitism, Islamophobia and other biases in rural communities. The Tri-Faith campus has a mosque, synagogue, church and a center connecting them. Samantha Joseph, the director of the USDA Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, said those connections made it the perfect spot to host a summit like this.

A bill passed in this year’s Nebraska legislative session has the potential to increase the number of electric vehicle charging stations in the state, according to electric vehicle lobbying group Charge Ahead Partnership. A provision from State Sen. Eliot Bostar regulating electric vehicle charging stations was passed unanimously as part of a larger package bill in April.

On the State Board of Education, all four incumbents up for election decided against running for office again. This leaves the non-partisan board up to some potential political changes. The board has eight members. It’s an even split of Republicans and Democrats even though it’s officially a non-partisan board. Three of the four members up for election are registered Democrats, which leaves the board open to the potential for a political majority in 2025.

Nebraska will be electing two U.S. Senators in this election cycle for the first time since 1954. Incumbent Republicans Deb Fischer and Pete Ricketts are heavy favorites, but neither have received endorsements from the State Republican Party. Meanwhile, an independent challenger is likely to receive a Democratic Party endorsement in the general election.

The 25,000-square-foot skatepark is set to become the state’s largest upon completion. Skatepark designer Vince Onel said the new skatepark will provide opportunities for all skill levels over a variety of terrains. His initial design includes pump tracks, two bowls, street elements, and several sculptures.

A refugee resettlement agency is expanding its reach to more areas of the state.

Nebraska now has another commission added to its repertoire of racial and ethnic representation in government.

More than 100 Nebraska community leaders and civil rights advocates met Wednesday at a conference to discuss the state of human rights throughout the region.

Outside the University of Nebraska-Lincoln city union, students and community members are protesting the war and deaths in Gaza. They join several other universities across the country, some of which have been protesting for two weeks.

As work continued to clean up debris from what used to be a giant machine shed, Jackie and Randy Colton described their experience outrunning a tornado.

It’s been a month since six workers died from the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore. For the state’s immigrant workers and advocates, this serves as a reminder of their high-risk working conditions.

Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen vetoed a bill Wednesday that would enable victims to sue public entities like school districts if they are found liable in cases of child sexual abuse and assault. Loree Woods says news of the governor’s veto was a gut punch to her family.

The U.S. has lost more than 2,800 newspapers since 2005, many of them in rural areas. Now some journalists are redoubling their efforts to provide local news and trying new models in a difficult industry.

The Yazidi SarSal is a new year event in the Yazidi culture celebrated in mid-April every year. This event brings the community members together to appreciate their religious beliefs, cultural values and their history.

The Nebraska Legislature heard a few new voices in its rotunda thanks to a new youth lobby school. The program focuses on teaching students from diverse backgrounds how to advocate for legislation.

Sen. Lou Ann Linehan’s LB388 would create a digital advertising sales tax and increase taxes on cigarettes, vaping, lottery tickets, cannabis derivatives and games of skill. Sales tax exemptions for candy, soda, storage facilities and veterinary services would also be eliminated. The bill caps the percentage cities and counties can grow their annual budget and reduces school property taxes by 30% directly instead of requiring taxpayers to apply for a 30% tax credit, according to the Governor’s Policy Research Office.

Thousands of people gathered in southwest Lincoln Wednesday to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, the end of Ramandan and fasting in the Muslim faith. Ousmane Youm is a member of the Islamic Foundation of Lincoln community. In addition to fasting and other spiritual disciplines, Ramadan is about giving back.

Senator Lou Ann Linehan’s bill would appropriate $10 million dollars to scholarship granting organizations, allowing low-income students to apply for grants that can be used at private schools. Linehan’s bill would also sunset legislation passed last year giving up to $25 million dollars of tax credits for donations to scholarship granting organizations.

A Lincoln food pantry has revamped its system that allow people to have a more welcoming experience.

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Education and Human Sciences recognized students in their teaching programs for reaching the halfway point of their degrees. “Nebraska needs teachers. We want teachers. We want to honor teachers," UNL CEHS acting dean Nick Pace said. "We want to honor their work and thank them for having the heart and the hands for this work. It’s never been more important and it’s never probably been more difficult.”

Senator Justin Wayne filed several amendments to his bill regarding punitive damages, including one which would allow an individual to hold political subdivisions or state agencies liable for the sexual assault of a minor by a public employee. The amendment’s language was taken directly from Senator Steve Halloran’s bill, which did not make it out of the Judiciary Committee.

A proposal to change Nebraska’s presidential vote allocation to a winner-take-all system failed in the Nebraska legislature late Wednesday evening. Nebraska is one of two states that awards its electoral votes to Presidential candidates by Congressional District, with the overall state winner receiving an additional two votes. In 2020, President Joe Biden received one electoral vote from Omaha’s 2nd Congressional District, while Donald Trump received the state’s other four votes.

The amount of students participating in dual enrollment across the state has increased since 2016, according to a new report from the Nebraska Statewide Workforce and Educational Reporting System, or NSWERS. In dual enrollment courses, students can earn college credits while still in high school.

The U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy made his first-ever visit to Nebraska Tuesday. Murthy visited Lincoln North Star High School and Bryan Medical Center, where he spoke to a crowd of several hundred people about the impact of social media on youth mental health.

A Latino advocacy organization will host a virtual summit on the state of voting. They’ll discuss how the growing Latino population will have a significant impact on this election and those in the future.

In a school district that’s population spans 990 square miles, the school is coming together to create a mural representing their community. It's a 4-foot-by-8-foot mural with the word "Tigers," which is the school's mascot, in the middle of the piece.

The city’s latest proposal would grow the South Haymarket Park to more than 8 acres while nixing a previous proposal for a mixed-use development in the area. The expansion also requires the city to purchase two additional properties near 7th and L Streets, adjacent to the planned park location.

Sens. Michaela Cavanaugh and Julie Slama introduced a resolution to censure Halloran after comments during last week’s debate on a bill regarding obscene materials in schools. While quoting testimony which included a passage from a memoir describing the author’s rape, Halloran inserted the name Senator Cavanaugh after a description of a demand for oral sex.

The bill’s sponsor, Senator Dave Murman says his bill would require pornography websites to verify the age of its users to ensure they are 18 or older before showing obscene material. The bill’s critics say that kids can still access pornography by using other encrypted methods like virtual private networks.

The Nebraska Department of Education launched the Teacher Apprenticeship Program to help train teachers with more in-classroom experiences. The state Legislature passed the Teacher Apprenticeship Program last year with $1 million slated for the initiative in the first year. The program is starting with three grow-your-own initiatives that were already in effect.

One group in Nebraska is starting a new program to bring more diversity to the state’s boards and commissions. Nebraska Public Media’s Kassidy Arena reports it will train people from diverse backgrounds in how to become board and commission members.

A KCUR and Midwest Newsroom investigation reveals the chain of events that ended in the death of Clesslynn Crawford almost exactly two years ago.

Lincoln ranked number one in the nation for the city with the highest rate of self-response for the mid-way point of the 2020 U.S. Census. The U.S. Census Director met with refugee and immigrant organizations to talk about how they achieved their success.

Lincoln manufacturing companies and refugee support agencies have found a solution to two problems: a labor shortage and refugees’ need for employment. The new idea has so far worked to solve both cases.

A bill that would eliminate a legal defense for teachers and librarians charged with providing obscene material to other people stalled in the Nebraska legislature Wednesday. Senator Joni Albrecht says she introduced LB441 to keep inappropriate books from being provided to kids in public schools and libraries.

Jane Kleeb is known as the force behind the effort to stop oil giant, TransCanada from building the Keystone XL oil pipeline through Nebraska. But she's also Jane Kleeb who battled anorexia as a teenager. Kleeb talked with Nebraska Public Media's Dale Johnson about her experience and the unwavering strength she found in the face of adversity.

Brule, Nebraska, a village of 330 residents just west of Ogallala, has seen its fair share of controversy over the last few months, including the resignation of a longtime village employee and efforts to recall two village board members. More than 60 percent of voters cast their ballots against recalling Brian McNeff and Mike Gibson in their respective elections, allowing them to remain on the Brule Village Board.

As part of the proposed budget in the Nebraska Legislature, $25 million that was originally slated for affordable housing would be used for a different kind of housing. Affordable housing is geared toward lower-income buyers. Under the budget proposed by the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee, $20 million would be shifted to rural workforce housing, and $5 million would go to middle income housing.

One city in Nebraska has found a way to both welcome newcomers and bolster the area’s economy. A Fremont organization has instituted a new system.

Two Nebraska high school seniors — one in Pender and one in Lincoln — committed to the University of Nebraska under the new Presidential Scholars program. The scholarship gives a full-ride plus a $5,000 stipend for any University of Nebraska school to in-state students who score a 36 on the ACT. The university announced the program last month.

The state’s Commission on Latino -Americans is starting new projects yet facing old challenges this year. This group finds itself in a unique position as it attempts to expand its reach.

The State Board of Education voted against starting the rule change process for board member Kirk Penner’s proposal to prohibit sexually explicit materials in school libraries and remove the requirement to buy a minimum number of new books every year.

A recreation trail connecting Lincoln and Omaha continues to move through the planning process, with the Lower Platte South Natural Resource District seeking input to determine a proposed route. In 2022, the Nebraska Legislature allocated $8.3 million dollars to connect two segments of the MoPac Trail in rural Cass County. Currently, the western portion of the trail ends in the village of Wabash, while the eastern section ends near South Bend, leaving an eight-mile gap.

On Sept. 12, 2022, Malcolm X became the first Black man or woman voted into the Nebraska Hall of Fame. By May, a bust of Malcolm X will be inside the Nebraska State Capitol, along with 26 other Nebraskans.

A campaign to celebrate and make immigrants in the state feel welcome saw so much success last month, it’s making changes to the plan. The statewide effort will expand next year.

Doane University students are performing and producing the play "The Delays" this week. It’s the first production that faculty are only mentoring students.

A Nebraska Air Force employee was arrested Saturday for sharing classified information about the war in Ukraine. David Slater, a 63-year-old employee at the Offutt Air Force Base, faces one count of conspiracy to disclose national defense information and two counts of unauthorized disclosure of national defense information.

As the University of Nebraska continues the search for a new president, interim president Chris Kabourek said he wants to keep the university moving forward. Nebraska Public Media’s Jolie Peal sat down with Kabourek to discuss his goals for the university as challenges like budget cuts continue.

Nebraska’s chief medical officer, Dr. Timothy Tesmer, was scheduled to provide clarification on the state’s gender affirming care regulations for minors at a briefing Thursday afternoon. However, he and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services declined to attend. Last week, the Health and Human Services Committee requested a briefing from Tesmer to clarify the final rules and regulations of LB574, which was passed by the legislature last year.

The U.S. Department of Education aims to send completed 2024-25 Free Applications for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSAs, to colleges in March. The FAFSA typically goes out in October, but for the 2024-25 form, there have been roadblocks due to needed changes from the FAFSA Simplification Act.

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln has launched a new program in an effort to attract and retain teachers from diverse backgrounds. Nebraska Public Media’s Kassidy Arena has the details.

A pregnancy-related death is when a person dies during pregnancy– or within a year after the pregnancy due to complications or pre-existing conditions. In some Midwest states, maternal mortality rates are higher than the national average. As Nebraska Public Media’s Kassidy Arena/ KBIA’s Anna Spidel report for the Midwest Newsroom, the data on Hispanic women can be particularly challenging.

Experts in media, election security and counterterrorism spoke on ChatGPT, deep fake videos, voice cloning and more at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Saturday for Civic Nebraska’s AI and Democracy Community Summit. The panel included UNL public relations professor Bryan Wang, UNL journalism professor Matt Waite, Douglas County Election Commissioner Brian Kruse and UNO counterterrorism center director, Gina Ligon.

Lincoln Public School students at four high schools had the opportunity to learn more about H-B-C-Us this week. Nebraska Public Media’s Kassidy Arena reports the informational sessions offered some students a first-time look at some of these schools.

The hub of Lincoln’s bus system may be getting a new temporary location until the completion of a multi-modal transportation center in 2027. Lincoln Transportation and Utilities shared plans at a public open house Wednesday morning for a new transfer center location at 11th and L Streets, two blocks south of its current location next to the Gold’s Building construction site.

The initiative, called Nebraska Backs the Blue, aims to recruit officers to Nebraska by highlighting the state’s support for law enforcement, recreational opportunities and free college tuition program for law enforcement officials. “Our message today, while very important in Nebraska, is really a message to the rest of America. Nebraska is the best state in the union to work as a law enforcement official,” Flood said.

A robot developed at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is among the first to complete a surgical simulation in space. A research team led by UNL engineering professor Shane Farritor received grant funding from NASA to send the robot to the International Space Station. The 2-pound robot, controlled by surgeons from across the United States, cut ten rubber bands as part of its initial space test.

Raybould’s LB1383 would establish Nebraska Tribal Community Assistance Program. The program would be funded through an initial transfer of $10,000,000 from the Intern Nebraska Cash Fund and provide at least one grant per year — up to $2,000,000 — to tribal water and sewer projects.

Spanish-speaking breast cancer survivors in the state now have a new resource for helping with mental health.

Doulas are trained birthing coaches who help women through pregnancy and childbirth. And if a bill passes through state legislation, this resource could be available to Nebraskans who use Medicaid. Nebraska Public Media’s Kassidy Arena has the story.

Each of Nebraska’s three continuum of care regions in Omaha, Lincoln and the rest of the state received more than $5 million in federal funds to assist individuals experiencing homelessness. Nebraska Field Office Director Kitty Amaya says this year’s grants are HUD’s largest annual investment nationally and reflect the need for services in smaller cities.

Ricketts joined 49 other senators in opposition to a border security bill and foreign aid bill that had the support of Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and most Senate Democrats. Ricketts explained his opposition in a press call Wednesday.

Newly-released data from higher education researchers shows Nebraska is behind the national average when it comes to community college students transferring to four-year universities and ultimately earning their bachelor’s degrees. Nebraska Public Media’s Kassidy Arena has the details.

There are plenty of elections this year including Nebraska primaries, local elections and a vote for U.S. president. This means people like Dwayne Hawkins—the director for Black Votes Matter Get Out the Vote initiative based in Omaha-- is very busy. Nebraska Public Media’s Kassidy Arena got a coffee with him to talk about what’s on his mind in this new role.

