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Humanities Desk

English, Humanities, 1 season, 394 episodes, 20 hours, 36 minutes
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A weekly audio special that looks at life and culture in Nebraska through history, literature, religion, and art.
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Refugee resettlement agencies look ahead to a busy year

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.
2/2/20244 minutes, 39 seconds
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Bill aims to stop discrimination against firearm industry

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.
2/2/20241 minute, 52 seconds
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UNL researchers test roadside barriers against heavy EVs

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.
2/1/20241 minute, 47 seconds
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Bill could make it easier to remove signature from petition

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.
2/1/20241 minute, 35 seconds
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Blood begins campaign for Congress

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.
1/28/20241 minute, 16 seconds
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Gender care regulations advance, but some comments left unheard

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.
1/25/20241 minute, 26 seconds
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Ride along with one of Lincoln’s snowplow drivers

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.”
1/22/20244 minutes, 48 seconds
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State employees union asks judge to hold state in contempt

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.
1/19/20241 minute, 37 seconds
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Omaha Democrat Preston Love kicks off Senate campaign

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.
1/17/20241 minute, 3 seconds
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LES prepared for frigid temps during Nebraska cold spell

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.
1/16/20241 minute, 21 seconds
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CHI Health, Creighton set up phone line to study long COVID

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.
1/15/202450 seconds
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Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

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.
1/15/202452 seconds
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Food bank opens on holiday unscheduled

Due to the heavy winter storms this past weekend, some community resources have had to shift their plans
1/15/202440 seconds
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Snow, wind and cold blast Nebraska for second time this week

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.
1/12/20241 minute, 23 seconds
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Regulation of midwives considered by Nebraska Supreme Court

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.
1/10/20241 minute, 18 seconds
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Pillen, Stothert announce state funding for industrial park site

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.
1/10/20241 minute, 30 seconds
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Stratton lumberyard closing after more than 80 years in business

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.”
1/10/20244 minutes, 32 seconds
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Snow removal efforts underway after winter storm

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.
1/9/20241 minute, 38 seconds
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Crete Citizenship Classes

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.
1/8/202450 seconds
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City of Lincoln and Native Americans settle 20 month court fight

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.
1/5/20245 minutes, 13 seconds
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Business owners react to Nebraska’s 2024 minimum wage increase

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.
1/2/20241 minute, 32 seconds
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The sights and sounds of Toyland: Lincoln families pick out gift

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.
12/22/20234 minutes, 55 seconds
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Reflecting on 2023 with Reporter Jolie Peal

Reporter Jolie Peal talks about first year covering education for Nebraska Public Media.
12/21/20234 minutes, 29 seconds
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Reflecting on 2023 with Reporter Elizabeth Rembert

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.
12/20/20234 minutes, 1 second
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End of Year Interview with Kassidy Arena

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.
12/19/20234 minutes, 53 seconds
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Husker Volleyball swept by Texas in NCAA National Championship

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.
12/18/20231 minute, 28 seconds
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A woman in Lincoln expands business through local classes

A woman in Lincoln is finding ways to grow her business by participating in local classes with ECHO Collective and Doane University.
12/15/20231 minute, 14 seconds
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Western Kansas cities are turning to AI to help their economies

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.
12/14/20234 minutes, 3 seconds
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Indigenous sewing group empowers and heals

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.
12/13/20234 minutes, 22 seconds
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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. holds campaign event in Lincoln

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.
12/13/20231 minute, 28 seconds
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Attorneys give closing arguments in Ramos murder trial

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.
12/12/20232 minutes, 12 seconds
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NAPE pushes back against Pillen order requiring return to office

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.
12/7/20231 minute, 23 seconds
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NCIA still working on how to honor children who died in Genoa

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.
12/4/20231 minute, 21 seconds
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First of its kind fashion show will promote healing

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.
11/30/202351 seconds
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Schools grappling with student cellphone use

Nebraska schools are wrestling with the problem of cellphones distracting students.
11/30/20231 minute, 31 seconds
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Nebraska communities prepare for warmer, wetter conditions

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.
11/27/20231 minute, 21 seconds
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The journey of Omaha’s official Christmas tree

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.
11/21/20234 minutes, 27 seconds
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Santee Clean Water Pipeline Update

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.
11/20/20232 minutes, 13 seconds
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Nebraska students expand knowledge with All State Music

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.
11/20/20233 minutes, 38 seconds
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Ramos Trial Begins

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.
11/16/20231 minute, 10 seconds
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Nebraska homeschool numbers lower than pandemic peak

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.
11/15/20231 minute, 12 seconds
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Tri-Faith Initiative supports one another through war impact

“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.
11/13/20234 minutes, 7 seconds
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Meet Nebraska's first wheelchair cross country athlete

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.
11/2/20234 minutes, 44 seconds
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Nebraska's Deputy Secretary of Elections Testifies at US Senate

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.
11/1/20231 minute, 34 seconds
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Growing Readers Initiative

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.
10/30/20231 minute, 4 seconds
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NEFAB sets new projections for Nebraska state tax revenue

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.
10/27/20231 minute, 13 seconds
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Voices of Hope Fundraiser This Week

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.
10/25/20231 minute, 14 seconds
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Hilgers, other AGs sue Meta over youth mental heatlh concerns

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.
10/24/20231 minute, 24 seconds
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Volunteer fire departments could recruit more POC to fill gaps

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?
10/23/20235 minutes
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Survey reveals NE volunteer fire departments struggle to recruit

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.
10/23/20235 minutes, 22 seconds
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Flood continues to back Jordan as McHenry resolution falls throu

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.
10/19/20231 minute, 34 seconds
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Don Bacon explains why he voted against Jordan as speaker

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.”
10/19/20231 minute, 14 seconds
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Lack of volunteers ends ambulance service in Merriman

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.
10/6/20231 minute, 7 seconds
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School district settles Native American hair cutting lawsuit

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.
10/5/20231 minute, 6 seconds
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FBIMissingPersonD

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.
10/3/20231 minute, 17 seconds
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After a setbacks, Nebraska's LGBTQ community is both hopeful and

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
9/29/20234 minutes, 25 seconds
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Composting is happening, but not all Midwest cities are ready

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.
9/25/20233 minutes, 37 seconds
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Kansas News Service: Maternal homicides are on the rise

Homicide is a leading cause of maternal mortality, and experts say the problem is getting worse.
9/20/20234 minutes, 54 seconds
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Avocado launching contest brings fun, tourism to North Platte

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
9/15/20234 minutes, 23 seconds
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Noche Latina provides a safe space for queer Omahans

New Latin drag night a safe space for Iowans and Nebraskans following anti-LGBTQ bills
8/25/20234 minutes, 29 seconds
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VB Day in NE is a chance at respect for smaller schools

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…
8/18/20234 minutes, 21 seconds
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America's chicken supply chain is vulnerable to salmonella.

