Nebraska
Achievements | Honors, appointments and publications for Jan. 16
Recent achievements for the University of Nebraska–Lincoln community were earned by Simanti Banerjee, Joan Barnes, Maathir Basi, Edgar Cahoon, Ozan Ciftci, Abner Sanchez Dominguez, Kristen Hoerl, Dane Kiambi, Ciara Ousley, Ali Shull, Jordan Soliz and Colleen Warner.
Honors
Edgar Cahoon, George Holmes Professor of biochemistry and director of the university’s Center for Plant Science Innovation, received the 2026 Supelco American Oil Chemists’ Society Research Award for outstanding original research on fats, oils, lipid chemistry or biochemistry published in highly cited journals, books and papers.
Ozan Ciftci, Kenneth E. Morrison Distinguished Professor of Food Engineering, received the 2026 Timothy L. Mounts Award from the American Oil Chemists’ Society for significant contributions to the science and technology of edible fats and oils or derivatives in food products.
Abner Sanchez Dominguez and Maathir Basi, undergraduate students in biological sciences and microbiology, and psychology, respectively, received presentation awards at the 2025 Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists in San Antonio, Texas. The conference is the American Society for Microbiology’s national conference, supporting multidisciplinary science and workforce development for scientists of all career stages, including undergraduate students. Eleven Huskers presented research, and the group was led by Marianna Burks, assistant professor of practice in the School of Biological Sciences.
Ciara Ousley, assistant professor of special education and communication disorders, has been named the 2026 recipient of the Early Career Research Award from the Council for Exceptional Children’s Division on Autism and Developmental Disabilities. The award recognizes early career researchers who demonstrate exceptional promise in research related to students with autism, intellectual disability and other developmental disabilities at the early stages of their careers, and who have completed their doctoral work within the past six years. Ousley’s research focus has included supporting the social communication skills of young children with autism and other developmental disabilities who have limited to no vocal speech, including those who use augmentative and alternative communication.
Ali Shull, a doctoral student in the Department of Educational Psychology, was named a Graduate Scholar by the Buffett Early Childhood Institute at the University of Nebraska. The program awards one-year fellowships worth up to $25,000 to a maximum of four NU doctoral students every year. Shull is researching how exposure to parenting content on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram affects parental stress and confidence. She has recruited parents to watch popular parenting videos while wearing heart rate monitors, measuring their biological response to those videos compared to arts and crafts content. Surveys will inquire about parenting skills and whether they compare themselves negatively to parenting influencers.
Jordan Soliz, professor of communication studies and Leland J. and Dorothy H. Olson Chair in Arts and Sciences, and Colleen Warner, 2011 doctoral graduate, received the Dawn O. Braithwaite Distinguished Book Award from the National Communication Association’s Family Communication Division for their volume, “Navigating Relationships in the Modern Family: Communication, Identity and Difference” (Peter Lang, 2020). The book was recognized at the association’s annual meeting in Denver in November.
Appointments
Joan Barnes was selected to serve a two-year term on the Association of Research Libraries Communications Working Group. The purpose of the group is to advise the association’s communications staff on its member-facing communication strategy, helping to ensure programmatic visibility through a variety of channels.
Publications
Simanti Banerjee, professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics, served as an editor of the recently published 50th anniversary commemorative issue of the Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, which is the official journal of the Western Agricultural Economics Association.
Kristen Hoerl, associate professor of communication studies, recently published a book, “The Impossible Woman: Television, Feminism and the Future,” with Rutgers University Press. “The Impossible Woman” examines a variety of scripted television series across multiple genres to show how the cultural value of television’s extraordinarily talented female characters often rests upon their ability to endure — but not overcome — sexism. Hoerl argues that these series contribute to sexist realism, or the cultural assumption that there is no alternative to patriarchy. Situating impossible women’s struggles in the context of contemporary feminist politics, Hoerl explains how the problems facing television’s strongest women illustrate mainstream feminism’s paradoxical dependence on cultural misogyny, neoliberal individualism and racism.
Dane Kiambi, associate professor of advertising and public relations, recently published “Public Address in Africa: An Analysis of Great Speeches by African Personalities” with Peter Lang Publishers. The book offers a comprehensive analysis of speeches that trace Africa’s political and socio-economic evolution over the past 65 years. From Patrice Lumumba’s call to end oppression in Africa to Nana Akufo-Addo’s critique of economic disparities with the West, this anthology spans pivotal moments. Each speech is analyzed and contextualized, highlighting themes of colonialism, liberation, unity and self-reliance.
Nebraska
Nebraska State Patrol troopers find 242 pounds of cocaine during commercial truck inspection
LEXINGTON, Neb. (KOLN) – Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol arrested one person after finding more than 240 pounds of cocaine during a commercial vehicle inspection.
On Tuesday afternoon, an NSP Carrier Enforcement trooper conducted a commercial vehicle inspection on a semi tractor/trailer driven by Arwinderjit Singh, 30, of California, near mile marker 254 on Interstate 80.
During the inspection, the trooper became suspicious of criminal activity. An NSP K-9 detected the odor of a controlled substance inside the cab of the semi, troopers said.
After searching the cab, troopers located 242 pounds of cocaine concealed underneath the sleeper bed, NSP said.