This November, voters will decide the next president. And depending on this outcome, Nebraska refugee resettlement agencies may have to quickly adjust how many new arrivals to prepare for. The refugee outlook for 2024 may be starkly different from 2025.

Aguilar’s Firearm Industry Nondiscrimination Act would prohibit state and local government entities from entering into a contract with a company that has a policy of discriminating against the firearm industry. Steve Hornady, president of Hornady Manufacturing, an ammunition company based in Grand Island, testified at Thursday’s legislative hearing on the bill.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln researchers have released results from an electric vehicle crash test last fall. Cody Stolle, assistant director of UNL’s Midwest Roadside Safety Facility, says the research is important as electric vehicles, which can be much heavier than their gas-powered counterparts, become more common.

Under the current process, voters must sign a notarized affidavit to make that happen. Linehan, who introduced the new legislation, says her bill would only require voters to send a letter to the Secretary of State’s Office to remove their name.

Carol Blood, a Democrat State Senator from Bellevue, launched her campaign for Congress against Mike Flood Saturday afternoon. At a union hall in Lincoln, Blood criticized Flood for his role in an unproductive, hyper-partisan Congress. Blood promised to protect social security and access to abortion.

Earlier this week, the Nebraska State Board of Health voted to approve temporary regulations on gender affirming care for minor, bringing them one step closer to becoming permanent. The regulations included no significant changes to the regulations state Chief Medical Officer Doctor Timothy Tesmer (TEZ-muhr) approved in October. But on Wednesday, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services says it was notified that some comments submitted at a public hearing were not included in the hearing summary.

In Lincoln and Omaha, hundreds of snowplow drivers have put in long hours over the last two weeks, with each city using a different strategy to keep the streets clear. Clayton Engelman, the transportation maintenance coordinator for the city of Lincoln, says major arterials remain the city’s priority after the snow stops falling. “Once the snow stops, that's usually what we call zero hour,” Engelman said. “And then at that point, we try to get the streets, the main streets, fully cleared before we move on into residentials.”

In December, the Nebraska Association of Public Employees was granted a motion of temporary relief, which halted the implementation of Governor Jim Pillen’s executive order requiring workers to return to the office in January. But Justin Hubly, the union’s Executive Director, says he received some complaints from union members that were required to return to in-person work despite the ruling.

The eighty-one year-old community activist and Sunday school teacher compared his campaign for Pete Ricketts’ Senate seat to David going up against Goliath in his opening speech. Love said his priorities as U.S. senator would include stronger gun control, more abortion access, and the creation of a robust farm bill.

Sunday morning, the temperature in Lincoln fell to -18 degrees, making it the coldest day in the capital city since February 16, 2021. On that day, nearly three years ago, the temperature dipped to 31 below, contributing to rolling blackouts across the region.

CHI Health Center and Creighton University in Omaha set up a phone line to research long COVID across the state. They are also using the phone line to provide further care to those affected with continued symptoms.

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Nebraska Public Media remembers a visit Dr. King made to Lincoln, NE on December 30, 1964. From the stage at Pershing Auditorium, Dr. King spoke at the Methodist Student Movement Conference saying, “I need not pause to say how very delighted and honored I am to be here tonight and to be a part of this very significant conference.” Assigned security for Dr. King was 25 year old Lincoln Police Officer Al Maxey.

Due to the heavy winter storms this past weekend, some community resources have had to shift their plans

It’s been a busy week for Lincoln snowplow driver Brett Bratrsovsky. Lincoln is in its second snow emergency of the week, and Bratrsovsky has already worked multiple 12 hour shifts. He worked 16 hours on Thursday. While the early week storm had warmer temperatures and wetter snow, Friday’s accumulation has been colder and drier, making it easier to plow. But the wind is a problem.

The Nebraska Supreme Court is weighing who can legally help an expectant mother with the birth of her child in Nebraska. A pair of cases involving an unlicensed lay midwife triggered an appeal to the high court. District Court judges in Douglas and Madison Counties threw out charges against Judy Jones, an unlicensed lay midwife after she assisted in the birth of two babies in a home birth. The justices heard opposing points of view during oral arguments on Wednesday.

More than $120 million of state funds are heading to Omaha for the creation of a business park site and youth sports complex in the northeast part of the city. Governor Jim Pillen and Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert joined other civic leaders to make the announcement Wednesday. Nearly $90 million will help pay for land acquisitions and infrastructure development near Eppley Airfield, allowing private businesses to begin construction on the site upon completion.

League Builders Supply, a lumberyard and store in Stratton, Nebraska, is set to shut down in the coming weeks after owner Denis League retires. “I'm not going to say Stratton’s going to shrivel up and die, because I'm not here, but I don't think it's going to help anything,” he said. “And I feel bad about that, but there’s a point where you’ve got to take care of yourself and I think I’m there.”

Winter Storm Finn blanketed much of eastern Nebraska with snow over the last two days. Lincoln and Omaha each saw around 5 inches of snow Monday and Tuesday, while other parts of the state saw upwards of one foot. A spot near Daykin, a village in Saline County, had the storm’s highest measured snowfall in the state of 14.5 inches, according to the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network.

A new resource for Nebraskans working to become U-S citizens is now available in Crete. Nebraska Public Media’s Kassidy Arena reports it was created due to an increased need in the community.

Local Native American advocates and a fish farm owner settled a series of court disputes against the city of Lincoln on Thursday. Advocates opposed a housing development the city approved back in spring 2022. The Wilderness Crossing Development is planned to be created next to sacred Native American prayer grounds, called the Niskíthe Prayer Camp.

On Monday, Nebraska’s minimum wage increased to $12 an hour, making it the 18th highest state minimum wage in the country and one of 25 states increasing its minimum wage this year. In 2022, Nebraska voters passed an initiative raising the minimum wage from $9 an hour up to $15 an hour by 2026, increasing by $1.50 each year. After that, the wage will be adjusted in accordance with cost of living increases.

Santa Claus is about to come to town, but some families in the Lincoln metro area need some extra help. Center for People hosts Toyland, an event for families to fill up their stockings and put presents under the tree free of charge.

Reporter Jolie Peal talks about first year covering education for Nebraska Public Media.

This holiday season, Nebraska Public Media is reflecting on stories and topics our newsroom has covered over the past year. Nebraska Public Media's Dale Johnson sat down with reporter Elizabeth Rembert to hear about her year covering agriculture and rural communities through our partnership with Harvest Public Media.

This holiday season, Nebraska Public Media is reflecting on stories and topics our newsroom has covered over the past year. Nebraska Public Media's Dale Johnson sat down with new senior reporter Kassidy Arena to hear about what brought her back to the state and the type of reporting she'd like to focus on.

The Texas Longhorns swept the Nebraska Cornhuskers at the NCAA Volleyball National Championship in Tampa Sunday afternoon. Nebraska and Texas battled back and forth throughout the first set, but the Longhorns eventually pulled away, winning 25-22.

A woman in Lincoln is finding ways to grow her business by participating in local classes with ECHO Collective and Doane University.

Communities in western Kansas are trying a new AI tool to help them target economic growth and hopefully fight long-term trends of population loss.

Generations of Native Americans have experienced historical trauma, due to centuries of mistreatment. One group of intertribal women are taking the steps to heal through a new creative outlet.

Independent candidate for president Robert F. Kennedy Jr. spoke to a crowd of several hundred people at Lincoln’s Royal Grove Tuesday night. Kennedy spent much of his speech Tuesday talking about how a small number of investment firms, namely BlackRock, Vanguard and State Street, are taking away wealth from the American middle class.

After a month-long trial involving hours of surveillance video and surprise testimony from Ramos himself, attorneys made their final arguments Monday morning. Ramos is charged with killing fellow inmate Michael Galindo during a prison riot at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution in 2017. Prosecuting attorney Corey O’Brien presented the state’s case and said the video evidence of Galindo’s death was enough to charge Ramos with first-degree murder.

State employee union members filled the capitol rotunda on their lunch break Thursday to express concerns with the governor’s order ending remote work next month. Nebraska Association of Public Employees executive director Justin Hubly said the union renewed its demand to bargain with the Pillen administration and has given them until December 12th to respond.

No consensus has been reached on how to honor children’s remains if they are found at the Genoa U.S. Indian Industrial School in Central Nebraska. By sifting through old documents in 2021, the Genoa Reconciliation Project estimated that 100 children died at the school. Diseases were the main causes of death. According to Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs executive director, Judi gaiashkibos, the NCIA hosted a call with 40 Native American tribes across the country last Thursday. All of those nations had youth enrolled in the Genoa federal boarding school.

Summary: Indigenous women from throughout Nebraska and parts of Iowa have been sewing and working on traditional garments for six months—all leading up to a first-of-its-kind fashion show.

Nebraska schools are wrestling with the problem of cellphones distracting students.

Climatologists are predicting a warmer and wetter than average winter this year thanks to El Nino, a climate pattern of warm air over the Pacific Ocean. Eric Hunt with the Nebraska State Climate Office said despite warmer temperatures, Lincoln is likely to receive more snowfall than the previous two winters. “I would basically tell anybody Grand Island and east, and particularly South of the Platte, to prepare for more snow than what we've had in the last couple of years,” Hunt said.

The tradition of harvesting an evergreen for the official Christmas tree of Omaha is almost one-hundred years old. It’s a trek that used to start across the country, but has transitioned to a more local journey.

Northern Nebraska’s Santee Sioux Reservation is still without safe drinking water after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a no-drink order in 2019. But in recent weeks, some progress has been made. The Santee Sioux tribal council voted to pursue funding for a pipeline bringing clean water from South Dakota in September, but several bureaucratic and financial hurdles need to be cleared before safe drinking water becomes a reality in Santee once more.

Hundreds of high school band, orchestra and choir students from across Nebraska came together last week to perform at All-State in Lincoln. This year, almost 750 students made one of the four groups.

Eric Ramos, the man accused of killing a fellow inmate at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution in 2017, is back in court after his initial 2018 trial ended in a mistrial. Opening statements for Ramos’ second trial began Wednesday afternoon at the Saline County Courthouse in Wilber, Nebraska. The State of Nebraska charged Eric Ramos with first degree murder, use of a weapon and tampering with evidence in the death of Michael Galindo during a 2017 riot at the state prison in Tecumseh.

Homeschool numbers increased all over the country at the start of the pandemic. Studies show many states have sustained that uptick. But Nebraska has a different story.

“We felt as though silence would be better than making an attempt at words that might fall short," Rev. Sarah Rentzel Jones, who works at Countryside Community Church on the Tri-Faith campus, said. A church, synagogue and mosque sit on the Tri-Faith campus. The three communities are trying to support each other through the impact of the Israel-Hamas war.

Before Abigail, no one had ever competed in wheelchair cross country in the history of the state. At least not according to the Nebraska School Activities Association. But this fall, Abigail competed in four races alongside other junior high runners, each a little more than one mile long. She says her teammates have helped inspire her to not give up when she’s tired.

Election integrity experts, including Nebraska’s Deputy Secretary of State for Elections, Wayne Bena, testified at a U.S. Senate hearing about threats to election administration Wednesday. Senate Committee on Rules and Administration Ranking Member Deb Fischer of Nebraska said she hoped to find solutions to problems facing election officials and volunteer poll workers.

The Nebraska Department of Education announced a $2 million commitment to Nebraska Growing Readers, which will distribute books to early childhood centers across the state. Mary Jo Pankoke is the CEO of the Nebraska Children and Families Foundation which is partnering with the state. She said one of the goals of the program is to address book deserts. The book distribution began at Educare Indian Hill in Omaha, and will expand to 18 other sites statewide.

The Nebraska Economic Forecasting Advisory Board increased its projections for state tax revenue in the upcoming year, but the board is less optimistic about fiscal year 2025. The board now projects Nebraska will collect $6.445 billion dollars in state tax revenue between July 2023 and June 2024. That represents an increase of nearly $8 million dollars from the previous projection set in April 2023.

In Lincoln, the crisis Voices of Hope is having their annual fundraiser this week. Nebraska Public Media’ shares more about the difference the organization is making.

Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers and dozens of others AGs across the country are suing Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook. The lawsuits allege that Meta intentionally designed its social media apps to be addictive to children and teens, taking advantage of psychological vulnerabilities to make a profit.

62 percent of volunteer fire departments surveyed in Nebraska say recruiting is difficult, according to a Nebraska Public Media survey. Some diverse towns in Nebraska may try to recruit more People of Color to fill those gaps. How are those efforts going? And, why is it important for the community be represented in the fire department?

In most rural communities throughout Nebraska, the firefighters and EMTs who respond to emergencies are all volunteers. But according to survey data from Nebraska Public Media News, recruiting and retaining members has become more challenging in recent years. Nebraska Public Media’s Brian Beach reports how generational bonds and creative solutions are keeping volunteer fire departments alive.

A move to give Speaker pro tem Patrick McHenry the full authority of Speaker of the House fell short in a Republican Conference meeting Thursday. Flood began Thursday morning joining Jim Jordan in support of a resolution that would give McHenry the full powers of the Speaker of the House through the end of November.

Nebraska Congressman Don Bacon joined 21 other House Republicans Wednesday in not voting for Jim Jordan as Speaker of the House. Instead, Bacon voted for former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who was ousted by eight Republicans earlier this month. “He was really the best speaker we could have had,” Bacon said of McCarthy. “He had the experience, the staff. He's the reason we're the majority today.”

The town of Merriman, Nebraska no longer has its own ambulance service. The Sandhills Ambulance Service could no longer recruit enough qualified volunteers to transport emergency patients to local hospitals. The rescue squad served a 100 square mile area in the far-northwest corner of Cherry County. On Wednesday, the three-member board of Sandhills held a virtual meeting and voted to disband the service after a three-year-long effort to recruit capable Emergency Medical Technicians.

Two Native American families have settled a lawsuit against the Cody Kilgore Schools with an agreement the district will no longer cut students' hair without the permission of parents. In 2020 an elementary school secretary cut the hair of the two girls during a check for headlice. The lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union maintained the Lakota Sioux believe long hair is a sacred symbol, only to be cut by select individuals. The school employee’s actions, it was argued, violated the Civil Rights of the students.