A research team from multiple universities is developing technology that can detect salmonella contamination in a matter of minutes.
8/17/202344 seconds
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Here's why Kansas is seeing more senior hoarding cases

Experts worry hoarding is on the rise in Kansas amid a lack of support for those who struggle with it, straining families and communities.
8/16/20234 minutes, 34 seconds
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Omaha celebrates Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford as its boxing champion

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.
8/14/20234 minutes, 26 seconds
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Hail Damage in Franklin County

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.
8/7/20235 minutes, 12 seconds
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Battle of the Barbers

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.
8/3/20234 minutes, 52 seconds
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Tornado Hits Downtown Sutton

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.
8/1/20231 minute, 10 seconds
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Winslow’s plan to move uphill was supposed to save the town. It

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.
7/27/20235 minutes, 10 seconds
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Willa Cather Summit Seeks to Analyze and Critique

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.
7/21/20231 minute, 39 seconds
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Lasting Impact of Nebraska National Guard mission in Bosnia

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.
7/20/20235 minutes, 5 seconds
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An Iowa minister explains why they left the Methodist church

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.
7/18/20236 minutes, 40 seconds
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U.S. approves ‘lab-grown meat’ for sale

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.
7/14/202347 seconds
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How social media has changed the face of storm chasing

Storm chasers of different ages and backgrounds explain why they chase storms, and how social media is transforming the profession
7/7/20233 minutes, 35 seconds
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Two court rulings later, abortion access remains in Iowa

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.
6/30/20234 minutes, 55 seconds
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North Platte’s rancher-led meat plant works toward opening

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.
6/29/20234 minutes, 49 seconds
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STEM camp grows Native American students' curiousity

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.
6/27/20232 minutes, 6 seconds
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How Decorah became a same-sex marriage hub before Obergefell

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.
6/23/20234 minutes, 38 seconds
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Not "Off their rockers" — Why these grannys play basketball

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.”
6/19/20234 minutes, 56 seconds
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Southwest Nebraska mobile home communities are fighting ‘uphill

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.
6/14/20232 minutes, 11 seconds
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Renting in Omaha made stressful by shortage of homes

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).
6/2/20234 minutes, 31 seconds
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How do you find love on the farm? Rural dating isn't always easy

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.
5/30/20234 minutes, 4 seconds
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'Everyone's scared': Transgender Kansans brace for new law

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.
5/26/20234 minutes, 32 seconds
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Lincoln's public transit back to full capacity

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.
5/19/20231 minute, 23 seconds
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Seven Years a Correspondent

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.
5/17/20235 minutes
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Auctions are going online, changing a rural social event

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.
5/15/20234 minutes, 30 seconds
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Hastings Superfund shows challenges of federal program for small

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.
5/9/20234 minutes, 41 seconds
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The Wizard of Oz still shapes the world's view of Kansas

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.
5/5/20237 minutes, 13 seconds
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Thousands of Lincolnites Celebrate Eid al-Fitr, End of Ramadan

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.
4/21/20231 minute, 1 second
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Tornadoes are becoming more frequent east of the Mississippi Riv

These parts of the country are also where the number of severe events are steadily increasing.
4/13/202345 seconds
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Dale Johnson Interviews Senator Pete Ricketts

Dale Johnson Interviews Senator Pete Ricketts and talks WOTUS and SNAP Benefits.
4/10/20234 minutes, 27 seconds
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Pilots fly people to Kansas and other states for abortions

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.
4/10/20234 minutes, 3 seconds
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Meal debt is soaring after universal free lunch ended

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.
4/3/20233 minutes, 59 seconds
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Young Americans are becoming less religious. But Why?

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.
3/24/20236 minutes, 1 second
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Partnerships, cleanliness key cogs in rural grocers success

Rural areas are losing grocery stores to consolidation faster than their urban counterparts — but some communities have come up with innovative solutions.
3/22/20234 minutes, 10 seconds
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Gering to host first gravel cycling national championships

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.
3/20/20231 minute, 8 seconds
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With no night service, LNK public transit riders missing out

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.
3/20/20234 minutes, 44 seconds
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With no night service, LNK public transit riders missing out

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.
3/20/20234 minutes, 44 seconds
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Turkey earthquake tragedy brought home for this Lincoln man

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.
3/9/20234 minutes, 32 seconds
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Nebraska mosque helps with earthquake recovery

A Nebraska mosque is trying to help with recovery from two major earthquakes that struck Turkey and Syria in February.
3/6/20231 minute
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Participation in girls basketball is declining, creating challen

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.
3/1/20234 minutes, 18 seconds
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Rural transit can be a ‘godsend’ for residents who can’t drive

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.
2/27/20234 minutes, 33 seconds
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Tiny saddles and lil' lassos: Inside youth rodeo in Kansas

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.
2/22/20234 minutes, 45 seconds
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Prosecutors say Laurel woman pushed husband to quadruple murder

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.
2/16/20231 minute, 48 seconds
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UNO Criminologist Speaks on the State of Policing in America

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.
2/15/20234 minutes, 59 seconds
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Rural towns leave parents without child care options

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.
2/13/20233 minutes, 58 seconds
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Geography & jobs largely determines small town growth

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.
2/8/20234 minutes, 31 seconds
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Rural America grew in the pandemic's early days

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.
1/26/202346 seconds
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Second suspect in Laurel’s quadruple homicide appears in court

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.
1/23/202355 seconds
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Laurel murder case heads to court: Here's what you should know

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.
1/20/20235 minutes, 4 seconds
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Small towns finding unique ways to improve fresh grocery access

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.
1/18/20234 minutes, 42 seconds
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Midwest states lure huge livestock operations, despite pollution

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.
1/9/20234 minutes, 18 seconds
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Broadband map holds key to federal funding for internet service

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.
1/9/202341 seconds
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Iowans confront crisis of Missing and Murdered indigenous women

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.
12/22/20226 minutes, 40 seconds
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Black Americana Is Openly For Sale In Nebraska. Should It Be?

