LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – With possible snow looming this weekend, the Nebraska State Patrol plans to have a lot of troopers on the roads.

On Friday, the patrol was “just kind of waiting for it to happen,” Trooper Madison Reynoldson said.

Having never driven in the snow, a Channel 8 reporter asked what drivers should prepare for to manage getting around.

Because the snow is so much later in the season than what most Nebraskans are used to, the state patrol is reminding everyone to double-check road conditions.

Reynoldson said you can check the 511 website to plan your route before you drive.

“If the weather is really bad, the first thing to do is make sure it is safe to drive outside; there’s times when it might be better just to stay home,” she said. “But you can always check 511 online, you can check the roadways that you’ll be traveling on, and it actually shows pictures and the conditions that those roads are in at that time.”

Some of the biggest pieces of advice the patrol wants to remind you about are to leave plenty of stopping distance between yourself and others, do not drive distractedly, and pay close attention to other drivers.

Keeping a close eye on your surroundings can be vital if you begin to slide.

Reynoldson also shared what essential items you should keep in your car to prepare for times like this.

“I would definitely keep gloves, coats, hats, extra water, food, for sure phone chargers,” she said. “That is one thing we see is that people that get stranded, their phone dies, and that is really our only communication with them.”

An ice scraper is also essential.

Channel 8 got to ride along with Reynoldson, who said the best thing to remember is to stay calm, accelerate slowly and think twice before getting on the roads.

The state patrol is available if you get stuck.

“If you get stranded or need help on the roadway, you can call *55, and that’ll get hold of the Nebraska State Patrol dispatchers, and they’ll send a trooper your way to help,” Reynoldson said.

On our Now Local News App, we asked what advice you have for Channel 8 reporters who are new to snow.

Winona said timing and controlling your speed are everything when it comes to driving in the snow.

“I am going to keep it real with you, it can definitely be scary,” she said. “I would advise you to leave early, take your time, and leave plenty of room for other drivers.”

Christopher shared the same advice.

“Go slow,” he said. “It took me a little bit of time to get used to driving here. Just like I said, go slow, assume there’s going to be ice on the road if there is snow on the roads. Potentially there is going to be ice hidden underneath so take it easy.”

Data Skrive

The Nebraska Cornhuskers (11-2, 1-1 Big Ten) will look to build on a five-game win streak when they host the No. 15 UCLA Bruins (11-2, 2-0 Big Ten) on Saturday, January 4, 2025 at Pinnacle Bank Arena. The contest airs at 2:00 PM ET on FOX.

The Cornhuskers are just a 1-point favorite against the Bruins when the Cornhuskers and Bruins play in a game oddsmakers project to be a tight matchup. The matchup’s over/under is set at 134.5.

Keep reading to get all you need to know ahead of wagering on the Nebraska-UCLA clash.

Nebraska vs. UCLA How to Watch & Odds

• When: Saturday, January 4, 2025 at 2:00 PM ET
• Where: Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska
• How to watch on TV: FOX
• Live boxscore on FOX Sports

Nebraska vs. UCLA Prediction

• Pick ATS: UCLA (+1)
  
• Pick OU: Over (134.5)
  
• Prediction:
  UCLA 71, Nebraska 70
  

Learn more about the Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. the UCLA Bruins game on FOX Sports!

Nebraska vs. UCLA Betting Insights

Betting Line Implied Predictions

• Based on the spread and over/under, the implied score for the game is Cornhuskers 68, Bruins 67.
• The Cornhuskers have a 53.5% chance to collect the win in this contest per the moneyline’s implied probability.
• The Bruins sit with a 51.2% implied probability to come out on top.

Key Spread Facts

• Nebraska is 8-5-0 ATS this season.
• UCLA has won nine games against the spread this year, while failing to cover four times.
• Nebraska is 6-4 ATS this season when playing as at least 1-point favorites.
• UCLA has won each of its three games this year when playing as at least 1-point underdogs.

Key Total Facts

• The Cornhuskers games have had more than 134.5 points scored on nine occasions this season.
• So far this season, six Bruins games have featured over 134.5 points scored.
• The total for this matchup is 134.5 points, 20.6 fewer than the combined scoring average of the two teams.

Key Moneyline Facts

• Nebraska has won all 10 games when listed as the moneyline favorite this season.
• UCLA has been the underdog in three games this season but picked up the win in all of them.
• Nebraska has won all 10 games it played as a moneyline favorite with odds of -115 or shorter.
• UCLA has been at least a -105 moneyline underdog three times this season but won all of those games.

15

UCLA Bruins

UCLA

+1.0

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-103

O 133.5

Nebraska Cornhuskers

NEB

-1.0

-117

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U 133.5

Nebraska vs. UCLA: 2024-25 Stats Comparison

Nebraska 2024-25 Key Players

UCLA 2024-25 Key Players

FOX Sports created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Big Ten

Nebraska Cornhuskers

UCLA Bruins

OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) – Respiratory illnesses are on the rise around the state. Mark Rupp, chief of Division of Infectious Diseases at Nebraska Medicine encourages neighbors to get vaccinated before flu season progresses.

• 395 cases of influenza were reported in Douglas County last week
• Parents should keep their sick kids home to prevent the spread
• Avoiding indoor areas with large crowds could help prevent illness

BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT:

Flu and other respiratory illnesses are on the rise in Nebraska.

Douglas County has reported 829 influenza cases since October, with 395 of those cases reported last week.

As students return to school from break, Ralston School Nurse Candace Johnson said she wants to remind parents to keep their sick kids home.

“Parents send their kids to school even if they are feeling unwell and one of the reasons I discourage that is they are in a classroom setting they are going to be spreading their germs to people in class and people they know as well,” she said. “That includes babies and elderly people at home, we need to do everything we can to protect them.”

Right now, Nebraska is seeing an upward trend of cases in influenza, according to Mark Rupp, chief of Division of Infectious Diseases at Nebraska Medicine although it looks like a traditional flu season, influenza in the state is highly transmissible.

“Get vaccinated if you have not received a flu or covid 19 vaccine,” Rupp said. “It’s not too late but it will take a week or two in order get your immune system kicked in to prevent illness so you need to get that started now so you can take advantage of that as the influenza season progresses.”

RSV, COVID and other respiratory illnesses are also being transmitted, Rupp said neighbors should also try to avoid crowded indoor settings, and if they are at severe risk, you should consider wearing a mask to prevent the spread and see a doctor as soon as symptoms show up.