The FBI Omaha Field Office is working with the Omaha Police Department to find Cindy Valle, who went missing on August 26, 2011. She was 15 years old and five months pregnant at the time.

After a series of high-profile setbacks, a new mural in Lincoln hopes to provide a sense of hope to Nebraska’s LGBTQ community. Nebraska Public Media’s William Padmore talked with members of the community about how they see their situation and whether there’s hope for the future

Food waste takes up space in landfills and produces methane, a powerful greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. Composting that waste can reduce climate impacts and save municipalities money on landfill fees, but concerns about bad smells and pests sometimes get in the way.

Homicide is a leading cause of maternal mortality, and experts say the problem is getting worse.

Small rural communities often have to get creative to generate tourism and public interest. One central Nebraska town is hoping to do so by throwing avocados - really, really far

New Latin drag night a safe space for Iowans and Nebraskans following anti-LGBTQ bills

Memorial Stadium will be packed at the end of this month, with more than 90-thousand people expected to watch Nebraska’s best volleyball programs in action. Four teams will compete in the first-ever Volleyball Day in Nebraska. Record-breaking ticket sales highlight the significance of volleyball to the Cornhusker state. Nebraska Public Media’s Aaron Bonderson reports on how the sport got to this point…

A research team from multiple universities is developing technology that can detect salmonella contamination in a matter of minutes.

Experts worry hoarding is on the rise in Kansas amid a lack of support for those who struggle with it, straining families and communities.

Thousands packed Omaha’s streets on Saturday to celebrate Crawford after his win over Errol Spence, Jr. The latest triumph made him the first male boxer to hold all four major titles in two different weight classes.

May 5, 2023 is a day many residents of Franklin, Nebraska will never forget. That’s when tennis ball sized hail and heavy winds bombarded the Republican River Valley town of less than 1,000 people. By late July, roofing crews could still be seen throughout the town, working through triple digit temperatures to repair damage sustained several months ago.

Barbers from across Nebraska are sharpening their shears and queuing their clippers in preparation for the Battle of the Barbers event in Omaha. But, the event is shaping up to be much more than a simple contest.

An EF-1 tornado ripped through the town of Sutton Saturday morning. The storm didn’t lead to any injuries, but there was extensive damage to the town 70 miles southwest of Lincoln.

The town of Winslow gained statewide attention for its plan to save the community from future floods by moving its uphill. However, the plan has almost ground to a halt, and while some community members support it, most cannot afford it, while others are actively fighting to keep the town where it is.

Willa Cather is one of the most celebrated American writers from the Midwest for her depictions of life in the great plains. This week and next, 25 academics from across the country are convening in Nebraska to critique her works and methods.

This year is the 20th anniversary of a Nebraska Army National Guard peacekeeping mission in Bosnia. At the time, a NATO-sponsored mission was rare for the Guard. Nebraska Public Media reports on the lasting impact of the so-called “Taskforce Huskers” mission.

10% of Iowa’s Methodist congregations are leaving the church. The denomination is wrestling over the future of LGBTQ members and whether they can be clergy.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture gave two companies the green light last month to produce and sell their cultivated chicken meat across the country. But it could still take years before people can buy the new meat at grocery stores.

Storm chasers of different ages and backgrounds explain why they chase storms, and how social media is transforming the profession

Abortion is still legal in Iowa a year after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the nationwide right to terminate a pregnancy. But just like this time last year, it’s not clear how long that will last. An Iowa Supreme Court order this month left only one thing certain—Republican lawmakers will try again to restrict abortion.

In 2020, a group of Nebraska ranchers and cattle feeders came up with a plan to establish their own meat plant. It’s a proposal to break away from the four massive companies that control the beef market. Three years later, they're working on construction and housing.

A summer camp in Nebraska is trying to spark Native American students’ interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Twenty-seven middle school students from more than eight tribes in Nebraska and South Dakota toured the Aerospace Museum in Ashland, Nebraska, earlier this month.

Iowa was one of the first states to legalize same-sex marriage, years before it would be allowed across the rest of the country. During that time in between, couples flocked to the state to tie the knot, and in particular, one small town became a popular destination.

Several groups of women over 50 are now playing competitive basketball. From Kansas to Iowa to Texas and beyond, these women openly admit they are “off their rockers.”

In April, a new lease agreement from the Bureau of Reclamation, who manages the land, requires the owners to remove the trailers from the lakes by Nov. 1, 2024.

Between 2010 and 2020, Omaha lost 7,000 affordable dwellings for people making low incomes, according to a City Planning Department report called the Housing Affordability Action Plan (HAAP).

FOX’s “Farmer Wants a Wife” recently wrapped up its first season, and it got Harvest Public Media wondering what dating is like for farmers and ranchers. Turns out, dating in a small town isn’t always easy.

Kansas SB 180 will bring a host of changes, including limiting trans residents’ access to bathrooms. Much is still unknown about how it'll be enforced.

This Thursday, Lincoln’s public transportation system will restore offering rides at night. Since last summer, StarTran and Paratransit, its service for people with disabilities, have stopped service at 7 p.m. Nebraska Public Media reports what the full service means to people who use Paratransit.

Fifty years ago, the United States, North and South Vietnam, and the Vietcong signed a peace agreement in Paris ending America’s direct military involvement in the Vietnam War.

Auctions —a marketplace for knick knacks, farm land and everything in between — are often also social gathering events for rural communities. That’s changing as more auctions go online.

The Hastings Ground Water Contamination site was the first Superfund in Nebraska. After 40 years of working with the EPA, the city has learned a lot.

The Wizard of Oz and Kansas have been inseparable since farm girl Dorothy Gale first skipped down the yellow brick road. But having an enduring image from the Dust Bowl 1930s might also hold Kansas back from what it wants to be today.

Self-control, love and forgiveness are just a few of the virtues discussed at Eid al-Fitr, a Muslim holiday. About 2,000 people gathered in the early morning in Southwest Lincoln on Friday.

These parts of the country are also where the number of severe events are steadily increasing.

Dale Johnson Interviews Senator Pete Ricketts and talks WOTUS and SNAP Benefits.

Elevated Access recruits hobby pilots to fly abortion patients out of states with bans. They offer a window into the increasingly scrappy tactics of abortion rights groups in a post-Roe America.

After the end of pandemic-era free meals, schools are reporting rising school meal debt and fewer kids in their free and reduced price programs.

Young Americans are becoming less religious. That is the conclusion UNL sociology professor Philip Schwadel has made from his research into the topic. A decline in religious affiliation isn’t just an interesting thing to note, it has a broad societal impact. Nebraska Public Media’s William Padmore spoke with Schwadel about the trend ahead of a public lecture he will deliver on the topic March 30.

Rural areas are losing grocery stores to consolidation faster than their urban counterparts — but some communities have come up with innovative solutions.

Gering, Nebraska, will host the first gravel cycling national championships in September. This event through USA Cycling will bring potentially thousands of cyclists to the area for a 131-mile bike race around the area's landmarks.

People who use public transportation in Lincoln aren’t able to get rides after 7 p.m.. The change took effect on Aug. 18, 2022. The lack of evening rides affect all people who use public transit in Nebraska’s capital city. However, that especially interferes with the independence of people with disabilities.

People who use public transportation in Lincoln aren’t able to get rides after 7 p.m.. The change took effect on Aug. 18, 2022. The lack of evening rides affect all people who use public transit in Nebraska’s capital city. However, that especially interferes with the independence of people with disabilities.

The grief and heartache caused by two major earthquakes in Turkey and Syria hasn’t stopped at their borders. The tragedy has killed at least 50,000 people and has left millions of survivors homeless in the two nations. But, its impact is felt all over the world. One Lincoln man was personally affected.

A Nebraska mosque is trying to help with recovery from two major earthquakes that struck Turkey and Syria in February.

Amid statewide low participation, even finishing a full season has become a win. With only eight players, the Nebraska City Lady Pioneers are pushing through.

Rural America is not known for its public transportation. But as its residents get older faster than their urban counterparts, the need is increasing. Some communities are finding ways to provide rides.

As small town populations decline, people in places like western Kansas look for ways to keep their rural farming and ranching lifestyle alive for the next generation. Some families think youth rodeo might be part of the answer.

Carrie Jones appeared in court Wednesday as a suspect in the Laurel quadruple murder case. Prosecutors accuse her of encouraging her husband to kill a man whom she said was sexually harassing her, setting off three other killings.

With the murder of Tyre Nichols last month, the national conversation has once again turned to police brutality and how to best prevent it. Nebraska Public Media's William Padmore speaks with University of Nebraska at Omaha Criminology and Criminal Justice Professor Justin Nix about state of policing in America today.

The child care gap across the country is more than 30%, meaning the need for quality child care far outweighs the supply — and it's worse in rural areas.

Deciding where to live, work and raise a family are some of the most important decisions people make in their lives. Here are the most important factors that draw people to Nebraska’s mid-sized cities.

Despite a spike in deaths from COVID-19 and fewer births, recent research suggests rural counties saw population growth during the first year of the pandemic. Remote work opportunities could have contributed to more people moving to scenic rural destinations.

Carrie Jones appeared in court ) to face allegations that she was involved in a quadruple murder in Laurel, a northeast Nebraska town of about 1,000. Prosecutors say she acted with her husband to carry out a crime that left four people shot to death in their homes last summer, but she didn't enter a guilty or not guilty plea.

A husband and wife accused of murdering four people in a small Nebraska town are scheduled to appear in court Monday. Nebraska Public Media’s Jackie Ourada spoke with reporter Elizabeth Rembert to catch up on the case before the hearing.

There are 44 counties in the country with no grocery store at all, according to the USDA. Nebraska has 10 of them. Nebraska Public Media reports on how some towns are providing access to fresh groceries.

Legislation and programs in states like Missouri and Nebraska are paving the way to welcome large livestock operations by limiting local control over the facilities. Some rural residents worry about the potential pollution and decreased quality of life that will bring.

States, local governments and internet providers have until Friday, Jan. 13 to challenge the Federal Communications Commission’s National Broadband Map. The map shows where service is and isn’t across the country.

Last year, more than 5,000 Native women were reported as missing across the country. Murder is the third leading cause of death for Native women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Black Americana” or “Black Memorabilia” are terms used to describe collectibles, usually from the early 1900s with African American themes. Today, such figures have become rarities and are openly for sale in Nebraska antique shops. Nebraska Public Media News explores the ethical value of selling what many would consider offensive relics of the past.

Think of this year’s drought as a sort of dress rehearsal to consider the drier, hotter future that scientists predict climate change has in store. Long-lasting droughts could alter how we eat, how we breathe and where we get our water from.

Lawyers for a Lincoln Native American prayer camp and a local landowner are asking the Lancaster District Court to allow them to have a hearing with the City Board of Zoning Appeals.

Three of the four winners of yesterday's elections were backed by a conservative PAC. Protect Nebraska Children was the PAC supporting conservatives Kirk Penner, Sherry Jones, and Elizabeth Tegtmeier who all won. The PAC was formed to stop comprehensive sex education proposed by the board last year.

Urban farmers are trying to buy vacant lots for their farms to bring fresh, healthy food and green space to their neighborhoods, but they face challenges in acquiring that land.

When Nebraska voters go to the polls next week, they will decide if the state’s minimum wage will increase from $9 per hour to $15. Nebraska Public Media’s Will Bauer reports ballot initiative 433 revives a long standing debate.

Pheasant season kicked off in Nebraska last weekend (October 29th). Nebraska Public Media’s Aaron Bonderson reports extreme drought and wildfires are stunting the upcoming season…

The national battle against abortion has reached small local governments. Towns in Iowa, Nebraska and Texas have banned abortion within their borders, even if they don’t have a clinic. But in one community, that effort could interrupt abortion access for the entire region.

Latino voters are the second largest and fastest-growing demographic in Nebraska. They’ve been a politically powerful group. In 2020, the predominantly Latino South Omaha neighborhood helped win Omaha’s electoral vote for Joe Biden. But that same year, Republicans cut into Democrat’s national lead with Latino voters. Nebraska Public Media’s Elizabeth Rembert takes us to South Omaha, to learn how the changing sentiments of Latino voters could impact the election for the second congressional district.

For many people, fall is marked by taking trips to the pumpkin patch, getting lost in a corn maze or catching a hay ride. These seasonal activities are part of agricultural tourism, and it's a booming industry.

Four seats on Nebraska’s State Board of Education are up for grabs in November. For the last year and a half, proposed sex education standards from the officially nonpartisan board have some parents up in arms. Issues, like the teacher shortage persist.

Farm implement manufacturers, including giant John Deere, are well on their way to deploying autonomous tractors. Prototypes are in the field now, and they could be widely available by the end of the decade.

When the COVID-19 pandemic upended life around the world, artists were particularly hard hit. Now, vaccines are widely available and many arts organizations received federal funding to keep them afloat. Nebraska Public Media’s William Padmore reports on how Nebraska’s arts sector is fairing.

A North Platte television news director will clean out her desk Monday night after the station fired her over the weekend for helping collect signatures for a ballot initiative to ban abortions in the neighboring town of Curtis.The vice president and general manager of KNOP in North Platte confirmed Melanie Standiford was fired on Friday – the same day the Flatwater Free Press quoted Standiford about a petition drive in Curtis.

The Supplemental Nutrition Education Program (SNAP-Ed) is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and helps SNAP recipients learn how to eat healthy food on a budget. Its employees complain of wages so low that they themselves qualify for SNAP.

The City of Lincoln filed a lawsuit that aims to keep a housing development moving forward, despite concerns from local Native American groups. Nebraska Public Media’s Will Bauer has more on the growing rift between the city and the Niskíthe prayer camp.

The craft beer industry is driving farmers in the Midwest to grow hops for their local beer makers. But the crop is not easy to grow — it’s labor intensive and expensive.

New York Times Best Selling Author Candice Millard is this year’s Governor’s Lecture in Humanities Series. Throughout her career, Millard has used her skill as a journalist and author to explore, humanize and contextualize people and events in ways that may be surprising to readers. In her latest book, River of the Gods, Millard explores the ill-begotten journey to discover the source of the Nile River in Egypt. Nebraska Public Media’s William Padmore got the chance to sit with Millard a few days before the lecture and has this preview…

The Nebraska Board of Pardons unanimously voted to deny Earnest Jackson’s commutation request for immediate release on Monday.Jackson’s family, friends, lawyers, volunteer groups – and the victim’s family – all say Jackson did not kill Larry Perry – a crime which Jackson has served 22 years in prison for.“I'm so hurt that I'm speechless,” said Jackson’s sister, Remee Greer. “I came here optimistic, hoping for the best, praying for the best but understanding how things go.”

Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in Nebraska. Addressing this issue – especially in rural parts of the state – can be difficult. Nebraska Public Media’s Will Bauer reports about the challenges to prevent suicide in rural areas and what officials plan to do about it. We should note: Some people may find this four minute story disturbing.

Long after church bells have stopped chiming, this small northwest Iowa bar holds a different kind of Sunday communion. Folks from across the state pilgrimage to Pomeroy, a town of just under 500 people. All because of one unassuming bar that’s drawing big acts from all over the country and then letting the bands keep the money.

Lincoln’s Sunni Muslim population is growing. With the addition of more Afghan refugees in the past few months, their mosque needs an upgrade. Nebraska Public Media’s Will Bauer reports on the Muslim community’s to plan to finish a long standing project.

Mount Rushmore and the Great Lakes are a couple of the Midwest’s tourism magnets, but some states sometimes have to work against their reputations to attract visitors. They’re getting creative by highlighting amenities that can be a bit off the beaten path.

For a little over a month, groups of blind and visually impaired Nebraskans have been gathering in Omaha for pottery lessons. The goal of the nonprofit putting on the classes? Provide a chance for students to transcend their disabilities through art.

As the CEO, Smith oversaw the merging of the reservation’s hospital and public health department, Nebraska Public Media spoke with Smith about her time as CEO of the health system

Much of the Great Plains is way behind on moisture. The drought has drained water levels at many rivers and lakes, uncovering historical relics that are typically submerged.

Ho-Chunk is the first player to build a comprehensive casino off reservation land in Nebraska. Last year, Ho-Chunk paid about $5 million in reinvestment to the tribe. Of that reinvestment – the tribe budgeted out about $3.7 million for their general fund. That’s used for tribe programs like Ho-Chunk language preservation, the annual homecoming celebration, healthcare and substance abuse services, and more.

Ho-Chunk is the first player to build a comprehensive casino off reservation land in Nebraska. Last year, Ho-Chunk paid about $5 million in reinvestment to the tribe. Of that reinvestment – the tribe budgeted out about $3.7 million for their general fund. That’s used for tribe programs like Ho-Chunk language preservation, the annual homecoming celebration, healthcare and substance abuse services, and more.

New startup aims to build a healthy and sustainable industry using Aronia Berries.

Nebraska's harsh weather conditions have created a large setback in the state's wheat harvest.

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln releases their COVID-19 plan for the school semester as Lancaster County's risk dial remains at High.

Missouri residents may have heard ghoulish tales of “Doc Annie” Smith, a physician who looms large in the state’s mythology for performing illegal abortions in the early 1900s. Today, the truth about her work has largely disappeared.

The Omaha FBI field office held a Diversity Agent Recruitment event on Wednesday night, aimed at attracting potential new agents from diverse backgrounds. The event had 40 attendees and was a success, according to the Omaha FBI

A Lincoln nonprofit kicked off its first ever technology classes on Friday, targeted to help those who are changing careers or who simply need help developing skills to find jobs. Hosted by the Center for People in Need, EduTech is free for its students. It’s funded by the $600,000 share the city of Lincoln received from the American Rescue Plan Act.

Two teenagers attempted to steal a 2013 Hyundai Tuesday evening while filming themselves for Tik Tok.

Ho-Chunk Incorporated officially expanded to Omaha on Wednesday. It broke ground on a similar racetrack - casino or “racino” in Lincoln in early July.CEO Lance Morgan said that the new casino in Omaha will employ more than 1,000 employees and bring in over $100,000 in revenue in the first year.

Unanimously passed, the $20 million will just provide a chunk of the cost for the new, more centrally located, library at the corner of 72nd and Dodge. The rest of the cash will be covered by a local nonprofit, Heritage Omaha. The new library is scheduled for a 2025 opening.

Native American tribes and communities are creating formal programs that focus on their traditional foods to not only combat systemic food insecurity, but also connect people to their culture.

The White House is asking Gov. Ricketts to help promote a federal program offering reduced internet costs

A new virtual reality art exhibit at KANEKO in Omaha gives viewers a front-row seat to the immigration crisis at the U-S, Mexico border. KANEKO is one of the few places in the world right now where you can see the exhibit after numerous sold-out international tours. Nebraska Public Media’s Jackie Ourada has more on the Oscar award-winning Carne y Arena exhibit that shows what many people endure as they try to find the “American dream.”

Thirteen years after the federal government last raised the federal minimum wage, a ballot initiative in Nebraska aims to raise Nebraska’s minimum to $15 per hour by 2026. “I think Nebraska's graduated scale is fairly conservative and will be easy to hit,” said Mike Draper, who owns Raygun, a clothing and design store in Omaha.

High input costs have pushed up food prices at grocery stores. But local farmers have been able to keep prices more stable, and that’s attracting new customers.

Every two years the Nebraska Hall of Fame Commission selects a prominent person whose residence in the state contributed to their greatness and place in history. This year nominees, put forward by members of the public, include the controversial civil rights leader Malcolm X, a famed baseball pitcher, a Pulitizer Prize-winning composer, and a pioneer in promoting women’s sports. Public hearings on the candidates begin this evening in Lincoln.

The U.S. Congress passed the “Keep Kids Fed Act,” which returns the school lunch program to an income-based system. The act passed just days before the universal free lunch program was scheduled to end June 30.VanLear was shocked and panicked to hear the news.“Crap, I got to reach out [and] figure out the budget,” she said.Who qualifies?Penny VanLear works two jobs. One at H&R Block where she’s been for 12 years. The other at the City of Lincoln’s Treasury office. VanLear said they didn’t have to worry about paying for lunches before the pandemic.“We were still qualifying for free at that point, with the four kids,” VanLear said. Adam, 19, has since graduated and goes to Southeast Community College in Lincoln. Now with three dependents instead of four, VanLear is put into a different income bracket. She fears her three kids won’t qualify for free lunches.

There aren’t any definite numbers about how many farmers belong to the LGBTQ community in the U.S, but many are making a point to become more visible in their rural communities.

A U.S, Court of Appeals ruling could throw out at least one ballot initiative aimed for the November elections

Following the reversal of Roe v. Wade, 24 senators urged President Biden to ensure American’s right to an abortion, according to a letter sent to the president. One part mentioned “using federal property and resources to increase access to abortion.”A separate Supreme Court ruling states that non-natives can be prosecuted for violating state law on Native American land, which is federally owned. That and pushback from Native American spokespeople makes it unlikely for an abortion clinic to open on reservation land.

Thousands of people in Nebraska suffer from Long COVID, suffering long-lasting symptoms.

In his rookie season, Briscoe became the first black man to start at quarterback professionally. He started five games. He broke the Bronco rookie record with 1,897 yards of total offense and 14 touchdown passes.

A restaurant in Lincoln is, like many businesses, offering financial help to employees who may need to travel to get an abortion.

Don Bacon said the court’s decision means a successful day for those fighting for decades to overturn Roe v. Wade.Bacon said he believes life starts prior to 15 weeks of conception but encourages anti-abortion state senators to work with those they may not agree with. Tony Vargas is state senator for the 7th District of Nebraska, which is in the Omaha area. The Democrat U.S. congressional candidate for Bacon’s current seat says he stands by women’s reproductive rights.Vargas says there’s a group of senators that will stand up against abortion bans in the state legislature.

A missile silo from the 1960's in York has been converted into an underground home, and it is now on the market for someone looking for a unique place to call home.

Hosted by UNL’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion, a few hundred gathered outside the school’s union on Monday afternoon. Juneteenth, the oldest commemoration of slavery’s end, was celebrated with snow cones, music and educational posters.

Nearly 5.5 million chickens and turkeys have died or had to be destroyed in Buena Vista County, Iowa, during the latest bird flu outbreak — more than in any other county in the nation. That’s impacted producers, as well as workers and their families.

Ukrainian War Refugees are coming to Lincoln, but need rental housing. Two families, a total of 23 people, are currently living in on home owned by a local relative of one of those families.

The Lincoln City Council voted to withdraw a proposed ordinance that would provide protections for people regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity. The vote highlighted differing thoughts on if Lincoln voters would ultimately support it. Nebraska Public Media's Jackie Ourada spoke with council member Sandra Washington on the now-rescinded ordinance, as well as Nebraska Family Alliance's Executive Director Karen Bowling.

Paul Sanderford will be inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Friday in Knoxville, Tennessee. Nebraska Public Media’s Will Bauer caught up with the former NU coach at his home in Kentucky to discuss his career and the evolution of women’s college sports.

Nebraska's First (And Only) Astronaut Embarks on A New Mission: Preparing the SAC Aerospace Museum for a New Era

Sioux City refugee organizations have resettled about 50 Afghan refugees into the community since their arrival in August, after their country fell to the Taliban. But, an even larger group of refugees has moved to western Iowa to work for Tyson Fresh Meats at the Dakota City plant just across the border in Nebraska. For many, that means living hours away from their caseworkers and the resources they need to start anew.

Officials unveiled a new design for Nebraska license plates Tuesday based on a mosaic that's embedded in the state Capitol.

There will be several more turf sports fields in the Omaha area starting this fall. La Vista officials and project organizers say the multisport complex in the Omaha suburb will not only serve the area’s children but also fuel economic development.

Tuesday’s mass shooting at a Texas school prompted the Lincoln Police Department to station more police officers around Lincoln schools Wednesday morning. LPD Chief Teresa Ewins said it was more a move for support rather than safety concerns.

Community members from Arapahoe, a town of 1,200 in southwest Nebraska's Furnas County, announced the creation of the Republican Valley Golden Years Foundation on Monday. The non-profit will work to replace the Good Samaritan Society that served the community for 60 years.

Six people were shot – and three died – at separate incidents in Lincoln over the weekend. Lincoln’s police chief says the killings are not connected in any way – it's common to see a rise in violence when the weather gets better.

The wildfire – dubbed the 201 East Fire – started Tuesday in rural Thomas County. Fire officials in the area said high temperatures, winds and extreme dry conditions fueled the blazes spread to the east and south.

As the war in Ukraine continues, it has created a humanitarian crisis the likes of which haven’t been seen in Europe since WW II. For two weeks Flatwater Free Press reporter Natalia Alamdari lived alongside refugees and volunteers as they lived out of a hotel in Warsaw, - their rooms and food paid for as part of Safe Harbor Ukraine, a Nebraska-based humanitarian effort. Nebraska Public Media News Reporter William Padmore talked with Alamdari about her experience and Safe Harbor Ukraine.

University of Nebraska at Kearney women's head basketball coach Carrie Eighmey is married to her assistant coach Devin Eighmey. The two talk about working together on and off the court, as well as the impact of Title IX legislation on women's athletics.

The Niskíthe Prayer Camp – the group who protested the city’s sale of the area for redevelopment, which sits next to their prayer grounds and sweat lodges – marched from Wilderness Park to Lincoln City Hall on Wednesday.

There are more than 180,000 small businesses in Nebraska. Courtney and Heath Bristol own and operate one of them - Bulldoggers BBQ in Valentine, Nebraska.

Lincoln’s Mayor announced the City will move ahead with plans to build more than 500 homes across the street from the only two native American sweat lodges in town.

The money came from settlements made by opioid manufacturers and distributors with the federal government.It will allocate part of the funds to Nebraska counties and cities. A larger portion - almost half of the money - will be sent to the six mental health regions in Nebraska.

Lincoln City Council approved a housing development for about 500 homes near Wilderness Park in Lincoln, across from the only two Native American sweat lodges within the city. Now, a group of Native American community members set up a prayer camp on the approved land in protest.

Hundreds of Muslims in Lincoln, including refugees recently arrived from Afghanistan, gathered Monday to celebrate the end of Ramadan, their month-long fast. The celebration is called Eid al-Fitr.

The wildfire in Southwest Nebraska scorched more than 43,000 acres across Furnas and Red Willow counties this past week. It also destroyed at least six homes in the area, countless pieces of farm equipment and so much more. Nebraska Public Media News tells the stories of two families who were in the thick of the blaze.

Elderly populations are more likely to report financial losses from fraud. That’s why Nebraska’s AARP invited the FTC’s Todd Kossow to discuss scam prevention Wednesday on a teleconference for Nebraska seniors.

Despite critical fire weather Tuesday, firefighters continued to make progress on the Road 702 Fire in southwest Nebraska. Nebraska Emergency Management says the fire is now 74% contained.

The city planning commission voted in favor of the new development that would add 575 new houses and 30,000 square-feet for commercial use near the intersection of Highway 77 and West Pioneers Boulevard.

A new anti-racist toolkit from the Farmers Market Coalition is designed to help managers of farmers markets think about messaging, vendor support and product availability.

The English Language: most lifelong Americans take it for granted. For Yazidi refugees seeking a new life in middle-America, language hurdles can prevent access to physical and mental healthcare resources, as well as other necessities.A UNL study finds Yazidi refugees in Nebraska face challenges in accessing healthcare resources. The Yazidi are an ethnic group that have faced persecution in Eastern Asia.

A Harvard Law program will join the ACLU of Nebraska in a lawsuit against Cody Kilgore Unified Schools – a suit that stems from cutting Native American children’s hair. The family of the children, members of the Lakota tribe, believe hair is a sacred symbol. A year later, the Nebraska chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union filed suit on behalf of the family – alleging first amendment violations.

Hundreds packed into Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Elwood Wednesday for the funeral of Darren Krull – the fire chief who died while fighting a massive fire in southwest Nebraska last week.

Heidi Thomas is pouring thousands of dollars into her narrow-halled home in Arapahoe. The renovations will hopefully make living here easier for her husband, Alan, who was recently kicked out of the only nursing facility in the 1,000-person town.

A volunteer fire chief died Thursday evening while responding to a fire in southwest Nebraska.

For the past 40 days, Alyona Bychkovska has been sleeping in a Kyiv subway station. On the first day of war, she started writing a war diary and posted her entries online. One of her friends, Viktor Khanzhyn, a Lincoln-based economics professor who grew up in Ukraine, translates it to English.

