Nebraska
Grant program looks to revitalize small towns
LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – The distinct downtowns of Nebraska is one of the things that makes it special, but as many small towns dry up, some of those historic areas are decaying too.
A new grant program, passed last year in the state legislature and administered by the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy, seeks to reverse that course.
The Dempster industrial compound in south Beatrice once pumped industrial lifeblood through the homestead town.
“When I was a little boy, that was running three shifts, and then I saw it stop,” said Ted Fairbanks, Beatrice City Council.
But over the last decade, Dempster has become a dumpster. A labyrinthine cavern of pitch black corridors with scenes frozen in time from its heyday.
“It’s the first thing when you come to town from this side,” Chet McGrury, the Beatrice Community Development Director, said. “You know, you get an impression, first impression that, ‘Ooo, things aren’t so great here, possibly.’”
So Beatrice leaders are looking for hope in a new grant program to slowly, but surely, transform the ruins into a green space.
State Senator Myron Dorn introduced the Revitalize Rural Nebraska Grant Program last legislative session. It’s $1 million aim to help small towns with the cost of clearing away rundown buildings.
“To clean that up,” Sen. Dorn said. “Get that so it’s now not an eyesore no more. That when people drive by, they go, ‘boy that makes our town not look very good.’”
The grant is intended for towns pinched for pennies, with populations of less than 5,000. But if there’s enough in the pot of this grant and others, some money could come Beatrice’s way—a welcome prospect as it tries to take down Dempster, one building at a time.
“It’s going to be really expensive, and we need to get these grants or we really can’t do it,” Fairbanks said.
The Department of Environment and Energy will accept applications for this grant program through February.
“I’m hoping a lot of cities apply for this because if we can show need for $3 (million) to $5 million, hopefully we can come back and maybe ask for more,” Dorn said.
Beatrice leaders said the city’s historic downtown has been coming back to life, but to really get there, they said they’ll have to lay Dempster’s haunting past to rest.
“Even to get this back to just a nice green space, another park,” McGrury said. “Something that just is not a an ugly, rotting building.”
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Copyright 2024 KOLN. All rights reserved.
Nebraska
No. 22 Maryland Dominates Nebraska Behind 16 Points From Isimenme Ozzy-Momodu
Isimenme Ozzy-Momodu scored 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting, and No. 22 Maryland pulled away down the stretch for a 78-60 win over Nebraska on Saturday.
Oluchi Okananwa scored nine of the Terrapins’ 15 first-quarter points, and Maryland (19-6, 7-6 Big Ten) led 45-28 at halftime after a 30-17 second quarter.
Nebraska closed within 50-33 early in the third, but Maryland answered with Addi Mack’s layup off a steal and a Yarden Garzon 3-pointer to stretch the margin back to 52-33. The Terrapins won the third quarter, 25-18, and pushed the lead past 30 on a Rainey Welson 3-ball with 5:09 left in the period.
Okananwa had 14 points and four steals, Garzon scored 11 points with six assists and Kyndal Walker added 13 off the bench. Welson finished with a career-high 13 points.
Ozzy-Momodu added nine rebounds, and Maryland finished with a 44-22 advantage in points in the paint. The Terrapins shot 50% from the field, out-rebounded Nebraska 39-26 and forced 22 turnovers.
Logan Nissley led Nebraska (16-8, 5-8) with a career-high 22 points, including 13 by halftime, and hit six 3-pointers for her first 20-point game. Britt Prince made her 54th straight free throw in the third quarter, a Nebraska school record.
Next, Maryland hosts Penn State on Thursday, while Nebraska travels to Minnesota.
Reporting by The Associated Press.
Nebraska
Watch Nebraska high school state wrestling duals: Live stream, schedule
The Nebraska School Activities Association (NSAA) high school wrestling duals are Saturday, Feb. 7, in Kearney, Nebraska.
Champions will be crowned in Class A, B, C and D.
All matches will stream live on the NFHS Network on eight mats. Wrestling begins at 9 a.m. CST on Saturday.
The event will be held at the Buffalo County Fairgrounds in Kearney.
Here’s a look at the schedule and live stream information. All times CST.
Saturday, Feb. 7
Session 1
9 a.m.: Class B and C quarterfinals
10:30 a.m.: Class A and D quarterfinals
Noon: All classes, consolation semifinals
Session 2
1:30 p.m.: All classes, semifinals
3:30 p.m.: Third- and fifth-place duals
5:30 p.m.: Championship duals
What is the NFHS Network?
The NFHS Network covers 27 different regular-season and postseason sports nationwide. NFHS Network costs $13.99 per month or $79.99 per year.
Nebraska
Nebraska senator alleges inappropriate comments from male colleague
LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – A Nebraska senator announced on social media Friday that her male colleague allegedly made sexually inappropriate comments toward her.
Sen. Megan Hunt, who represents District 8, shared the alleged encounter on her social media account Friday morning. The post singled out Sen. Brian Hardin, who represents District 48, as the perpetrator of the inappropriate comments.
I approached the introducer to discuss an amendment.
I said “So, is this a non-starter?”
Him: “YOU’RE a non-starter.”
And he looked into my eyes and slowly said “You’re getting really, REALLY wet.”
Me: ….. excuse me?
Him: “If you bring the thunder, you’re gonna get REALLY wet.” https://t.co/15xhEoPs7O— Senator Megan Hunt (@NebraskaMegan) February 6, 2026
Hardin’s office provided the following statement regarding the allegation:
“Sen. Hunt’s categorization of the event is the opposite of what she claims. What I said, in the midst of her attempt to pick a fight under the balcony over LB538, was that ‘You brought the thunder, now it’s going to rain.’ She said, ‘You mean I’m all wet?’ I repeated the first line and said, ‘When it rains, you get wet.’ NOTHING in the way of sexual harassment! There are consequences for Jewish students when legislation, already passed in 47 countries and 37 states, is sidelined for leftist reasons.”
This news comes after Amherst Sen. Dan McKeon’s resignation from the Nebraska Legislature shortly before senators were set to vote on his expulsion.
McKeon resigned on Jan. 13 after being cited for misdemeanor “public indecency” by the Nebraska State Patrol in October 2025. He is accused of inappropriate touching at a party toward the end of last year’s legislative session.
The criminal allegation was downgraded to a misdemeanor disturbing the peace charge to which McKeon pled not guilty to.
His trial is set for March 19 at 2 p.m.
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Copyright 2026 KOLN. All rights reserved.
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