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.
12/14/20224 minutes, 56 seconds
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A hotter, drier future could change how we live

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.
11/29/20223 minutes, 59 seconds
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Indian Center v City of Linc jurisdiction dilemma

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.
11/18/20221 minute, 11 seconds
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NE Board of Education overhauled following midterms

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.
11/9/202252 seconds
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Why can't urban farmers buy land in Midwest cities?

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.
11/7/20224 minutes
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Nebraskans will vote on minimum wage's future this election

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.
11/3/20224 minutes, 46 seconds
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Hunting communities concerned about drought lasting effects

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…
11/1/20221 minute, 6 seconds
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Abortion rights fight goes local as opponents put in town bans

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.
10/31/20224 minutes, 12 seconds
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Candidates fight for Latino support in the second district

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.
10/27/20224 minutes, 29 seconds
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Farms with corn mazes, pumpkins make up a $1 billion industry

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.
10/24/20223 minutes, 50 seconds
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Sex ed and staffing issues hinge on NE Board of Educ. election

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.
10/17/20224 minutes, 59 seconds
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John Deere says it'll make the future tractor, no driver needed

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.
10/17/20223 minutes, 53 seconds
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Nebraska's Arts Scene Mostly Resurrected Following Pandemic Lows

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.
10/14/20224 minutes, 13 seconds
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North Platte news director fired for helping Curtis abortion ban

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.
10/3/20221 minute, 27 seconds
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SNAP-Ed pays workers so little, some qualify for food benefits

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.
10/3/20224 minutes, 1 second
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Despite Niskíthe camp, city files suit to keep housing project

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.
9/26/202248 seconds
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Midwest farmers hope their hops can find a place in craft beer

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.
9/23/202241 seconds
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2022 Governor's Lecture in Humanities Speaker: Candice Millard

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…
9/22/202217 minutes, 5 seconds
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Nebraska Pardon board decides to keep Earnest Jackson in prison

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.”
9/19/20221 minute, 28 seconds
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Getting rural Nebraskans mental health care remains a challenge

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.
9/13/20224 minutes, 34 seconds
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This small town Iowa bar is a musical paradise

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.
9/9/20226 minutes, 4 seconds
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Muslims in Lincoln are growing and need a mosque upgrade

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.
9/7/20225 minutes, 9 seconds
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How Midwestern states tempt tourists with unpretentious getaways

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.
8/31/20224 minutes, 7 seconds
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Nonprofit Brings Joys of Pottery to Visually Impaired People

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.
8/31/20224 minutes, 41 seconds
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Listen: Winnebago Health CEO Reflects on Her Four Years

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
8/29/20224 minutes, 34 seconds
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Low water levels reveal shipwrecks, abandoned towns

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.
8/25/202246 seconds
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Housing to Healthcare: New Casinos Could Help Winnebago

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.
8/16/20224 minutes, 26 seconds
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Housing to Healthcare: New Casinos Could Help Winnebago

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.
8/16/20224 minutes, 27 seconds
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Nebraska Researchers Create Aronia Berry Startup

New startup aims to build a healthy and sustainable industry using Aronia Berries.
8/9/20221 minute, 8 seconds
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Wheat Harvest Challenged by Nebraska's Dry Conditions

Nebraska's harsh weather conditions have created a large setback in the state's wheat harvest.
8/8/202251 seconds
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UNL Not Requiring Masks or COVID-19 Testing for the Fall Semeste

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln releases their COVID-19 plan for the school semester as Lancaster County's risk dial remains at High.
8/5/20221 minute, 9 seconds
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What a Midwest ‘ghost story’ says about abortion restrictions

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.
8/5/20224 minutes, 10 seconds
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Omaha FBI Holds Diversity Agent Recruitment Event

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
8/4/202256 seconds
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ARPA-Funded EduTech Aims to Provide Skills for Entry Tech Jobs

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.
8/1/20221 minute, 8 seconds
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Lincoln Police Concerned About Viral "KIA BOYZ" Tik Tok Trend

Two teenagers attempted to steal a 2013 Hyundai Tuesday evening while filming themselves for Tik Tok.
7/28/20221 minute, 19 seconds
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Omaha Casino Breaks Ground; Could Open as Soon as Spring 2023

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.
7/27/20221 minute, 4 seconds
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Omaha City Council Approves $20 Million for New Library Location

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.
7/26/202242 seconds
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Native Americans across Midwest embrace traditional foods

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.
7/22/20224 minutes, 3 seconds
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White House Pushing Reduced Internet Cost Program for Nebraskans

The White House is asking Gov. Ricketts to help promote a federal program offering reduced internet costs
7/21/20221 minute, 29 seconds
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World-Renowned Virtual Reality Art Exhibit Opens in Omaha

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.”
7/21/20225 minutes, 49 seconds
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After 13 Years, Nebraskans are Aiming to Hike the Minimum Wage

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.
7/21/20221 minute, 3 seconds
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Inflation's silver lining -- shoppers choose local food

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.
7/21/202246 seconds
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Nebraska Hall of Fame nominees include Malcolm X

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.
7/18/20221 minute, 32 seconds
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Family Worries About Money, As Free School Lunches End

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.
7/13/20224 minutes, 58 seconds
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LGBTQ farmers often go unnoticed. But they may help reshape ag