Mark Wetzel coaches baseball and softball hitters how to see the ball better, even though he's been blind most of his life. Mark has macular degeneration. It started affecting his eyesight when he was about 11.

Ford is electrifying its best-selling F-150 pickup. The F-150 Lightning is a pitch to rural drivers that you don’t need to be an early adopter or environmentalist for an electric vehicle to make sense.

Grand Island’s Fonner Park will drop the horse quarantine for its stable area starting Friday.Two confirmed cases of equine herpes in mid-March led to the Nebraska Department of Agriculture issuing the quarantine. Since then, there have been no reported cases in the stables at the popular central Nebraska racetrack.

Sprious has 19 employees in Ukraine. They are all men, which means they are required to stay in the country. Some have moved to the west, but at least one person has stayed in Kyiv to fight. Most of the employees’ families have left the country. Stateside, the data collection firm has raised $43,000 for its employees to help pay for food and housing.

The Omaha City Council heard public testimony Tuesday night about an amended proposal to strip the county’s health director of their epidemic authority. This revision doesn’t remove the health director of her complete authority – like the first proposed ordinance did. But it will give veto powers to the mayor and the city council.

The remote village of Lynch, Nebraska up near the South Dakota border lost their only grocery store and became a food desert in spring 2020. The community opened a new cooperative grocery store on March 26.

Agriculture often gets cited as the reason daylight saving time was put in place in the U.S. more than 100 years ago. Yet it turns out the time change has few benefits for farmers.

A York, Nebraska man leaves no doubt about his favorite rock band. Dennis Michalski has been all-in for the hard-driving rock band KISS since he first saw them in concert when he was 12 years old. His KISS memorabilia collection fills the basement of his home, and it's still growing.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, some Nebraskans with Ukrainian ties have continued to work and live in the state, while worrying about the fate of Ukraine and loved ones who still live there.

When most people think of maple syrup production, Vermont comes to mind. In the Midwest, Wisconsin and Michigan are the biggest producers. But there’s a lot of untapped potential for maple syrup in the lower Midwest.

Lincoln Resident Matthew Wegener touched down in Budapest, Hungary last week and describes his journey into Easter-Europe as an intense one. Wegener is Europe to escort Oksana Iziumova to a host home in Munich, Germany that agreed to shelter her while the war in Ukraine continues. Oksana is from the west-Ukrainian port city of Odessa.

Everyone wants to clean up AltEn, the ethanol plant in southeast Nebraska that used pesticide-coated seed corn and produced tons of toxic waste. But there are different ideas of how to get there.

Everyone wants to clean up AltEn, the ethanol plant in southeast Nebraska that used pesticide-coated seed corn and produced tons of toxic waste. But there are different ideas of how to get there.

Jerry Pawlak has been playing music on the organ at College World Series games in Omaha for a decade. His musical skills are a fan favorite and often brings them to their feet.

Just as consumers turned to online shopping during the pandemic, many farmers started selling their products online over the past two years.

UNO’s Gina Ligon says Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s leadership is like no leader that she’s seen to date. Ligon, the director of the National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology and Education Center, made the comments Tuesday morning on NPR’s "On Point."

A Ukrainian man is watching the war in his home country from Lincoln. His wife and parents are hunkered down together as their neighbors take on the fight against Russia. Nebraska Public Media's Jackie Ourada spoke to Yuriy Fomin on what it's like watching the war from half a world away.

As the war rages on in Ukraine, a Nebraskan is traveling to war-stricken Europe to escort a Ukrainian woman to Germany. Nebraska Public Media News reporter William Padmore has more why that Lincoln man is helping in today’s Signature Story.

The blue and yellow glow of Nebraska’s Capitol is designed to show support toward Ukraine’s independence from Russia. Ukraine’s colors will be on display until Sunday, March 13th.

Nebraska Congressman Jeff Fortenberry gives his insights on the situation in Ukraine. Nebraska Public Media News Reporter William Padmore spoke with him.

Filled with city council members, representatives from Lincoln Public Schools, the city’s police chief – and Afghan refugees, the main ballroom at Embassy suites was packed Saturday. More than 200 people gathered in downtown Lincoln over the weekend to welcome some of the state’s newest Nebraskans. The message from organizers was clear: We’re sorry you’re in this situation, but we’re here to help.

The pandemic introduced virtual options for the farm show. On the heels of declining numbers of farmers and technology improvements, some predict an eventual end to the in-person gatherings.

One of the main objections of those opposed to casinos in Nebraska has been the potential increase in the number of people becoming addicted to gambling. In today’s Nebraska Public Media News Signature Story, William Padmore examines the link between casinos and gambling addiction resources in the state

One of the main objections of those opposed to casinos in Nebraska has been the potential increase in the number of people becoming addicted to gambling. In today’s Nebraska Public Media News Signature Story, William Padmore examines the link between casinos and gambling addiction resources in the state

It’s a historic week for sports in Nebraska. For sixty-three years, high school boys have competed in the state wrestling championships. For the first time ever, girls will compete in wrestling at the same level. Even advocates of the sport under-estimated the demand. More than 700 young women joined teams all over the state. There is excitement and even emotion among wrestlers and coaches competing to be the first to reach the victor’s podium.

Trade, meatpacking, climate change and fertilizer prices. These are all topics U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack thinks about regularly. In this interview with Nebraska Public Media News, we ask Sec. Vilsack about all of those and how his Department of Agriculture plans to approach them.

Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird and Police Chief Teresa Ewins reported the city's crime statistics for 2021 Thursday.

Maria Kendall took a break from her job as a cafe manager in 2020 when she decided to do some house hunting on the real estate website Zillow. She looked for a new home in Marshalltown, a city of about 28,000 in Iowa between Des Moines and Cedar Rapids.It’s where she lived for more than 20 years and where her own children grew up. Maria was ready for a new house with her boyfriend and the three children with special needs she fosters. As Maria swiped through real estate, she spotted her mom’s house for sale.She immediately called her sister Socorro “Coco” Ontiveros in California, who waswith their mom, Natalia Esteban. Maria asked in Spanish when their mom decided to sell the house. After a pause, Coco answered. “What are you talking about?” Coco said.Natalia had not decided to sell the house. Yet, there it was, listed for sale on a real estate website.“And if she wouldn't have seen it on Zillow, who knows?” says Larry Colton, Maria’s boyfriend.It turned out someone else took control of Natalia’s house through an unfamiliar property law that’s on the books in Iowa as well as throughout the Midwest.It’s called a quiet title action. In most instances, it’s used to settle questions over who owns a piece of property.People may file quiet title actions to resolve boundary disputes or to resolve who owns property after someone dies. But some worry that problems in the law can result in the exploitation of homeowners, particularly in communities like Marshalltown where many residents are immigrants or don’t speak fluent English.Experts tell the Midwest Newsroom that shortcomings in the way Iowa’s quiet title law is written include vague language that defines how someone can argue that the property belongs to them. Another is the way people are notified – or, as in Natalia’s case, are not notified – that there’s a dispute involving ownership of their property.“We would never have found out the house was sold,” Maria says, shaking her head. “My mother would have come back to Iowa in the summer and she would have [found] out she doesn't have a house.”Natalia and her then-husband bought the Marshalltown house in 2001. When the couple divorced, Natalia became the sole owner of the house. In 2018, Natalia moved to California but returned to her home in Marshalltown every summer.Maria raises her voice in disbelief as she recounts how someone could have tried to sell her mother’s house, which had been filled with memories and family photos from their life in Mexico, without anyone knowing.“It was very frustrating,” Maria said. “Like Larry said, scary thinking that [my mom] was going to lose the only thing that she has left.”Maria goes on: “My mother is retired, but because she did not work so long in the United States, her retirement is very small. So losing the only thing that can help her to make [a] better quality of life… It was very devastating for her.”‘Something nefarious’When someone goes to court for a quiet title petition, they must prove they have an interest in the property. One problem is, the law doesn’t define exactly what a person’s interest has to look like, and real estate experts are worried the law may be exploited.“It just seems like there is something nefarious going on,” Drake University law professor Natalie Lynner says about the Marshalltown case.The quiet title law requires a petitioner – the person arguing they have an interestin the property in question – to notify the most recent owner of the house of what’s happening. But if the petitioner says the most recent owner can’t be found, then their next route is publishing a notice of the quiet title in a newspaper of record. A person named Catherine Gooding petitioned for Natalia Esteban’s house claiming it was abandoned. In the court documents, she said that the house had been abandoned, she had a tax sale certificate and that she had been in ownership of the house since 2018. That was the interest Gooding showed. (The Esteban family disputed each of these assertions, including that Gooding had only applied for a tax sale certificate, not been granted one. The city did not have any abandonment claims documented.) Gooding told the court she could not find Esteban to notify her of the action.So, as the law requires, she published her notice on three different dates in the Marshalltown Times-Republican: Oct. 7, 14 and 21, 2020. It’s a skinny article with small print addressing Natalia as “you,” and letting her know she has been named as a defendant in the Iowa District court for Marshall County.Since Natalia wasn’t in Iowa at the time nor does she speak English, she didn’t know to attend the court hearing. Which meant Gooding won the case by default, and therefore, ownership of the house.Lynner thinks the quiet title law could be enhanced to put a greater burden on petitioners to notify property owners.“But we wouldn't just allow quiet title actions to be decided on default without a more robust showing that the parties certainly cannot be found,” Lynner said.A Midwest Newsroom investigation found that Gooding has acquired more than 40 properties in and around Marshalltown, about a third of them through quiet title petitions. Many of those properties she acquired after a 2018 tornado and the derecho in August 2020.Phone calls to a listed number for Catherine Gooding went unanswered, although a text message response referred the Midwest Newsroom to Marshalltown City Hall. Gooding’s attorney said neither he nor Gooding wished to comment on this report.And although Gooding is following the proper legal procedure to file a quiet title petition, city officials are concerned that the diverse population of Marshalltown may be taken advantage of. Residents have a wide range of language skills, education levels and immigration statuses and not all of them read an English-language newspaper, let alone the public notice section. Michelle Spohnheimer, the director of Marshalltown housing and community development, says she’s worried about the uptick in quiet title petitions, particularly after 2018 tornados and a derecho damaged a stretch of Marshalltown housing. “When you take kind of all those different aspects together, you've got a lot of population that has that potential to be in a position where, you know, they just don't have what they need as resources behind them to know, ‘Oh, this is something that I can fight or I can challenge? Or how to go about getting somebody to help me in the right way,’” she says.Spohnheimer says at least three other families have reached out to the city recently with claims similar to the Esteban family’s. In those cases, she recommended hiring private attorneys.Spohnheimer says she believes what’s happening in Marshalltown could be happening in other areas.She says she and other officials within the housing department try to make sure the diverse populations settling in Marshalltown are educated about homeownership. On top of making sure homeowners understand their rights, Spohnheimer says she has also consulted with the police department by letting them know some signs of suspicious activities, including if people are trespassing on property that isn’t their own.The Estebans aren’t aloneIt’s challenging for Iowa to keep track of how many times house titles have been changed using the same methods as what happened to Natalia Esteban. According to the Iowa Judicial Branch, there is no code in its system that specifically indicates petitions for quiet title. It can only keep track if the clerk’s docketing comments include “quiet title” or a variation of the procedure’s language. Therefore, it is possible there are more quiet title cases in Marshalltown than what the Midwest Newsroom received in a records request.From 2018 to mid-2021, the Iowa Judicial Branch noted Marshalltown’s county, Marshall, had about 55 quiet title petitions filed. Muscatine County, which has a similar population size, had 28 in the same time period.With similar quiet title laws in the books in Missouri, Nebraska and Kansas, homeowners from marginalized communities in the Midwest may be at risk of being targeted,[18] according to Mike White, a real estate attorney based in Kansas City. He says that over the course of 50 years, he has encountered multiple quiet title cases. While not involved in the Esteban case, White does say the process can be confusing.“I'd say the average person knows absolutely nothing about quieting titles or even what the title is,” he says. ”So yeah, they're at a tremendous disadvantage.”White adds there’s not much in quiet title laws throughout the Midwest to specifically protect non-English speakers or people who don’t know the system that well. All states’ quiet title laws have relatively short descriptions.White recommends all homebuyers receive legal advice to make sure they can avoid situations like the Estebans.On her own termsMaria Kendall and Larry Colton ended up going to court for Natalia Esteban and eventually won the title back. They find themselves fortunate to have been able to hire a lawyer and have the time to win the house back in court. After the previous default judgment was set aside, the Estebans’ attorney filed to dismiss the case.The Estebans and Gooding eventually reached a settlement and the judge dismissed the case with prejudice – meaning Gooding cannot file the same claim again in court.When Natalia asked about her Marshalltown home, Maria says she was sad her family heirlooms from Mexico were gone. She asked for pictures of her grandchildren she had framed in the house, but Maria reminded her they didn’t have them anymore.“I think sentimental stuff is worth more than money. So for her, it was like, she was going more through like, ‘What about the picture of this, this and that?’ Well, nothing you can do mom. Be grateful that you got your house back,” Maria says.It was hard for Natalia to let go of the house, but she eventually decided to sell t

COVID relief money was supposed to be a lifeline for small towns recovering from the pandemic. Some found it a challenge to accept. Communities in Nebraska collectively turned down more than half a million dollars.

It has 77 students already signed up for its creative arts courses. 52 seniors and 25 juniors for the next school year have applied for the two-hour per day early career opportunity. LPS said it will choose 50 names at random for each grade.

Is it possible that COVID-19 cases in Nebraska have peaked? According to CDC data, COVID cases for the whole state are down nearly 12% since mid-January. UNMC’s Dr. James Lawler said that depends on what part of the state you’re asking about.

The Nebraska Public Power District agreed to pay $2.5 Million to the family of Kenny Angel. He died when Spencer Dam on the Niobrara River collapsed and flooded the family's property in March 2019. In their lawsuit, filed in Holt County District Court, the family blamed his death on the negligence of NPPD and the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources in failing to maintain the 93-year-old structure and failing to warn the public about the risk the dam posed the community.

