Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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This story is made possible through a partnership between Flatwater Free Press and Grist, a nonprofit environmental media organization. Google's Nebraska data centers consumed about 732 million gallons of water in 2025, the tech giant recently self-reported. Viewed one way, that's a lot of water: More than Omaha Metropolitan Utilities District customers use in an average week, combined, according to data from MUD. Viewed another way: It's less than you think. Google data centers consumed about a...
Nine Summerland powerlifters competed in the Verdigre Powerlifting Meet on Feb. 28. The junior high team, consisting of Jeremy Meyer, Tucker Meyer Michael Sonnenfelt, Jaden Robinett, Sophia Hernandez, and Auryana Hernandez finished third. High school competitors included Jorden Cox, Asher Whiting, and Clair Krysl. Robinett and Sophia Hernandez were gold medalists for the Bobcats. Robinett won the 132-pound class, and Hernandez topped the 165 field. Five lifters finished second in their weight...
When the first bell of the 2025-2026 school year rang on Aug. 14, Summerland students met eight new staff members. Several have ties to Summerland communities. Some are kicking off a new career. Filling teaching positions are Abby Bauer, sixth grade; Kristen Napier, special education; Ashley Koenig, math; Anna Mayes, English; Cierra Morten, social science; and Andrew Steskal, math. Dani Janke and Brenna Wagner join the district as paraeducators. Abby Bauer Position: Sixth grade College: Concordi...
Anymore, having high-speed internet at your home, farm or business has become as important as having electricity. You run a business and have a website? You need high-speed internet. You use precision ag? You need high-speed internet. You wanna be examined by a doctor via video over the internet, something called "tele-health?" You need high-speed internet. You like playing video games or downloading movies? High-speed internet makes that all better. And just like electricity, it's been hard to...
On June 18, Gov. Jim Pillen appointed Jason S. Doele, of Norfolk, as district court judge in the Fifth Judicial District, which consists of Boone, Butler, Colfax, Hamilton, Merrick, Nance, Platte, Polk, Saunders, Seward, and York counties. Doele has been a partner in the law firm of Stratton, DeLay, Doele, Carlson, Stover & Stratton in Norfolk since February 2010. Before that, he was with the firm of Jewell, Collins, DeLay, Gray and Flood, also in Norfolk. Doele is licensed to practice in both...
Six Summerland powerlifters traveled to Verdigre this past Saturday, March 1, to participate in the fourth annual Verdigre Powerlifting Meet. A total of 227 powerlifters representing 15 different schools from around the state were in attendance. "It was an outstanding day of lifting for the Bobcat competitors," said coach Jeff Shabram. Summerland had two gold medalist: Jaden Robinett in the 123-pound class (jr. high) and Cadence Soper in the 132-pound class (jr. high). One Bobcat earned a...
Chronic wasting disease surveillance conducted in eastern Nebraska during the November firearm deer season detected 60 positive cases in deer. More than 1,400 samples were collected from harvested deer at check stations in the Missouri, Elkhorn, Loup East, Wahoo, Blue Northwest and Blue Southeast deer management units. CWD was detected for the first time in Antelope, Madison, Butler, York, Seward, Jefferson, Richardson, Merrick, Greeley and Platte counties. To view 2024 CWD results, identified...
Hometowns in Greater Nebraska have so much to offer. At Nebraska Community Foundation, we work with over 270 communities and 1,500 volunteers across the state who are utilizing the assets unique to their places to fuel community development that will continue to attract new generations of Nebraskans. Homegrown philanthropy is a major asset in this endeavor. Charitable dollars and endowment payout are being used to fund projects and programs that directly benefit young people and their families...
Kierra Bearinger, a 2020 graduate of the last senior class of Clearwater High School, and Kirsten Krebs, a 2021 Elgin Pope John High School graduate, have been named winners of the Schuchardt Family Scholarship for the 2023-2024 academic year. Bearinger, the daughter of Jarod and Tammy Bearinger of Clearwater, graduates in spring 2024 with a degree in elementary and early childhood education in the College of Education and Human Sciences. She completes her second-grade student teaching at...
Seward County routinely seizes money from motorists on Interstate 80, keeps the cash – and never convicts the drivers of a crime. The county's sheriff's department and county attorney use this practice, known as civil asset forfeiture, so often that a third of all cases of this kind in Nebraska state courts come from Seward County, population 17,962, a Flatwater Free Press analysis of court records shows. The county has hauled in $7.5 million in forfeited cash in the past five years, some of i...
The Nebraska State Patrol arrested multiple people during incidents at the Nebraska State Capitol Building during legislative debate on Friday afternoon. During the legislative debate, at approximately 2:40 p.m., multiple observers in the opponent balcony began yelling. Two individuals threw objects over the balcony onto the legislative floor. Those individuals, Lucia Salinas, 24, of Omaha, and Maghie Miller-Jenkins, 36, of Lincoln, were arrested for obstructing a government operation and...