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.
7/8/20224 minutes, 17 seconds
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Court Ruling Could Disrupt Ballot Initiative Plans in Nebraska

A U.S, Court of Appeals ruling could throw out at least one ballot initiative aimed for the November elections
7/6/202249 seconds
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Santee Sioux Chair Briefs on Current Abortion Laws

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.
7/6/20221 minute, 3 seconds
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Long COVID Affecting Thousands in Nebraska

Thousands of people in Nebraska suffer from Long COVID, suffering long-lasting symptoms.
6/30/20225 minutes, 6 seconds
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Marlin Briscoe of Omaha, First Black Pro Starter at QB, Dies

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.
6/28/202238 seconds
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Lincoln Restaurant Offers Abortion Help to Employees

A restaurant in Lincoln is, like many businesses, offering financial help to employees who may need to travel to get an abortion.
6/27/20221 minute, 14 seconds
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2nd District Candidates React to SCOTUS Overturn of Roe v. Wade

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.
6/24/20221 minute
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For Sale: One Nuclear Missile Silo in York, NE

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.
6/20/20224 minutes, 58 seconds
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UNL Hosts Inaugural Juneteenth Celebration Monday

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.
6/20/20221 minute, 5 seconds
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The Effects of Bird Flu Ripple Through One Iowa County

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.
6/17/20224 minutes
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Ukrainian Refugees Find Refuge in Lincoln

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.
6/17/20224 minutes, 45 seconds
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What led to LNK City Council to rescind 'fairness ordinance'?

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.
6/16/20227 minutes, 8 seconds
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Former NU Women's Basketball Coach Reflects on Historic Career

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.
6/10/20224 minutes, 49 seconds
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Nebraska's First (And Only) Astronaut Embarks on A New Mission

Nebraska's First (And Only) Astronaut Embarks on A New Mission: Preparing the SAC Aerospace Museum for a New Era
6/8/20224 minutes, 49 seconds
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Afghan Refugees May Not Have Access to Services in Sioux City

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.
6/7/20224 minutes, 50 seconds
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New Nebraska License Plates Feature Capitol Mosaic

Officials unveiled a new design for Nebraska license plates Tuesday based on a mosaic that's embedded in the state Capitol.
5/31/20221 minute, 38 seconds
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After 11 Years, Nebraska Multisport Complex Slated for Fall Open

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.
5/27/20222 minutes, 5 seconds
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LPD Chief, LPS Superintendent Say City's Schools Are Safe

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.
5/25/20223 minutes, 14 seconds
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Arapahoe Creates Non-Profit to Replace Former Nursing Home

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.
5/24/20221 minute, 13 seconds
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LPD Chief Says Recent Violent Acts Are Not Related

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.
5/23/20221 minute, 21 seconds
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In the Latest Wildfire, 4,100 Acres Burn in Neb. National Forest

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.
5/20/20221 minute, 14 seconds
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Flatwater Free Press Reporter On Nebraskan Effort To Harbor Ukra

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.
5/20/20226 minutes, 28 seconds
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It’s a Team Effort On and Off the Court for UNK Women’s Basketba

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.
5/18/20225 minutes, 27 seconds
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Niskíthe Prayer Camp Takes Protest to City Hall, State Capitol

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.
5/18/20221 minute, 34 seconds
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BBQ Restaurant in Valentine, NE, Talks Small Business Week

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.
5/6/20221 minute, 45 seconds
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Lincoln Housing Near Native American Sweat Lodges Will Continue

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.
5/5/20222 minutes, 1 second
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Opioid Settlement Expected to Arrive this June in Nebraska

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.
5/4/20221 minute, 22 seconds
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Native Americans in Lincoln Set Up A Prayer Camp in Protest

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.
5/3/20222 minutes, 20 seconds
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In Lincoln, 200 New Refugee Families Celebrate Eid al-Fitr

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.
5/2/20221 minute, 50 seconds
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In their own words: Tales from the Road 702 wildfire

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.
4/29/20224 minutes, 22 seconds
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AARP of Nebraska Warns of Elder Fraud and Scams Signs

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.
4/27/20221 minute, 58 seconds
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Rd. 702 Wildfire in Southwest Nebraska Now 74% Contained

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.
4/27/20221 minute, 6 seconds
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Proposed Lincoln Development Could Interfere with Native Ritual

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.
4/18/20222 minutes, 15 seconds
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People of color don’t feel welcome at many farmers markets.

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.
4/18/20223 minutes, 25 seconds
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UNL Study Shows Barriers to Healthcare for Yazidi Refugees

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.
4/15/20221 minute, 47 seconds
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Harvard Law Program Joins Cody Kilgore Hair Cutting Lawsuit

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.
4/15/202255 seconds
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Elwood Honors Fire Chief Who Died Fighting Fires Last Week

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.
4/13/20221 minute, 18 seconds
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Arapahoe Couple Still Adjusting to Nursing Home Shutdown

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.
4/11/20224 minutes, 13 seconds
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Volunteer Fire Chief Killed Responding to Wildfire

A volunteer fire chief died Thursday evening while responding to a fire in southwest Nebraska.
4/8/202251 seconds
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In Ukraine, A War Diary is Written. In Lincoln, It's Translated

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.
4/8/20224 minutes, 57 seconds
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Omaha Man Coaches Hitters To See What He Can't

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.
4/6/20224 minutes, 23 seconds
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Ford’s new electric F-150 could bring EVs to the Midwest

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.
4/1/20223 minutes, 32 seconds
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Grand Island's Fonner Park Will Drop Horse Quarantine Friday

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.
3/31/202238 seconds
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Lincoln Company Fundraising for its Ukrainian Employees

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.
3/30/20221 minute, 47 seconds
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City Council Hears Revision to Strip Health Dir. of Authority

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.
3/30/20221 minute, 50 seconds
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Lynch, Nebraska's Remote Community Opens A New Grocery Store

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.
3/25/20222 minutes
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Daylight Saving Time's Link (or Lack of) to Farmers