In 2017, University of Nebraska Lincoln Political Science Professor Kevin Smith co-authored a study that asked a random sample of 800 people whether politics was a significant stressor in their lives. Categories covered physical health, mental health, regretted behavior, and social and lifestyle costs. For about 40% of respondents, the answer was yes. Last year, Smith issued the survey again to a different group of people, two weeks before and two weeks after the 2020 election, to see how things have changed. And he found, for the most part, people are as stressed out as ever about politics. Professor Smith joins me now to talk more about the study.

Nebraska hospitals are feeling the brunt of omicron right now, and the situation may look grim even after the state’s peak. "We're still in for a long haul here in terms of caring for Nebraskans in our hospitals," said Jeremy Nordquist, the president of the Nebraska Hospital Association. COVID hospitalizations tend to lag behind the cases. Whenever cases start to slow down, hospitals will remain busier in the weeks after.

Irvin Joseph Brown, 89, doesn’t have any known relatives or family. He was deployed in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and the Philippines. Later in life, he worked as a postman for 15 years before retiring in 1987.

100-year Questions Still Simmer Around Proposed Perkins Co. Canal

The 7-day average of 4,400 has never been higher at any point of the pandemic as omicron continues it’s spread. According to CDC data, cases are up 108% in the last two weeks. As the latest variant arrived in Nebraska later than more populous areas of the country, it will take longer for Nebraska to reach its peak level of spread.

The Grand Theatre in Downtown Lincoln will run two shows in theatres reserved for people who have been vaccinated. Showing a vaccination card and a photo I.D. will be required to enter.

The new report by state epidemiologist Matt Donahue and his team also concluded that boosted Nebraskans were 46 times less likely to be hospitalized compared to those unvaccinated. Those fully vaccinated – without a booster – were 11 times less likely to find themselves in a packed medical center.

Anthony's Steakhouse in Omaha is closing its doors, marking another tally for the steakhouses in the city that have shuttered.

The latest COVID data shows a slight dip in Nebraska cases and hospitalizations, but that doesn’t mean Nebraska has seen its peak quite yet. As of last Friday, the statewide 7-day average still stands at nearly 3,400 cases per day, according to the CDC. That’s down from a high of nearly 4,000 a day earlier.The state’s dashboard shows that, over the weekend, hospitalizations dropped by 32, to just above 640. And, across the state, hospital capacity remains between 20 and 30% free.

Small towns far from big cities rely upon federal grants to help them, but numerous definitions of what the government considers rural make that complicated.

The Bigfoot Crossroads of America Museum and Research Center in Hastings will be featured in the U.S. Library of Congress Archives.

Nationwide, COVID-19 disproportionately affected communities of color — in part because the U.S. relies on immigrant workers in food and agriculture.

Richard Charles Carson was 92 years old when he passed away on December 19th in Studio City, California. Carson was born the youngest of three children in Clarinda, Iowa in 1929. Later, his family settled in Norfolk, Nebraska where he graduated high school in 1947. Drew DeCamp is a registrar at the Elkhorn Valley Museum in Norfolk which features galleries of the Carson family. DeCamp said Dick Carson had a laid back personality, much like his older brother Johnny.

Methodist Hospital in Omaha reports nearly 180 healthcare workers out sick, which includes more than 50 nurses. Elective surgeries are being postponed or canceled currently at Methodist. Todd Consbruck is the president and CEO at Avera St. Anthony's Hospital in the northern Nebraska town of O’Neill. Consbruck says nurses and doctors in O’Neill are growing weary emotionally and physically due to pressure from the omicron variant.

Over one month ago, Lyons, Nebraska had brown tap water with high levels of iron and manganese. In the process of replacing filter beds at its treatment plant, a temporary filter system was put in place. That filter broke down and Lyons was forced to issue a boil water order. Now, Lyons is running water through its new filters at the treatment plant and the water passed a partial test by the state.

Douglas County's first Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer started working this week.

Omaha’s January 6th Vigil will be located at the College of Saint Mary’s fieldhouse and online. The event will start with a speech from the college’s president Maryanne Stevens, then a prayer and three songs to be performed by the Omaha Justice Choir. There will be three additional speakers after the music, each from Black Votes Matter, Civic Nebraska, and the Women’s Fund of Omaha.

The Nebraska Legislature began its 2022 session with proposals on abortion, guns, and other topics.

Thunder Valley Development Corporation Director Tatewin Means says transitional and supportive housing could serve 800-1,000 people at a time.

“I’m excited to see more trails and more options for people,” Lincoln cyclist Lorenz Taylor said, “especially you know if they can get something on the outskirts of town. I live in west Lincoln so if they can get something out there, I’d be super excited about that even more, instead of having to pack my bike up and go to the center part of town or the south side of town to hit a trail head.”

Jalene Carpenter is CEO of the Nebraska Healthcare Association and says closures occurred, in part, due to a lack of funding.Governor Ricketts reinstated an extra $20 per day payment to assisted living facilities starting early next year. But it’s too late for Arapahoe's assisted living facility, where Alan Thomas stays. His wife, Heidi is a teacher and works part-time as a registered nurse at Good Samaritan Society in Arapahoe.

The Nebraska State Fair and its stakeholders formed ‘The 1868 Foundation’ to deliver a remodeling proposal. In the plan released Wednesday, the foundation asked for $25 million from the state’s infrastructure fund to revamp its campus at Grand Island’s Fonner Park.

Heading into the holiday week, COVID-19 cases dropped 2% over the last two weeks. Hospitalizations are also down. The Nebraska Public Health Lab Right reports on average that omicron makes up less than 10% of COVID cases. However, the lab notes that could change dramatically in the coming days.

That changed, when the National Weather Service confirmed 22 tornadoes touched down in Nebraska from December 15th storms.The storms were a part of a ‘serial derecho,’ or a large band of hurricane-like thunderstorms. Forecasters say the storm’s destructive path began in central Nebraska, then moved northeast.

After an extended period of time with brown water, Lyons repaired its temporary, mobile filter. Terry Uding is the utilities manager for Lyons and said the amount of manganese in the town’s water has improved in the last week after mending its provisional filter.

Nebraska’s Department of Environment and Energy is discovering more information about the damaging effects of high levels of manganese in drinking water and asks municipalities to test for the toxin. Uding said fixing that issue and the like can be problematic.

COVID-19 cases statewide are rising to levels seen just before and after the state’s biggest peak last year. According to CDC data, more than 1,000 Nebraskans test positive each day. The last time Nebraska saw a 7-day average above 1,000: late October 2020 and early January 2021.

Two Nebraska state senators reflected on the state’s redistricting process on Tuesday at a University of Nebraska-Lincoln webinar, and they say it was the most partisan process they’ve seen in the legislature. As Will Bauer of Nebraska Public Media News reports, Senators Wendy DeBoer and Matt Williams are still happy with how it turned out.

On the 80th anniversary of the surprise Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the unidentified remains of 33 U.S. service members are being reinterred in a solemn military ceremony in Honolulu, Hawaii. It signals the wind down for a team of forensic anthropologists at Offutt Air Force Base whose work has helped positively identify more than 90-percent of the previously unknown crew who died on the U.S.S. Oklahoma.

A few hundred people packed into a Kearney conference center on Sunday to listen. What they heard was, for the most part, standard conservative answers on policy issues – ranging from rural broadband to reworking the state’s tax system.

Global Gaming Nebraska is an affiliate of the Chickasaw Nation. They expect decisions on its applications for two casinos to be handed down in approximately six months and could complete construction as soon as late 2023.

According to the health department, only one of the six people were vaccinated. The Nebraska Public Health Lab later confirmed the variant. Nebraska’s acting state epidemiologist Matt Donahue said the identification of omicron reinforces the urgency for Nebraskans to get vaccinated.

As of Tuesday, 555 Nebraskans were hospitalized with COVID-19. That’s an increase of 42 from one week ago. These numbers are similar to those seen one year ago – right before the pandemic reached its peak in the state.The difference between now and then is what else is going on in these hospitals. One year ago, elective surgeries weren’t happening and most were just focused on COVID. But, now, regular activities have resumed, and that’s strained hospitals..

Terry Uding works in utilities for Lyons, a town of about 800 people roughly 75 miles north of Omaha. Its tap water has recently turned a dark brown color at times. Uding said it's because of an old filtration system that needs replacing. Lyons is experiencing the pitfalls of supply chain delays and is working with a contractor to replace its filtration system.

Headed into Thanksgiving weekend, COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are on the climb in Nebraska. According to the state’s dashboard, COVID hospitalizations reached 513 Tuesday. That’s nearly 12% of the state’s beds. Hospitals, as a whole, remain strained but some pressure has subsided. Around 20% of both regular adult beds and ICUs are available statewide. ICUs had dropped to single digits last week.

The Executive Director of the Nebraska Commission on Latino-Americans will retire on Dec. 31, 2021 after 11 years of service.

After a drawn-out battle in federal court, a church in Walthill, Nebraska, may soon be able to build a church in the village's business district. The Light of the World Church, with the backing of the U.S. government, claimed the village board discriminated against a religious organization when it rejected its request for a change in zoning.

A total of 26-hundred acres have burned in Banner and Scotts Bluff counties. Numerous agencies have gathered in the Buffalo Creek Wildlife Management Area. The Banner County Fire Department and Nebraska Game and Parks continue to quench hotspots.

A simple text saying “summit” was sent as the five senators reached the highest peak in Africa. The team returned to the flat ground on Thursday Nebraska time. Republican Senator Tom Brewer planned the climb before four others asked to tag along. Anna Wishart, Justin Wayne, Dave Murman, and Ben Hansen, two democrats and two republicans, respectively, in the officially nonpartisan legislature. It’s as diverse racially as they are in political philosophy. Brewer is Native American and a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, and Senator Wayne is part African American, while the other three are white.Brewer said the Nebraska group hiked up the mountain alongside a much more limber group of people, compared to themselves.

Last year two Native American girls in Cody, Nebraska had their hair cut at school without their parents’ permission. That action prompted a First Amendment lawsuit in which the girls’ parents said their family’s religious rights were violated.

Last year two Native American girls in Cody, Nebraska had their hair cut at school without their parents’ permission. That action prompted a First Amendment lawsuit in which the girls’ parents said their family’s religious rights were violated.

Chadron State College became the first school in Nebraska to sponsor an NCAA sanctioned women's wrestling team. Chadron’s Director of Athletics, Joel Smith, did not believe the lack of competing teams was a reason to turn away this new sport. He saw it as an opportunity. Adding a new sport had the advantage of being a good business decision.

CDC stats show that COVID cases are up nearly 20% over the past two weeks in Nebraska. The Cornhusker State is among many northern states seeing increases. Overall, cases are up 18% nationwideCOVID hospitalizations are increasing too. Active hospitalizations increased to 477 statewide on Tuesday, which is nearly 11% of the state's beds. At the same time last week, there were 415.

Chamber of Commerce leaders from the state and nation discussed today (Wednesday) how Nebraska could benefit from the hard infrastructure bill recently passed by Congress. As Will Bauer of Nebraska Public Media News reports, those Chamber leaders believe the state could see projects during the next construction season.

President Joe Biden and CMS announced a COVID-19 vaccine mandate earlier this month for all healthcare workers. The rule applies to institutions receiving Medicare or Medicaid funding. Hospitals are expected to comply or federal financial support will be revoked. The mandate affects 17 million workers across the country.

Justin Nix is a professor of criminology and criminal justice at UNO and said most states analyze officer-involved shootings by only looking at fatal shootings. He explained why that’s problematic. “You might actually be drawing conclusions based on the differences in the likelihood of mortality, than in differences in police behavior,” Nix said. “So, to get a more accurate understanding of the behavior, police shootings, we need data on all police shootings, because at the end of the day, I would hope we’d all want to minimize police shootings to the extent possible.”

Since the United States pulled military operations out of Afghanistan and the Taliban took control of the country in late August, 290 refugees have begun the process of relocating to Nebraska, and 191 migrants remain at military bases, but are prepared to depart for the Lincoln-Omaha area.

Meaghan Stout was 16 years old when she first learned she was being paid less than a man. She was the head hostess at Round the Bend Steakhouse, in Ashland, Nebraska, training a younger employee. The two were bantering about some of the more frustrating parts of the job when he mentioned his pay."The only reason why I'm still here is because I make $11 an hour." he said, according to Stout,. She said she didn't believe it. "No you don't," she replied. "Yeah, I do," he said. Armed with that information, Stout asked for a raise and got it.Speaking to the owner of the restaurant, she found out that the kitchen manager had given raises to the male workers, but not to the women. Even after getting the raise, Stout said she was mad at the kitchen manager for giving her co-worker that raise so early in his time on the job. The new employee had a fraction of her experience, but was compensated more because he was friends with the kitchen manager. “It was kind of depressing to only be barely in high school and finding out really quickly that things like that actually happen,” Stout said. Now 23, Stout has left that job behind, but the experience has made her more willing to ask how much people are compensated for the work that they do. Stout’s experience is reflected in federal data, academic research and the lives of many Nebraska women. According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Nebraska women make about 80 cents for every dollar a man makes.. This pay disparity, known as the wage gap, persists after decades of women fully participating in the labor force – and even 50 years after women were guaranteed equal access to education after the passage of Title IX. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt America’s relationship to work, gender differences in pay stubbornly remain.

On Veteran’s Day, Nebraskans are paying homage to all our veterans, including Mexican-Americans in the Panhandle. Three new monuments with some 600 names engraved in stone will be revealed in Scottsbluff.

Nearly 50 years after Congress passed Title IX to protect students from sexual discrimination, outcries about sexual violence at the University of Nebraska Lincoln are still present. Also looming: Ten women are suing the school as part of two lawsuits. They allege the university’s Title IX office mishandled their reports of sexual misconduct.

A groundbreaking 1995 lawsuit demanding girls softball in Minden set a gender equity precedent nationally. A mother and her daughter sued in federal to include girl's softball and force improvement of facilities and treatment of girl athletes.

The state of Nebraska ( along with more than a dozen other states) has joined onto Tennessee lawsuit that questions whether the Biden Administration has the authority to expand Title IX protections to include transgender students and staff. I talk with the daughter of a transgender student, Governor Pete Ricketts and several lawyers to help outline the state's position, it's opposition and what's at stake for transgender students if the lawsuit were to succeed.

The evolution of Nebraska’s Volleyball team may be the most visible effect of Title IX in Nebraska. By providing more funding and access to facilities, the team grew into a national powerhouse. Two of the team’s founders – Nancy Colson and Terry Pettit – discuss what the early days of Title IX was like.