Twenty-two adult volunteers, one 4-H member and a family of volunteers are being recognized with 2023 Nebraska 4-H Volunteer Awards. Eleven individuals are receiving Outstanding Adult Volunteer Awards, including Chris Redding, of Elgin. The award recognizes current volunteers who have served more than four years in the local 4-H community. One individual is recognized for each Nebraska Extension Engagement Zone. In addition to Redding, recipients include: • Sally Bryner, Box Butte County • Jud...
If you don't like the weather in Nebraska, wait. It'll change in a few minutes. From wildfires and derechos to blizzards and tornadoes, the weather in Nebraska can change quickly. Being prepared for impending storms is key. Nebraska Severe Weather Awareness Week is recognized from March 27 to 31. A statewide tornado drill was scheduled for 10 a.m., Wednesday, March 30, depending on weather conditions. A National Weather Service spokesperson said, "We encourage everyone to take time to review and...
SUBMITTED ARTICLE Eight Summerland powerlifters traveled to Verdigre this past Saturday, Feb. 25, to participate in the second annual Verdigre Powerlifting Meet. A total of 147 powerlifters representing 14 different schools from around the state were in attendance. "It was an outstanding day of lifting for the Bobcat competitors," said Jeff Shabram. Raina Krebs reset or tied every one of her previously-held school records. Krebs now squats 245 pounds, bench presses 120 pounds and deadlifts 340...
One person has been arrested following a hit-and-run with a Nebraska State trooper, a pursuit, and an hour-long standoff on Interstate 80. The incident began at approximately 5:10 p.m., after Nebraska State Patrol received information regarding a semi pulling a flatbed trailer that was driving recklessly on Interstate 80 near Lincoln. A trooper observed the semi driving recklessly and attempted a traffic stop near mile marker 409. After the vehicle pulled over to the shoulder, it accelerated in...
The Village of Ewing will receive $431,640 from the Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust Fund, for construction of a two-unit duplex. The award was announced Wednesday by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. A total of 40 projects will receive funding statewide. In April, the Ewing village trustees reviewed guidelines with Judy Petersen, executive director of the Central Nebraska Economic Development District. At that time, Petersen said the village will provide a $100,000 match. The...
Nebraska State Troopers, with the assistance of York County sheriff’s deputies, have arrested a man following a pursuit on Interstate 80 Friday morning. At approximately 8:10 a.m., law enforcement received a report of a theft at Bomgaars in Central City. The information given also matched the description of a Honda Accord that had been reported stolen out of Lincoln earlier this week. The same vehicle was then reported to have been involved in a fuel theft from a gas station in Hordville, in Hamilton County. At approximately 8:40 a.m., a Y...
Late in the week of Sept. 6, and after considerable debate and negotiation, the redistricting committee introduced its bills outlining proposed new districts for the election of Congressional, Legislative, Supreme Court, Public Service Commission, Board of Regents and State Board of Education members. Our special session relative to redistricting commenced on Sept. 13. That same day, we began three days of hearings on those bills in Grand Island, Lincoln and Omaha, where many Nebraskans weighed...
Governor Ricketts signed the budget bills this past week with no line-item vetoes. He praised the Legislature for passing a budget that limited spending growth and placed an emphasis on increased funding for property tax relief measures. The Legislature gave first-round approval to LB 64, which addresses the taxation of social security benefits. LB 64 was introduced by Omaha Senator Brett Lindstrom and prioritized by Seward Senator Mark Kolterman. Only 13 states tax social security benefits....
UPDATED: APRIL 1, 2020 @ 8:04 P.M. North Central District Health Department, in communication with state officials, have signed the NCDHD counties, including Antelope, Boyd, Brown, Cherry, Holt, Keya Paha, Knox, Pierce and Rock, into the Directed Health Measures, effective April 1, at 10 p.m., through May 11, unless the order is extended. Please read the Directed Health Measures in full carefully, they can be found on the Department of Health and Human Services website at htt...
The first deaths in Nebraska, related to COVID-19, were reported Friday. According to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, a 50-year-old man from Douglas County, with underlying health concerns, is believed to be the first Nebraskan to die from COVID-19. The man, who had been in self-isolation at home since March 11, had contact with a known COVID-19 case out of state. Dr. Adi Pour, director of the Douglas County Health Department, expressed sympathy to the family and said,...
The first deaths in Nebraska, related to COVID-19, were reported Friday. According to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, a 50-year-old man from Douglas County, with underlying health concerns, is believed to be the first Nebraskan to die from COVID-19. The man, who had been in self-isolation at home since March 11, had contact with a known COVID-19 case out of state. Dr. Adi Pour, director of the Douglas County Health Department, expressed sympathy to the family and said,...