Singh was arrested on suspicion of possession of cocaine, possession with intent to deliver, possession of an open alcohol container, no drug tax stamp and displaying a fictitious license plate.
Singh was lodged in Dawson County Jail, and his bond was set at 10% of $2 million. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 12.
Click here to subscribe to our 10/11 NOW daily digest and breaking news alerts delivered straight to your email inbox.
Copyright 2026 KOLN. All rights reserved.
Nebraska
Athlete of the Week: Creighton Prep boys wrestling’s Zaiyahn Ornelas
OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Creighton Prep senior Zaiyahn Ornelas won his fourth consecutive Nebraska state wrestling title on Saturday.
According to NSAA records, he joins 39 other wrestlers in state history to accomplish the feat.
“It’s a great feeling,” Ornelas said. “It’s a feeling everybody wants.”
Ornelas won three Class C state titles at Wilber-Clatonia at 106, 113 and 120 pounds before transferring to Creighton Prep for his senior season, where he competed in Class A at 126 pounds.
“Three state titles there and then just thought I could bump up my competition,” Ornelas said.
“Zaiyahn is one of the cleanest technicians I’ve ever seen. That’s a huge testament to his coaching staff at Wilber,” Fisher added.
Ornelas was one of four Creighton Prep wrestlers to win state titles this season, helping lead the Jr. Jays to the Class A team title. Teammates said his presence in the practice room raised their level of competition.
“I could never slack off just because my competition in the state was easy. I always had to come in this room and get better or else I was going to get beat,” said sophomore Cruzer Dominguez, a two-time Class A state champion at 106 and 120 pounds.
Sophomore Kameron Green, the Class A 144-pound state champion this year, also credited Ornelas for aiding in his development.
“Zaiyahn being a training partner has helped me in tremendous ways,” he said. “When he wrestles, he’s not the nicest or shyest kid, but he’s tenacious and tough.”
Junior JT Smith, a two-time state champion at 175 and 190 pounds, said the achievement carries weight for the entire team.
“It’s something really special to have a teammate that’s a four-time state champion,” he said. “That’s something everyone wants to be.”
Fisher said Ornelas’s attitude set the tone from the start.
“He has so many skills and then coming into our room, he’s extremely coachable. Every time he came in here he was humble, ready to work, wanting to get better and that’s why he is as good as he is,” Fisher said.
Ornelas signed to wrestle at the University of Nebraska in November. He said the move to Creighton Prep delivered what he was looking for.
“This is the reason why I came here. I went out to explore, to find the best, and this is the territory that I found. If it wasn’t for these guys — the push — I would have not been there,” Ornelas said.
“It’s hard to believe. That’s kind of what I wanted since the beginning, freshman year,” he said.
—
Watch breaking news unfold on our livestream. Download the First Alert 6 streaming app to your TV or find us in your favorite streaming platform.
Copyright 2026 WOWT. All rights reserved.
Nebraska
Nebraska Chamber taps former state senator to lead during leadership transition
LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – The Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry has selected a former state senator and longtime board member to lead the chamber while it searches for a new president and CEO.
Board of Directors Chair Pat Keenan said Thursday that Matt Williams of Gothenburg agreed to serve as interim president.
ALSO READ: Nebraska Chamber president and CEO resigns after less than a year
“The Board is grateful to Matt for stepping into this role during a very active and productive time for the Nebraska Chamber,” Keenan said. “He has steady leadership, strong relationships and trust from his many years of advocacy for economic development, and decades of experience working with the legislature and state government on tax policy and economic development incentives.”
Williams represented District 36 in the Nebraska Legislature from 2015 to 2023.
The chamber said Williams has had a lifelong career in banking and serves as chairman of Flatwater Bank. He previously served as chair of the Nebraska Bankers Association and the American Bankers Association.
His long involvement with the chamber includes membership on the Board of Directors; he currently serves as director for District 6. In 2025, he was named to the Nebraska Business Hall of Fame.
“The Nebraska Chamber is on rock-solid footing, with the clear vision of the Board, and talented and hard-working staff hitting its stride in legislative policy and advocacy, technology, manufacturing, leadership-development, fund-raising and membership. The success of cutting-edge initiatives like 6 Regions, One Nebraska, the launch of the Go Big Future series, and the strong member engagement across the state demonstrate the success and strength of this organization. I’m excited to lend my support in whatever way I can for the Chamber. I know how strong businesses and communities make for a stronger Nebraska, and I’m glad to be part of that.”
Click here to subscribe to our 10/11 NOW daily digest and breaking news alerts delivered straight to your email inbox.
Copyright 2026 KOLN. All rights reserved.
-
World2 days agoExclusive: DeepSeek withholds latest AI model from US chipmakers including Nvidia, sources say
-
Massachusetts2 days agoMother and daughter injured in Taunton house explosion
-
Montana1 week ago2026 MHSA Montana Wrestling State Championship Brackets And Results – FloWrestling
-
Louisiana5 days agoWildfire near Gum Swamp Road in Livingston Parish now under control; more than 200 acres burned
-
Oklahoma1 week agoWildfires rage in Oklahoma as thousands urged to evacuate a small city
-
Denver, CO2 days ago10 acres charred, 5 injured in Thornton grass fire, evacuation orders lifted
-
Technology7 days agoYouTube TV billing scam emails are hitting inboxes
-
Technology6 days agoStellantis is in a crisis of its own making