Four decades ago, a town in Kansas and a town in Colorado competed to become home to a giant meatpacking plant that, at the time, was the largest of its kind in the world. Here’s what has happened to them since.

The Genoa Indian School in Nebraska closed in the 1930's, but the known death toll of children at the school is still growing. Nebraska Public Media's Jackie Ourada has more on the latest research into one of the country's largest Native American boarding schools and who might be buried there.

Peterson says his office will not criminally pursue any abusers because the statute of limitations has expired. Those are legal frameworks that set when a criminal action must be taken. Still, Peterson has a message to churches. “Don’t ever put the reputation of your association, your church organization, above protecting the children," he said.

Hospitalizations are up 6.5% over the past two weeks, according to state data. Currently, 417 beds in Nebraska are occupied. That's just more than 10% of the state’s capacity – which may mean the state could update COVID data daily instead of weekly if hospitalizations stay above the 10% threshold.

Because Nebraska is so dependent on agriculture, a sector that relies on exports and imports, Ernie Goss says the supply chain problems could hurt the local economy. In all, though, the ag economy keeps growing, he says.

Then, he was able to draw inspiration recently from a book called ‘The Portable Nietzsche,’ to write the song he submitted.“The song that I submitted ‘Overman’ was one of the first that I wrote, as I read the book from which the song sort of imagery and inspiration is taken,” Siebler said.

It’ll be adding about 23,000 square-feet to its total floor area. The Museum of Nebraska Art, or MONA for short, will be overhauling its existing space, to supplement the sizable addition. Nicole Herden is the Executive Director at MONA and said visitors will have more options for enjoying the museum with added gardens and other lounging areas.

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month and Breast Cancer Awareness Month the California-based John Wayne Cancer Foundation funded a program to increase breast cancer research and awareness in Latina women from the Omaha metro area.

The focus groups aim to stimulate conversation about health status and barriers to healthcare for Native Americans, Hispanic people, African Americans, and people 65 and older.

Kinkead’s ashes were recently discovered in Seattle through the ‘Missing in America Project’ where he passed away in 1916. John Surman with the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War said it's special for his organization to be able to return Kinkead’s remains to Plattsmouth.“I think any Veteran has a right, and I don’t care what war they were in, to have a proper burial,” Surman said. “It’s the very least that we owe them, and we actually owe them a lot more than that.”

Tourism isn't one of the biggest money makers for the state of Nebraska, but implementing the newer market of astrotourism could change that. Author and dark sky enthusiast, Marlin, traveled to Nebraska to talk about the opportunity lying under our skies.

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Some of the 480 striking employees at the Omaha Kellogg's factory will return to work Tuesday. The union's president says the workers could have faced consequences for not honoring their contracts with the cereal company.

Over the last two weeks, according to the CDC, cases in Nebraska are down 13 percent. That’s a drop from an average of 650 cases per day to an average of 560 cases. Nebraska’s cases reflect a broader nationwide drop from the Delta variant. Hospitalizations are also headed down. The Nebraska Dept. of Health and Human Services tallies 375 hospitalizations as of Sunday. During the peak of Delta, hospitalizations climbed to about 450. The strain on the state’s hospital system also appears to be waning. More than 31 percent of regular adult beds are available in Nebraska hospitals. Just 22 percent had been free at the beginning of the month. The 7-day average for vaccinations also saw a slight uptick in the past couple days. About 1,800 people receive a dose each day. With booster shots being rolled out, it’s expected the number of doses given may rise just as it did in the spring.

At the latest check, CDC stats for the state have the 7-day average of cases down 5% from the week before. As of last Friday, that was about 640 cases. Hospitalizations, too, have plateaued. According to the state, 411 Nebraskans are hospitalized with the virus. Hospital capacity statewide remains strained. Between 20-25% of hospital beds remain open because of the pandemic and regular operations. In all, nearly 68% of the population older than 12 has a vaccine. Another 5% is partially protected.

Bill Ogg is the executive director of the state fair, and said some proposed improvements to the fair’s campus at Fonner Park in Grand Island have sorted themselves to the top. “The improvement of the equine stabling, particularly for Fonner Park Racing,” he said. “The expansion of livestock exhibition facilities...

Western Nebraskans are still struggling from wildfires, but one rancher from Banner County wants to help the community by throwing a rodeo benefit Saturday.

“The goal of the development is to provide housing for retirees and for Lincoln’s international community,” she said, “and other amenities on property that the university owns and has been underutilized for almost two decades.”The university purchased the lot back in 2003, and has used it for staging construction crews.

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Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, some rural Nebraska communities haven’t stopped nurturing their downtowns to become places they’re proud to call home. Town leaders, business owners, and residents are flipping the script, hoping to attract newcomers and keep their youth, even in tough times.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, some rural Nebraska communities haven’t stopped nurturing their downtowns to become places they’re proud to call home. Town leaders, business owners, and residents are flipping the script, hoping to attract newcomers and keep their youth, even in tough times.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, some rural Nebraska communities haven’t stopped nurturing their downtowns to become places they’re proud to call home. Town leaders, business owners, and residents are flipping the script, hoping to attract newcomers and keep their youth, even in tough times.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, some rural Nebraska communities haven’t stopped nurturing their downtowns to become places they’re proud to call home. Town leaders, business owners, and residents are flipping the script, hoping to attract newcomers and keep their youth, even in tough times.

A farmer in Bayard (BAY-yerd), Nebraska, near Scottsbluff, is doing something unique for October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Aaron Bonderson of Nebraska Public Media News has more on a Halloween plant turned pink.

The Nebraska Legislature gave second-round approval Tuesday to redistricting bills, and senators discussed nursing mothers and gender pronouns.

Friends and family of fallen Omaha-area Marine Corporal Daegan Page paid their final respects Friday in an emotional funeral service near where he grew up. The send-off honored a young man who was killed by a suicide bomb blast in Afghanistan last month.

The Biden plan has 775 refugees from Afghanistan resettling in Nebraska, mostly in Lincoln and Omaha but in other parts of the state as well, including Grand Island, Kearney, Hastings and North Platte. Chris Tonniges is the CEO of Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska and said expanding the area where refugees can end up is going to help.

Leta Powell Drake, known for her work in Nebraska television, theatre and the arts, passed away Wednesday morning at the age of 83. She was the host of a popular children's program and acted in many local plays. Here son, Aaron Drake, calls her "a daughter of Nebraska."

Cather’s sculpture will be on display as part of the National Statuary Hall Collections at the United States Capitol in Washington D-C. Ashley Olson is with the National Willa Cather Center in Cather’s hometown of Red Cloud, Nebraska. She said along with Chief Standing Bear’s new statue at the Capitol, Cather’s statue is exciting for Nebraskans.

The effort to bring Medical Marijuana to Nebraska is entering its 7th year, a fight that has had many twists and turns, but no resolution yet. Nebraska Public Media’s William Padmore talked with both supporters and critics about how the process is evolving and where it goes from here

A Marine from Omaha, who was killed in Afghanistan two weeks ago returned home Friday. Corporal Daegan Page, who grew up in the Millard area, arrived at Eppley Airfield on a military flight and was taken by police escort to a funeral home in Millard.

A Marine from Omaha, who was killed in Afghanistan two weeks ago returned home Friday. Corporal Daegan Page, who grew up in the Millard area, arrived at Eppley Airfield on a military flight and was taken by police escort to a funeral home in Millard.

The 20th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks will be a difficult day for many. This month, an exhibit at the Quilt Museum hopes to show how memorializing a loss through art can be cathartic as well as heart-breaking.In 2015, The Quilt Museum became the home for the United in Memory 9/11 Victims Memorial Quilt. Nine of the quilts will be on display, along with other quilts created as a way to cope with monumental loss.The exhibit, Trying to Make Sense of It: 9/11, Loss, and Memorial Quilts, remains on display through October 16. The curator, Jonathan Gregory, explained, "quilts have been used uniquely throughout the generations and right up to today to acknowledge those losses, to try to establish some sort of a memory and to help us make sense of it."

US Space Command official reflects on 9/11 attacks

US Strategic Command official remembers 9/11 attacks

Jim Conrad served as the Chief of Intelligence at the National Airborne Operation Center at US Strategic Command on 9/11. He reflects on the lessons learned from 9/11 and how the attacks changed crisis preparations.

The City of Lincoln recently swore in their new police chief. Teresa Ewins (Ter-EE-Sah YOU-ins) joins the Lincoln Police Department after spending 26 years as part of the San Francisco Police Department. Nebraska Public Media News’s William Padmore spoke with Ewins about her policing strategy, the challenges of labels, and more

Dr. Mark Kyriss, US Strategic Command Chief of Defense Policy, reflects on 9/11 and lessons learned from the September attacks

With the 20th Anniversary of the September 11th terror attacks coming up. Nebraska Public Media News reporter William Padmore spoke with members of Nebraska’s Islamic community about what it was like growing up in the “9/11 era” of American history. Norhan Basma is a 22-year-old first-generation American and her father, Hesham is 56 and originally from Cairo, Egypt

Immigrants, refugees, and asylees are sometimes thought to be very resilient people. And they are.. they’ve overcome abuse, trauma, and tragedy in their lives, but they still need help processing the trauma. The Center for Legal Immigration Assistance in Lincoln helps immigrants who are victims of crime apply for visas, and heal their mental health wounds.

The team will investigate cases where an officer uses force and ‘serious bodily injury or death’ occurs. Members of the Sarpy County Attorney’s Office, Sarpy County Sheriff’s Department, and the Papillion, Bellevue, and La Vista Police Departments make up the unit.

An organization that helps resettle refugees from other countries says it expects upwards of 100 families to arrive in Nebraska from Afghanistan, some of them as soon as this week. Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska assists refugees with immediate necessities, like food and clothing, but also with more long-term housing and employment needs. President and CEO Chris Tonniges said the arrivals of refugees from Afghanistan could happen fairly quickly.

Prisoners are sometimes thought of as throwaways in society who could re-offend when they’re released. But one program based in Lincoln and Omaha doesn’t believe that. The Community Justice Center recently celebrated 20 years of helping over 11,000 prisoners and probationers in Nebraska work to repair the harm they’ve caused.

A community blood drive is underway to honor fallen Lincoln Police Officer Mario Herrera in Lincoln. Investigator Herrera was shot one year ago this week and lived until September 7. A year later, Lincoln Police Department and Fire and Rescue are holding a blood drive during the same period, called ‘12 Days of Hope.’

A suicide bomber reportedly killed civilians and injured U.S servicemen outside the Kabul (Kah-bull)l airport in Afghanistan today (Thursday). As the August 31st. deadline for a withdrawal of US troops approaches, the situation in the country seems to be becoming more desperate every day. I talked to Congressman Don Bacon about the ongoing evacuation, how the effectiveness of nation-building, and whether the US will ever recognize the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan.

In Arnold, there is only one reliable internet provider – but even then, it’s sometimes not good enough. For Carson, the issue is not just one of comfort but of trying to grow her small town. CHERYL 3: “Those kinds of jobs that you could get working from home, while the kids are at school, that could be a really important thing for some families to be able to do stuff like just as if you were in a larger community.” (0:10)NUTGRAF: If you ask, you quickly learn that broadband is not just a nice thing to have but, rather, a necessity in today’s way of life – even in the most remote parts of the state. It’s places and towns like these in rural Nebraska that could stand to gain the most from reliable internet and programs that make that happen.Expanding high speed internet access in Nebraska is not a new subject. STUBBENDIECK 4: “Ok, Governor Ricketts, my first question is why is broadband or high speed internet so important to the state of Nebraska in your opinion?” (0:06)RICKETTS 5: “Well, one of the key things for us with regard to broadband is that it really facilitates many of the things that we take for granted in more of our urban areas.” (0:12)Earlier this month, AARP Nebraska hosted a tele-town hall with Gov. Ricketts to talk about broadband. AARP polling found that nearly 80 percent of Nebraska voters 50 and older believe elected officials should work to make high speed internet available to the entire state.

The 2021 Nebraska State Fair is so close you can almost smell the funnel cakes cooking. Nebraska Public Media sat down with Fair Executive Director Bill Ogg at his office in Grand Island to talk about expectations for this year’s fair, how the pandemic will affect proceedings, and how the organization is moving forward after the former finance director was accused of stealing around $150,000 in funds.

Sharon Brodkey, with Lutheran Family Services, talks about preparations underway to welcome and resettle refugees fleeing Afghanistan.

Repairs will begin soon on the gold-tiled Nebraska Capitol dome and other parts of the iconic building

Repairs will begin soon on the gold-tiled Nebraska Capitol dome and other parts of the iconic building

Clean-up continues after the huge Garth Brooks concert at Memorial Stadium over the weekend. Matt Davidson is an Associate Athletic Director for UNL and former Husker football player. He said there was no major damage to the stadium following the concert but there was more trash to cleanup compared to a typical football Saturday.

Greg Bay lost his four-year old son, Tyler, to a rare form of brain cancer in 1999. Now, Bay works for Bristol-Myers Squibb, which leads a biking fundraiser called ‘Coast 2 Coast 4 Cancer,’ which benefits the ‘V Foundation.’

Garth talked with the Nebraska media a couple of hours ago about playing in Lincoln, country music fans in this state, and what those fans can expect to see Saturday night.

A unique memorial ceremony was held at the Lincoln Police Station Tuesday morning to honor fallen Investigator Mario Herrera who passed away on September 7, 2020.“End of Watch Ride to Remember” is the name of a motorcycle tour put together by an organization called “Beyond the Call of Duty.” This is the second year of the tour. Jagrut Shah is the founder of the organization and he says they will visit 194 police departments across the country to honor officers who died in 2020.

Finding hundreds of unmarked graves at indigenous schools in Canada has sparked an investigation into similar schools in the U.S., including one in Genoa, Nebraska

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) recently hired a Senior Associate Athletic Director for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Dr. Lawrence Chatters. Nebraska Public Media News spoke with Dr. Chatters about diversity and its relation to UNL athletics and college athletics as a whole.

A historic hospital in Walthill, Nebraska is being restored. The facility was built by a local Northeast Nebraska doctor in 1912.Dr. Susan LaFlesche Picotte became the first Native American female physician in the nation in 1889. ‘Dr. Susan,’ as she was affectionately referred to, raised money with help from a local church to build the ‘Picotte Center’ hospital, making it the first built on a reservation without federal funding.