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.
3/24/202248 seconds
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York, Nebraska Man Takes KISS to the Extreme

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.
3/24/20224 minutes, 22 seconds
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Eastern European Lincolnites Shed Tears Over Ukraine

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.
3/22/20224 minutes, 46 seconds
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There's Untapped Potential for Maple Syrup in the Midwest

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.
3/21/20223 minutes, 16 seconds
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"I Cry Every Day"

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.
3/17/20221 minute, 54 seconds
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The Different Ideas on Cleaning Up AltEn

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.
3/17/20223 minutes, 23 seconds
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The Different Ideas on Cleaning Up AltEn

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.
3/17/20223 minutes, 21 seconds
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Nebraska Organist Adds Musical Flare to College World Series

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.
3/16/20224 minutes, 14 seconds
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Online Farmers Markets May Continue After Pandemic

Just as consumers turned to online shopping during the pandemic, many farmers started selling their products online over the past two years.
3/16/202241 seconds
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UNO Professor Says Volodymyr Zelenskyy Understands Emotions

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."
3/15/20221 minute, 33 seconds
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Ukrainian Man’s Family Waits Out the War

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.
3/15/20224 minutes, 24 seconds
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Nebraska Man Travels To Europe To Escort Ukranian Woman to Germa

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.
3/11/20223 minutes, 41 seconds
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Nebraska Capitol Shines in Support of Ukraine

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.
3/4/202250 seconds
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Congressman Fortenberry on the Situation in Ukraine

Nebraska Congressman Jeff Fortenberry gives his insights on the situation in Ukraine. Nebraska Public Media News Reporter William Padmore spoke with him.
2/28/202210 minutes, 58 seconds
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Former Refugees Gather Hundreds to Welcome New Afghans in LNK

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.
2/28/20221 minute, 54 seconds
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Future of Farm Shows

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.
2/28/20223 minutes, 33 seconds
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After Cutbacks, State Gambling Addiction Agency May Need Casinos

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
2/22/20225 minutes, 52 seconds
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After Cutbacks, State Gambling Addiction Agency May Need Casinos

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
2/22/20225 minutes, 51 seconds
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Wrestlers proud to compete in historic girls' state championship

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.
2/17/20225 minutes, 25 seconds
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Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack Talks Trade, Meatpacking & Fertilizer

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.
2/10/20225 minutes, 23 seconds
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Here's How Bad Auto Thefts and Other Crimes Are in Lincoln

Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird and Police Chief Teresa Ewins reported the city's crime statistics for 2021 Thursday.
2/10/20221 minute, 7 seconds
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An Iowa family lost ownership of their house thanks to this law

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
2/8/20224 minutes, 13 seconds
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Small towns and ARPA money

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.
2/4/20223 minutes, 56 seconds
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77 LPS Students Already Applied to Bay High, Creative Courses

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.
1/31/20221 minute, 22 seconds
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Has Nebraska's COVID Peaked? The Location Matters

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.
1/28/20221 minute, 12 seconds
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NPPD to pay $2.5 Mil to Family of Dam Collapse Victim

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.
1/27/20221 minute, 58 seconds
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Are Politics Making Your Life Miserable? A Conversation with a U

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.
1/25/20228 minutes, 24 seconds
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Outlook for Nebraska Hospitals May Be Grim After COVID Peak

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.
1/24/20221 minute, 29 seconds
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Chapel Asks for Celebration of Lincoln Veteran at His Funeral

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.
1/21/202255 seconds
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100-year Questions Still Simmer Around Proposed Perkins Co Canal

100-year Questions Still Simmer Around Proposed Perkins Co. Canal
1/20/20225 minutes, 17 seconds
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Nebraska Reaches New COVID High: 7-Day Average Stands at 4,400

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.
1/20/20221 minute, 1 second
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Lincoln Movie Theatre Offers Vaccinated-Only Showings

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.
1/19/20221 minute, 14 seconds
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Boosted Nebraskans 46 Times Less Likely to be Hospitalized

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.
1/19/20221 minute, 11 seconds
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Anthony's Steakhouse in Omaha closes

Anthony's Steakhouse in Omaha is closing its doors, marking another tally for the steakhouses in the city that have shuttered.
1/19/20221 minute, 54 seconds
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Dipping COVID Cases Doesn't Mean Nebraska Omicron Peak is Past

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.
1/18/20221 minute, 20 seconds
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Defining Rural

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.
1/18/20223 minutes, 57 seconds
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Hastings Bigfoot Museum Will Be Featured In Library of Congress

The Bigfoot Crossroads of America Museum and Research Center in Hastings will be featured in the U.S. Library of Congress Archives.
1/13/20221 minute, 44 seconds
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Pandemic Effects on Meatpacking 3

Nationwide, COVID-19 disproportionately affected communities of color — in part because the U.S. relies on immigrant workers in food and agriculture.
1/12/20223 minutes, 40 seconds
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Dick Carson, Director & Norfolk Native Dies at 92

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.
1/11/20221 minute, 10 seconds
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O’Neill Hospital CEO Worries for Staff

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.
1/11/20221 minute, 6 seconds
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Lyons Water Treatment Plant Filters Working

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.
1/7/202248 seconds
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Douglas County Has a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer

Douglas County's first Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer started working this week.
1/6/20221 minute, 47 seconds
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Omaha, Ralston Hosting Candlelight Vigils Tonight

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.
1/6/202258 seconds
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Legislature Begins Session with roposals on Abortion, Guns

The Nebraska Legislature began its 2022 session with proposals on abortion, guns, and other topics.
1/5/20224 minutes, 46 seconds
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Tribal Development Organization Has Big Hopes for Whiteclay Land

Thunder Valley Development Corporation Director Tatewin Means says transitional and supportive housing could serve 800-1,000 people at a time.
1/4/20221 minute, 26 seconds
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Lincoln Expecting Bike Trail Additions & Upgrades in the Future

“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.”
1/3/202239 seconds
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Many Nursing Homes Can't Make Ends Meet in Nebraska

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.
12/23/20211 minute, 24 seconds
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State Fair Looking for Campus Overhaul in Grand Island

