Nebraska
Nebraska, portions of Great Plains continue to experience ‘significant drought conditions’
LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) -Some rain can be expected in parts the state later this week, but according to one of the 10 weekly contributors to the U.S. Drought Monitor, it won’t be enough to completely turn around the effects of current dry conditions in the region.
Curtis Riganti is a climatologist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s National Drought Mitigation Center and helps analyze data sets ranging from precipitation amount to vegetation health to publish the drought map each Thursday. He says unusually warm and windy conditions have led to significant drought conditions across the central and southern Great Plains.
The latest map from March 26 shows that majority of Nebraska is currently in at least severe drought, which Riganti says has helped create conditions perfect for stoking recent central Nebraska fires.
“As we’ve gone in to early spring now we’ve seen a continuation of those warm, windy conditions and dry weather for the most part,” he said. “That’s been particularly bad over the past few weeks. That’s unfortunately led to very favorable conditions for wildfire growth, which we’ve seen.”
Riganti added that a lack of snow in the Rocky Mountains is also contributing to drought conditions, and could result in less water running downstream into Nebraska this spring and summer.
As a reminder, you can always help out with the U.S. drought monitor by reporting conditions to their online database at go.unl.edu/cmor
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Copyright 2026 KOLN. All rights reserved.
KEARNEY — The 39th Annual Kearney Cruise Nite Show and Shine was hosted Downtown on the Bricks on Saturday, July 18.
The event is hosted by Central Nebraska Auto Club; customarily, Kearney Cruise Nite events are held the third weekend each summer in July.
All the activities build to a crescendo on Saturday. The annual Show & Shine hosts hundreds of classic vehicles parked on “The Bricks” in downtown Kearney, per the Central Nebraska Auto Club.
Photos by Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today
Grand Island, Neb. (KSNB) – The Nebraska Siege are back at home for the first time in three weeks when they play the St. Joseph Goats Saturday night at the BigIron Events Center.
The last time the two teams played was in St. Joe, where the Siege beat the Goats 56 to 47.
The Saturday night matchup marks the final regular season, home game for the Siege. But with a win, the Siege can clinch home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Throwoff is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Saturday night.
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Copyright 2026 KSNB. All rights reserved.
Nebraska
Nebraska DHHS evaluating USDA guidelines that could limit food access for undocumented immigrants
LINCOLN, Neb. — New requirements for the Emergency Food Assistance Program could mean some people lose access to food they previously received, and organizations like the Food Bank of Lincoln are warning the community about the looming change.
It has been five months since the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) directed state agencies to review options to ensure undocumented immigrants do not receive taxpayer-funded benefits like food from the program. Nebraska DHHS manages the program in the state, and food banks distribute the food. DHHS confirms it is currently evaluating potential implementation of the request.
Says in a statement provided to 10/11,
The Food Bank of Lincoln says 10 percent of the food it distributes is provided by the USDA through the program, and the new rule would add another barrier to food access.
“We believe that all people should have access to food. Always. End of story for us. And so for us, it’s counter to our mission to think about turning away a child or a senior or a family because of their legal status and not providing them food,” said Tiffany Murray, chief operating officer of the Food Bank of Lincoln.
Currently, people receiving food provided by the USDA submit their income and household size, but their full name is not required on the form. The Food Bank said, under the new rules, a full name must be printed and signed, which may make some people hesitant to participate.
The Food Bank of Lincoln said during the last fiscal year they distributed
10/11 reached out to DHHS about when the changes would be implemented and had not received a response detailing the timeline as of Friday.
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Copyright 2026 KOLN. All rights reserved.
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