Yazidi refugees in Nebraska face language barriers, social stigma, and economic hardships, but the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the issues. Local groups and researchers are trying to help alleviate the barriers.

The University of Nebraska Medical Center has a new endowed professor and director for its American Indian Health Department in its College of Public Health. Jackie Ourada, with Nebraska Public Media News, spoke with Dr. Siobhan Wescott, who hopes to address Native American health and healing in her new role.

COVID-19 cases are trending in the wrong direction, and Nebraska infectious disease experts point to the Delta variant as the lead suspect in the state. Will Bauer of Nebraska Public Media News reports. The pandemic had reached all-time lows just over one month ago. Cases stood in the high 20s, but now the Delta variant has come on strongly in the state. COVID cases are up 42% in the past week. From over one month ago, cases are up 440%. Dr. Angela Hewlett is the Medical Director of the Nebraska Biocontainment

Five rodeo competitors comment on how they believe rodeo is different from other sports. One person says it's because of how friendly everyone is, while others point to taking care of animals as being far different than other sports.

Athletes from Mexico and Canada traveled to Lincoln over the last couple weeks to compete in the National High School Finals Rodeo. Most of Team Mexico’s competitors drove about 20 hours north. Some of them flew and so did a member of Team Saskatchewan, Canada. It costs a lot of money to bring a horse along international travel.

Navy 1st class sailor Louis Tushla died aboard the U.S.S. Oklahoma during the 1941 Japanese Pearl Harbor attack. Late last week, he returned home to Atkinson with a State Patrol and American legion motorcycle escort from Offutt Air Force Base. Tushla’s remains were unidentified until last September when scientists at Offutt’s Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency lab helped confirm his identity with DNA testing and forensic anthropological analysis.

A couple athletes said they were excited and thankful for the opportunity to meet new people. The High School Finals Rodeo starts on Sunday and ends on July 24. Athletes from 44 states, Mexico and Canada are a part of the events next week.

An online petition created by a Nebraska educator is racking up millions of signatures online. Travis Washington is calling for a 15-year sentencing minimum for law enforcement officers who shoot unarmed civilians. His idea for the ‘Hands Up Act’ sprouted before 2018, but it was in December of that year when he officially drafted his online proposal through Change.org.More than 2.7 million people have signed the ‘Hands Up Act’ petition so far, making it one of the most-signed petitions on the online platform.

In the small town of Bee, about 40 minutes outside of Lincoln, Lou & Mary Anne’s Bar is famous for its year long Friday fish fry. The bar is closing after nearly five decades.

In the small town of Bee, about 40 minutes outside of Lincoln, Lou & Mary Anne’s Bar is famous for its year long Friday fish fry. The bar is closing after nearly five decades.

The hearing to determine whether twenty-seven-year-old Bailey Boswell will be the first woman to be sentenced to death in Nebraska opened this morning at the Saline County Courthouse. A jury found the woman guilty of assisting Aubrey Trail with killing and dismembering Sydney Loofe in the couple’s apartment in Wilber.Boswell’s attorney, Todd Lancaster, told the court he intends to raise questions about whether the Nebraska’s prison system has the capability of housing an individual woman in isolation without violating the constitutional prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment.

Young dancers from various Nebraska ballet companies piled into the Lied Center's main stage today (Wednesday), in preparation for a class with a Master of Dance. The session was taught by Carlos Gonzales, a dancer with the prestigious New York-based American Ballet Theatre company, which is in town this week to kick off its ABT Across America Tour

Law enforcement, others honor proprietor of Monowi Tavern for 50 years of service

Investigators in La Vista in the Omaha area say DNA from on an umbrella found near the apartment of a boy missing for more than a month has been identified as his. It's the latest lead in a frustrating case.

There were rainbows, floats, and music during the Capitol City’s First Annual Pride Parade Saturday

Will Brown was brutally dragged through Omaha’s streets in 1919 and then murdered by a white mob for an alleged rape he didn’t’ commit. On eve of Juneteenth, city, county and civil rights leaders unveiled a historical marker in front of a crowd of around 500 people telling the gruesome story of his death.

A meeting of the Coordinating Council for the Learning Community of Douglas and Sarpy Counties provided an opportunity for supporters and opponents to discuss critical race theory

For the first time in more than twenty years the historic Carillon bells of First Plymouth Congregational Church in Lincoln have fallen silent.Nebraska Public Media News has more on the bells and the woman who plays them.

A new report argues the Midwest is much more welcoming to certain types of immigrants than stereotypes -- or political rhetoric -- suggests. Heartland Forward, an Arkansas-based think tank, says demographic shifts will soon turn the heartland, which the organization defines as the 20 states between the Rockies and the Appalachians, into a truly global place with a mix of cultures.“Some might refer to it as a flyover country,” Heartland’s CEO Ross DeVol said, “but if it were a separate country it would be the third largest economy in the world.”

The students will meet everyday until Wednesday. They will debate bills that were brought up during the latest legislative session. Committee hearing rooms at the state capitol are the main sites of debate. Many of the students are interested in continue on a path in politics.

Nebraska has a youth poet laureate from Lincoln East High School. Nebraska Public Media News talks more about the poet’s life and art.

There was a golfing clinic and tournament near Omaha on Thursday morning. Visually impaired and blind people were given the opportunity to learn the game. They practiced putting, chipping, and went to the driving range.

Aubrey Trail is headed for Nebraska’s Death Row. A three-judge panel in Saline County determined Trail should die by Lethal injection. The 54-year-old was convicted of first-degree murder. He and his girlfriend Baily Boswell lured 24-year-old Sydney Loofe to their apartment in Wilber in 2019 where they killed and dismembered the woman. Lauren Dietrich With Nebraska Public Media reports from the Saline County Courhouse.Three years after Sydney Loofe’s murder, Aubrey Trail said he wanted to tell the truth. Brought to court in a wheelchair, Trail asked Judge Vicky Johnson for an opportunity to speak to the family of the woman he murdered. He said Loofe had never willingly been involved in any of the sexual escapades Trail claimed to have been involved with during multiple, contradictory confessions. Trail says nearly everything he said in previous cases was a lie.

After missing in action for over 70 years, a soldier killed during World War II will finally rest in his hometown in Giltner, in south central Nebraska.The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency was able to identify the soldier through DNA testing in February.

Regulated Bare Knuckle Boxing and Kickboxing matches can now be held in Nebraska alongside mixed Martial Martial Arts and other combat sports. Nebraska Public Media takes a behind the scenes look at the people who led the push to bring the sports to the Cornhusker State

Virtually everyone in Nebraska drives a car to get around, but what about the refugees who didn’t grow up behind the wheel, who now have to learn how to drive, but can’t even speak English? Juniper Refuge, a small non-profit in Lincoln, is teaching women refugees how to drive, but also build lasting friendships.

There are still very few clues in the disappearance of an autistic La Vista boy two weeks ago as investigators continue to look for any new leads in the case. The search for 11-year-old Ryan Larsen has been frustrating for the hundreds of people on the look-out for him.

More Nebraskans are getting COVID vaccinations and breaking free after more than a year of masking up and public health lockdowns. Meanwhile, a Lincoln woman is still doing her part to chronicle the pandemic's ups and downs through music. U-N-L Broadcast Journalism Professor Barney McCoy reports on Laura Deitchler's crusade to keep the music and its meaning alive for her neighbors during the pandemic.

More Nebraskans are getting COVID vaccinations and breaking free after more than a year of masking up and public health lockdowns. Meanwhile, a Lincoln woman is still doing her part to chronicle the pandemic's ups and downs through music. U-N-L Broadcast Journalism Professor Barney McCoy reports on Laura Deitchler's crusade to keep the music and its meaning alive for her neighbors during the pandemic.

With some companies in Nebraska’s most populous cities moving out of offices during the pandemic, some worry what will happen to the barren buildings now that life is returning to normal. But, as Nebraska Public Media’s Will Bauer reports, the vacant spaces don’t necessarily mean gloom and doom for downtowns in the state’s biggest cities.Todd Ogden’s standing on the corner of 13th and N streets in Lincoln. There are some empty buildings in capital city’s downtown, with lease signs in windows nearby. It’s changing, he says. But’s it’s not a change that worries the head of Lincoln’s Downton Association because what’s leaving is being replaced – just in a new way. In a post pandemic world, many businesses are reconsidering their traditional office spaces. Real estate brokers and experts say this is a pivotal moment for the future of office and work life. A lot of companies are to be determined on the future of their physical space. And that still leaves questions about what impacts that could have on cities – and, particularly, downtown areas. If the trend continues – and many companies decide to ditch an expensive lease – what happens to a bustling downtown over lunch hour?

Last year, the COVID-19 pandemic forced many small towns to cancel large festivals that they depend on for tourism. As some communities are holding these festivals again, Harvest Public Media’s Katie Peikes reports what this means for small towns.

The Bay Skatepark, a favorite after-school hangout spot for Lincoln kids, will soon be a school for creatives and artists. Bay High is a collaborative focus program between Lincoln Public Schools and non profit Rabble Mill set to open in fall 2022.

After nearly 80 years, the remains of a fallen hero of the Pearl Harbor attack will finally be put to rest in the town of Harvard, near Hastings Saturday, May 15. The USS Oklahoma Project has identified more than 100 of the ship’s casualties since 2017 through DNA testing.

Country music superstar Garth Brooks will perform at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln this August. It’s the first concert in the stadium in 34 years. NET reports on the economic impact to the town.

It’s been almost six decades since a military charter flight carrying 93 highly trained soldiers disappeared over the Pacific Ocean between Guam and the Philippines. Flying Tiger Line Flight 739 was never found, but the families of those aboard, including one from Nebraska, will get some closure Saturday in the form of a unique memorial in the woods of Maine.

Months after his dad, Investigator Mario Herrera, died in the line of duty, Carlos Herrera will be joining the Lincoln Police Department this June.The announcement came two days before the fallen officer’s birthday and a week before Law Enforcement Memorial Week.

After Chief Standing Bear’s landmark civil rights case to recognize American Indians as people, he gifted a ceremonial tomahawk to his attorney more than 140 years ago. Now, the tomahawk is in the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology at Harvard University. Nebraska lawmakers are joining an effort, drafting a resolution, to return the tomahawk to the Ponca Tribe.

The remnants of Spencer Dam have remain scattered in the river after the dam failed and broke apart more than two years ago – as many different locations across cross the state flooded following a massive winter storm. Ice rubble on the Niobrara River broke up the 93-year-old dam, and one man, Kenny Angel, died in the aftermath of the collapse.The dam’s owner – the Nebraska Public Power District – has now received funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to officially decommission the dam two years later.“Let’s make it clear: We do not plan to rebuild," said Mark Becker, a NPPD spokesperson.

It’s a unique hunt that many Nebraskans look forward to every year, and it doesn’t involve animals. Morel mushrooms are hollow and sponge-like and are also edible and highly coveted. Searching for the elusive mushrooms is like a treasure hunt along river bottoms in eastern Nebraska.

A 50-state survey among adults under 40 shows 1 in 10 of them don’t remember ever hearing the word “Holocaust,” where 6 millions Jews were killed in World War 2. Among them were Curt and Regina Schönwald whose son and grandsons lived in Lincoln. Lincoln High School is performing a play based on the family’s experience.

An iconic collection of classic cars in a small central Nebraska town is going up for auction starting Wednesday. They’re part of what was known as “Chevyland U.S.A”, a car museum just off Interstate 80 about 15 miles west of Kearney.

If you’ve recently gotten your COVID-19 vaccination and then get an e-mail or text asking you to take a survey afterward, beware, it could be a scam.The FBI is reporting scammers are posing as the big drug companies, Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson and sending out surveys to people who have had their vaccinations asking for follow-up information.

An Idaho-based artist is creating a public sculpture of the first Native American doctor in the U.S. Last week, the Nebraska Capitol Environs Commission approved the sculpture by Benjamin Victor to be placed at Centennial Mall and M Street in Lincoln this fall.

The shooting of eight people, including six Asians in Atlanta shocked Jueyezi “Rebecca” Reinhardt and the entire community at the Asian Community and Cultural Center. Reinhardt is the Cultural Program Coordinator for the cultural center and said local Asian organizations are coming together to support each other

This St. Patrick’s Day Irish bars and restaurants want guests to have fun but stay safe.

A Nebraska civil rights advisory committee is recommending all Nebraska high schools phase out the use of Native American mascots. The committee says it's time to move on from what it calls harmful and racist stereotypes that are no longer acceptable.

The father of a teenager from Blair, Nebraska who was shot and killed by police in Oklahoma last month says he hopes to spread his daughter’s message and turn a tragedy into something that will help others.

A career project was a finalist in Lincoln’s 2020 Google.org Impact Challenge. Organizers won $300,000 through two grants to help change immigrants and refugees’ lives statewide.The CareerLadder project connects skilled engineers, lawyers, nurses, accountants, and educators from abroad to similar careers in Nebraska

Dr. Robert Penn of Omaha's Methodist Hospital discusses treating Nebraska's first coronavirus patient, Terra Uhing, executive director at Three Rivers Public Health Department, recalls being informed her district may have had dozens of exposures to the virus, and Jerry Rinne of the Fremont YMCA talks about discovering events at his facility were at risk of being the first 'super spreader' event in the state

After opening 17 years ago, Bayard’s only grocery closes. The Western Nebraska city is coming together to find a solution to keep the town’s food options alive.

Syionna Conner is one of four black students in Roncalli Catholic High School’s senior class. She says she noticed the predominantly white high school in Omaha didn’t really do anything for Black History Month last year, and wanted to take action this month through announcements, games, and food.

In his first 100 days as president, President Joe Biden revoked the Trump administration’s travel ban on people from majority-Muslim countries and vowed to increase the number of refugees allowed in the US. Refugees and resettlement agencies in Nebraska are hopeful for the future.

Congressman Fortenberry Works To Esnure College-Owned Venues Like the Lied Center Get COVID Relief

Despite the pandemic and a stretch of very cold weather, Girl Scout cookie booths opened this weekend in Nebraska. Girl Scouts across the state aren’t slowing down as they continue a long tradition.