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.
12/23/202147 seconds
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Ahead of Holidays, Nebraska COVID Cases, Hospitalizations Drop

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.
12/22/20211 minute, 20 seconds
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Last Week's Tornado Count Shatters December Record in Nebraska

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.
12/21/20211 minute, 30 seconds
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Lyons' Water Clears up After Repairing Temporary Filter

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.
12/17/20211 minute, 4 seconds
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Lyons Hanging on While Water Filter Parts Linger in Supply Chain

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.
12/10/20211 minute, 15 seconds
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COVID-19 Rising to Levels Seen Before and After Pandemic Peak

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.
12/8/20211 minute, 14 seconds
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Senators Who No Longer Live in Their District, Praise Process

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.
12/7/20211 minute, 45 seconds
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Nebraska's Offutt AFB Helps Identify Unknown Crew Members as U.S

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.
12/6/20215 minutes, 27 seconds
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Recap: Farm Bureau's Republican Gubernatorial Forum

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.
12/6/20214 minutes, 10 seconds
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Gering & North Platte Casino Developers Expect Decision Soon

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.
12/6/20211 minute, 11 seconds
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Local Health Department Reports Six Cases of New Omicron Variant

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.
12/3/20211 minute, 24 seconds
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Sickest COVID Patients on Ventilators are Getting Younger

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..
12/1/20213 minutes, 37 seconds
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Small Nebraska Town Experiencing Water Filtering Issues

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.
12/1/20211 minute, 47 seconds
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COVID on the Rise in Nebraska Headed Into Thanksgiving Weekend

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.
11/24/20211 minute, 11 seconds
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Nebraska Commission on Latino-Americans Director Retires

The Executive Director of the Nebraska Commission on Latino-Americans will retire on Dec. 31, 2021 after 11 years of service.
11/23/20214 minutes, 30 seconds
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Court settlement clears path for church construction in Walthill

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.
11/23/20211 minute, 13 seconds
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Buffalo Creek Wildfire at 80 Percent Containment

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.
11/19/202133 seconds
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State Senators Ascend & Descend Kilimanjaro Safely

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.
11/19/20212 minutes, 14 seconds
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Judge Allows Lakota Hair Cutting Case to Move Forward

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.
11/19/20211 minute, 47 seconds
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Judge Allows Lakota Hair Cutting Case to Move Forward

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.
11/19/20211 minute, 49 seconds
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Chadron State sees women's wrestling as the next big sport

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.
11/18/20215 minutes, 28 seconds
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Mixed Numbers: COVID Cases and Vaccinations Are Climbing

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.
11/17/20211 minute, 6 seconds
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Chamber of Commerce: How the Infrastructure Bill Will Impact NE

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.
11/17/20211 minute, 43 seconds
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North Platte Hospital Concerned about Vaccine Mandate

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.
11/12/20212 minutes, 27 seconds
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UNO Study Analyzes Police-Involved Shootings

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.”
11/12/20211 minute, 25 seconds
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Afghanistan Refugees Coming to Lincoln & Omaha this Week

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.
11/11/20212 minutes, 18 seconds
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Work is changing, but the pay gap between men and women remains

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.
11/11/20215 minutes, 37 seconds
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Six Hundred Names Added to Scottsbluff War Memorial

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.
11/10/20214 minutes, 59 seconds
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Title IX Lawsuits Allege UNL Mishandled Sexual Assault Reports

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.
11/10/20215 minutes, 54 seconds
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Minden Title IX lawsuit broke ground for public schools

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.
11/9/20215 minutes, 29 seconds
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Transgender Rights: A New front in the battle for Title IX Prote

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.
11/9/20216 minutes, 26 seconds
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More Than a Game: NU Volleyball

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.
11/8/20215 minutes, 19 seconds
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Garden City Meat Plant

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.
11/8/20217 minutes, 5 seconds
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Known Death Toll at Genoa Indian School Now at 59

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.
11/4/20215 minutes, 5 seconds
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Catholic Church Abused 258 Victims in Nebraska, AG Reports Says

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.
11/4/202154 seconds
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COVID-19 on the Rise Again in Nebraska

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.
11/3/20211 minute, 8 seconds
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Despite Supply Chain and Jobs, Midwest Economy Looks Good

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.
11/1/20211 minute, 16 seconds
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LHS Student Wins National Songwriting Competition

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.
10/29/20211 minute, 11 seconds
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Kearney Museum Renovating, Closing for Two Years

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.
10/29/20211 minute, 22 seconds
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Program Will Increase Breast Cancer Research In Latina Women

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.
10/28/20215 minutes, 9 seconds
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O'Neill, Valentine Focus Groups Examine Minority Race Healthcare

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.
10/22/20211 minute
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Civil War Veterans' Ashes to be Buried in Plattsmouth

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.”
10/21/202148 seconds
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The Potential of Astrotourism in Nebraska

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.
10/20/20216 minutes, 1 second
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Coming Mobile Stage Seeks To Be Force In Socialization

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10/20/20215 minutes, 15 seconds
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Some Striking Kellogg's Workers Returning to Work in Omaha

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.
10/18/20211 minute, 30 seconds
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Nebraska COVID Indicators Headed in the Right Direction

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.
10/18/20211 minute, 4 seconds
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Just Like Last Few Weeks, COVID Figures Remain Relatively Flat

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.
10/12/202143 seconds
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Livestock Facilities, Parking Could Improve at State Fair

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...
10/6/20211 minute, 33 seconds
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Nebraska Rancher Throws Rodeo Benefit For Wildfire Victims

Western Nebraskans are still struggling from wildfires, but one rancher from Banner County wants to help the community by throwing a rodeo benefit Saturday.
10/1/20211 minute, 5 seconds
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Plan for Common Area near UNL's City Campus Sent to Regents

“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.
10/1/20211 minute, 23 seconds
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Oversoses, Theft and The Fentanyl Crisis Is Hitting Nebraska Too

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10/1/20215 minutes, 36 seconds
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Oversoses, Theft and The Fentanyl Crisis Is Hitting Nebraska Too

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10/1/20215 minutes, 37 seconds
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Nebraska Rural Communities Are Glamming Up Their Downtowns

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.
9/30/20215 minutes, 16 seconds
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Nebraska Rural Communities Are Glamming Up Their Downtowns

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.
9/30/20215 minutes, 15 seconds
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Nebraska Rural Communities Are Glamming Up Their Downtowns

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.
9/30/20215 minutes, 20 seconds
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Nebraska Rural Communities Are Glamming Up Their Downtowns

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.
9/30/20215 minutes, 15 seconds
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Bayard, Nebraska Farmer Growing Pumpkins to Fight Cancer

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.
9/29/20211 minute, 42 seconds
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Redistricting advances; senators discuss nursing moms, gender

The Nebraska Legislature gave second-round approval Tuesday to redistricting bills, and senators discussed nursing mothers and gender pronouns.
9/28/20215 minutes, 46 seconds
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Marine from Omaha Killed in Afghanistan Laid to Rest after Emoti

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.
9/17/20211 minute, 20 seconds
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Biden Plan has 775 Refugees From Afghanistan Headed to Nebraska

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.
9/16/20211 minute, 32 seconds
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Nebraska Television Pioneer Leta Powell Drake Passes Away

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."
9/15/20217 minutes, 20 seconds
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Statuary Hall Willa Cather Statue Entering Final Casting

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.
9/15/20211 minute, 18 seconds
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As Efforts to Being Medical Marijuana to Nebraska Begin Again, A

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
9/14/20215 minutes, 24 seconds
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Hundreds Welcome Home Fallen Marine Killed In Afghanistan

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.
9/10/20211 minute, 10 seconds
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Hundreds Welcome Home Fallen Marine Killed In Afghanistan

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.
9/10/20211 minute, 11 seconds
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Memorial quilt collection adds perspective to the losses of 9/11

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."
9/10/20215 minutes, 1 second
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US Space Command official reflects on 9/11 attacks

US Space Command official reflects on 9/11 attacks
9/10/20218 minutes, 31 seconds
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US Strategic Command official remembers 9/11 attacks

US Strategic Command official remembers 9/11 attacks
9/10/20219 minutes, 6 seconds
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Senior US Strategic Command Official Reflects on 9/11 Lessons

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.
9/9/202114 minutes, 54 seconds
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Exclusive: New Lincoln Police Chief Talks The Role of Police, He

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
9/9/20215 minutes, 20 seconds
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US Strategic Command Chief of Defense Policy Reflects on 9/11

Dr. Mark Kyriss, US Strategic Command Chief of Defense Policy, reflects on 9/11 and lessons learned from the September attacks
9/9/202115 minutes, 2 seconds
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The Basmas

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
9/8/20215 minutes, 40 seconds
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Immigrants Who Are Victims Of Crime Need Emotional Healing

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.
9/8/20215 minutes, 23 seconds
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Sarpy County Law Enforcement Opens 'Force Investigation Team'

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.
9/3/20211 minute, 31 seconds
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Lutheran Family Services Refugees

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.
8/31/20211 minute, 43 seconds
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Prison Program Celebrates 20 Years of Healing and Repairing Harm

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.
8/30/20215 minutes, 36 seconds
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One Year Later, Lincoln Blood Drive Honors Fallen Officer

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.’
8/26/20211 minute, 18 seconds
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As the Situation in Afghanistand Unfolds, Congressman Don Bacon

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.
8/26/20215 minutes, 39 seconds
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Internet 'Plays Key Part' in Rural Nebraska, Just Like Elsewhere

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.
8/25/20214 minutes, 56 seconds
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Nebraska State Fair Director On Recovering from the past and loo

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.
8/25/20216 minutes, 19 seconds
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Lutheran Family Services Preparing to Welcome Refugees to Neb

Sharon Brodkey, with Lutheran Family Services, talks about preparations underway to welcome and resettle refugees fleeing Afghanistan.
8/23/20215 minutes, 24 seconds
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Capitol dome to be restored

Repairs will begin soon on the gold-tiled Nebraska Capitol dome and other parts of the iconic building
8/19/20214 minutes, 20 seconds
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Capitol dome to be restored

Repairs will begin soon on the gold-tiled Nebraska Capitol dome and other parts of the iconic building
8/19/20214 minutes, 25 seconds
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Cleanup Underway at Memorial Stadium Following Garth Brooks

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.
8/16/202140 seconds
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Elkhorn Man Honoring Son by Biking, Raising Money for Cancer Res

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.’
8/14/20211 minute, 37 seconds
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Listen: Garth Brooks Talks Nebraska & Its People, Pandemic, & Mo

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.
8/13/20214 minutes
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Police Memorial Tour Visits Lincoln, Honors Fallen LPD Officer H

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.
8/10/20211 minute, 25 seconds
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Canadian discoveries spur questions at Nebraska Indian Schools

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
8/5/20216 minutes, 6 seconds
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Listen: UNL's Diversity AD, Lawrence Chatters Interview

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.
8/5/20215 minutes, 23 seconds
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Old Hospital in Walthill Being Restored

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.
7/30/20211 minute, 14 seconds
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Pandemic precautions come at a cost for Yazidis' healthcare

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.
7/29/20215 minutes, 46 seconds
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UNMC Names Dr. Siobhan Wescott as Director of Indian Health Dept

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.
7/27/20216 minutes, 5 seconds
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UNMC Professor: Vast Majority of New COVID Cases are Delta

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
7/26/20211 minute, 50 seconds
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Listen: Rodeo Athletes on How Rodeo is Unique

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.
7/22/20211 minute, 11 seconds
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International Rodeo Athletes Challenged in Traveling to Lincoln

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.
7/20/20211 minute, 9 seconds
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Navy First Class, Louis Tushla, Returns to Family in Atkinson

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.
7/19/20212 minutes, 36 seconds
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Rodeo athletes excited to compete at rodeo finals in Lincoln

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.
7/15/20211 minute, 13 seconds
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Online Petition Calls for Sentencing Minimum in Police Shootings

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.
7/15/20212 minutes, 16 seconds
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After 46 Years of Fish Fry, Lou & Mary Anne's Bar Closes

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.
7/7/20215 minutes, 15 seconds
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After 46 Years of Fish Fry, Lou & Mary Anne's Bar Closes

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.
7/7/20215 minutes, 15 seconds
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Bailey Boswell argues case does not warrant a death sentence

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.
6/30/20212 minutes, 3 seconds
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The American Ballet Theatre Company Comes to Nebraska

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
6/30/20212 minutes, 2 seconds
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Neighbors celebrate Elsie Eiler, sole resident of Monowi

Law enforcement, others honor proprietor of Monowi Tavern for 50 years of service
6/29/20214 minutes, 28 seconds
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New Clue In Larsen Case, But Not Much Else for Investigators

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.
6/29/20211 minute, 18 seconds
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Hundreds Flock to Lincoln's 1st Annual Pride Parade

There were rainbows, floats, and music during the Capitol City’s First Annual Pride Parade Saturday
6/21/20212 minutes, 19 seconds
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Omaha Commemorates Will Brown Lynching with Historical Marker

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.
6/18/20211 minute, 12 seconds
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Omaha meeting provides forum on critical race theory

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
6/18/20215 minutes, 24 seconds
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Lincoln Church's Historic Bells Silenced For Maintenence

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.
6/17/20212 minutes, 29 seconds
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Report: Midwestern Metros are Now Part of New "Global Heartland"

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.”
6/15/20214 minutes, 20 seconds
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Nebraska High Schoolers Learn about Legislative Proceedings

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.
6/14/20211 minute, 32 seconds
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Meet Mimi Yu, Nebraska's First Youth Poet Laureate

Nebraska has a youth poet laureate from Lincoln East High School. Nebraska Public Media News talks more about the poet’s life and art.
6/10/20215 minutes, 31 seconds
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Golfing Clinic Helps Visually Impaired

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.
6/10/20211 minute
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Aubrey Trail Sentenced to Death for Death, Dismemberment

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.
6/10/20213 minutes, 3 seconds
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Giltner Soldier Missing in Action for 77 Years Will Finally Rest

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.
6/5/20211 minute, 21 seconds
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Behind The Bill To Bring New Combat Sports To Nebraska

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
6/3/20214 minutes, 17 seconds
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In Lincoln, Women Refugees Learn How To Drive With a New Friend

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.
6/2/20215 minutes, 40 seconds
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No New Clues in Search for La Vista Boy Missing for Two Weeks

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.
6/1/20211 minute, 33 seconds
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Pandemic Porch Concerts Use Music to Chronicle Highs and Lows

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.
5/28/20216 minutes, 55 seconds
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Pandemic Porch Concerts Use Music to Chronicle Highs and Lows

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.
5/28/20216 minutes, 9 seconds
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Vacant Office Buildings Reflect Changing Work Space, Downtowns

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?
5/25/20215 minutes, 40 seconds
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Pre-Pandemic Festivals Blossom Again

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.
5/24/20214 minutes, 5 seconds
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Lincoln Skate Park Becomes High School For Creatives

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.
5/14/20211 minute, 26 seconds
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Fallen Hero Of Pearl Harbor Attack Finally Rests In Harvard Home

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.
5/13/20211 minute, 19 seconds
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How Garth Brooks Tour Could Impact Lincoln's Economy

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.
5/12/20211 minute, 18 seconds
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New Memorial In Maine to Commemorate Missing Military Flight

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.
5/12/20215 minutes, 30 seconds
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Investigator Mario Herrera's Son Joins Lincoln Police Department

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.
5/12/20211 minute, 2 seconds
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Ponca Tribe Wants Chief Standing Bear's Tomahawk

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.
5/11/20211 minute, 35 seconds
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Spencer Dam Owners Receive $50 Million to Clear Crumbled Dam Rem

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.
5/3/20211 minute, 33 seconds
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In Nebraska, Families Come Together To Hunt For Morel Mushrooms

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.
4/29/20213 minutes, 52 seconds
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Family Letters From Holocaust Victims Come Alive In School Play

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.
4/21/20215 minutes, 15 seconds
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Iconic Classic Car Collection In Central Nebraska Up for Auction

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.
4/12/20211 minute, 38 seconds
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FBI Warns About COVID Survey Scams Popping-Up Nationwide

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.
4/6/20211 minute, 23 seconds
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Nebraska Honors First Native Doctor With Bronze Sculpture

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.
4/1/20212 minutes, 28 seconds
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Asian communities in Nebraska respond to Atlanta shooting

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
3/23/20212 minutes, 35 seconds
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Local Pubs, Restaurants Celebrate St. Patrick's Day With Safety

This St. Patrick’s Day Irish bars and restaurants want guests to have fun but stay safe.
3/17/20211 minute, 40 seconds
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Advisory committee recommends Nebraska high schools drop Native

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.
3/17/20211 minute, 31 seconds
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Father of Nebraska Teen Killed in Police Shoot-Out says he hopes

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.
3/16/20211 minute, 52 seconds
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Career Project Helps Immigrants, Refugees Pursue Careers

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
3/10/20211 minute, 37 seconds
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COVID-19 in Nebraska: One Year Later

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
3/7/20215 minutes, 46 seconds
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The Only Grocery Store In Bayard, Nebraska Closes

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.
3/5/20214 minutes, 55 seconds
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High School Celebrates Black History Month Thanks To One Student

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.
2/26/20211 minute, 43 seconds
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Biden's Increase In Refugee Limits Gives Hope To Local Centers

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.
2/24/20214 minutes, 38 seconds
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No Relief? Fortenberry Fears Lied Center Could Miss Out On COVID

Congressman Fortenberry Works To Esnure College-Owned Venues Like the Lied Center Get COVID Relief
2/24/20211 minute, 43 seconds
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Girl Scout Cookie Season Opens Despite Pandemic

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.
2/21/20211 minute, 51 seconds