Nebraska
Andrews, Clark recognized with Fulfilling the Dream awards
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln will wrap its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Week with the MLK Commemorative Celebration, where the 2024 Fulfilling the Dream awards will be presented to Arthur “Trey” Andrews and Genese Clark.
Andrews, associate professor in psychology and ethnic studies, and Clark, doctoral student in child, youth and family studies, will be formally recognized during the celebration, which will be 6-8 p.m. Jan. 30 in the Nebraska Union’s Centennial Room. Registration is required by Jan. 28.
Established in 1997, the Chancellor’s Fulfilling the Dream awards honor individuals who have contributed to the university community or the greater Lincoln community through their exemplary action in promoting the goals and vision of King.
Andrews was nominated by psychology faculty members Tierney Lorenz and Ken Wakabayashi for his ongoing research and initiatives into recognizing, understanding and overcoming health disparities among underrepresented populations.
“We have the pleasure of witnessing firsthand Dr. Andrew’s dedication to being a scientist-activist, who through his research program, teaching, and community engagement seeks to fundamentally leverage the results of his scientific discovery towards confronting and ultimately changing racist and unjust practices and behaviors at a local and national level,” Lorenz and Wakabayashi wrote in their nomination letter.
Since joining the faculty at Nebraska in 2016, Andrews has published numerous research articles and overseen new community initiatives, all focused on the intersection of health disparities stemming from unjust racism or other systemic discrimination.
Andrews serves as co-director of the university’s Minority Health Disparities Initiative, an interdisciplinary research initiative funded by the Office of Research and Economic Development and the Tobacco Settlement Funds in Nebraska. He also directs the Iniciativa Healthcare Access & Bienestar Latine (HABLa) lab, which conducts research into improving mental health equity, especially for Latine and Spanish-speaking populations. Andrews’ work in HABLa and other initiatives has also helped expand mental health care access in rural Nebraska.
As an instructor, Andrews co-founded the course Seeking Equity — a core class in the Clinical Psychology Training program — and trains the next generation of clinical psychologists in multicultural competence and advocacy skills.
“Indeed, his record of being an activist-scientist is an inspiring model for us, as he leverages his research in order to change racist and unjust practices surrounding health disparities through both scholarly understanding and community action,” his nominators wrote.
Read more about Andrews.
Clark is pursuing a doctorate in the Global Family Health and Wellbeing program. She is a member of the Trauma and Resilience Explored Lab. Her research focuses on the resilience and strengths of African American families, as well as the social-emotional learning of young children in non-formal education settings.
Nominator Yan Ruth Xia remarked that Clark’s research has and will positively impact families. Clark developed the Family Strengths Wheel, an assessment tool based on the family strengths model. The wheel is an interactive tool that engages family members in identifying their own strengths. With that knowledge, families are more positive and willing to build up their positive traits to address their challenges.
“Genese is devoted to promoting the well-being of all families, and particularly low-income, Black, Indigenous, and other racially and ethnically marginalized families through her research, teaching, and outreach. She has contributed to Dr. Martin Luther King’s vision and conviction through her exemplar actions that inspire me and others at UNL and the local communities,” wrote Xia, professor of child, youth and family studies.
Clark’s research also served the Malone Center, where she studied the social-emotional learning of young children in after-school settings. The center used that research to improve its services and developed a new training curriculum.
Clark has also been instrumental in creating more equitable environments for her peers and colleagues, Xia wrote.
“She was awarded ODI funding to design a professional development series for early care and education faculty, exploring beliefs and assumptions about race, how their assumptions impacted teacher preparation, and ways to teach race and racism through the use of autoethnographies,” Xia said. “As a member of the Family Housing Workgroup, she highlighted the nuances of international students’ needs and experiences. She provided valuable feedback and recommendations in a written report to the Chancellor’s Office for short- and long-term solutions to family housing issues, as well as her feedback for the 2023 housing transitional plan and correspondence to residents.”
Read more about Clark.
OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Legalizing online sports betting has met with resistance in the Nebraska Legislature for years.
Tax Relief Nebraska, a group backed by Nebraska casinos and online sports betting groups, took the issue to the people of the state through a petition drive.
Those petitions are now in, and casino officials say they expect to have enough signatures to make the November ballot — but also expect pushback through Election Day.
The case for online betting
Currently, legal sports bets cannot be placed on a phone in Nebraska. Casino operators say people who choose to wager are finding other ways to do it.
“They’re just doing it illegally through a virtual private network, or they’re driving over to the first exit between Iowa and Nebraska, placing a bet and then driving back to their home,” said Lynne McNally of Warhorse Casino.
Nebraska casino operators say the state has already collected millions of dollars in state taxes and property tax relief from casino gambling, and that online sports betting would add to that total.
A majority of Nebraskans voted for casino gambling to enter the state in 2020, and casino operators expect similar support if the online betting petition makes the November ballot.
“As you know, we got 65% on the constitutional amendment and actually got nearly 70% on the tax portion of the statute when the casinos were legalized in 2020. I think that we’ll be in that area, if not maybe a little higher than that,” McNally said.
“There’s always going to be a sector of the public that doesn’t want to gamble. They don’t want to go to our facilities and that’s just fine. I guess I have an objection with trying to tell other people what to do,” McNally said.
The opposition
The Nebraska Family Alliance stands against online gambling and plans to campaign against the initiative across the state. The nonprofit group issued a statement that reads in part: “Online sports betting has been a massive public policy failure that benefits national sportsbooks at the expense of kids, student-athletes, families and businesses. While they have more money, they don’t have the truth.”
Pat Loontjer, director of Gambling with the Good Life, has opposed expanded gambling in Nebraska for 30 years.
“They’re telling the same lie — property tax relief. Well in Nebraska you say property tax relief and everybody says where do I sign,” Loontjer said.
Loontjer also raised concerns about the impact on young people.
“Sports betting on the phone is the most addictive thing for young people, young men especially. You’ve got kids that are going to lose their scholarships, lose their future,” Loontjer said.
What comes next
If enough signatures are verified and the issue is placed on the November ballot, Warhorse Casino officials say Nebraskans could be able to make sports bets on their phones by spring of next year.
Copyright 2026 WOWT. All rights reserved.
Along with marching in the parade, the high schools will tour the U.S. Capitol, visit Mount Vernon and other monuments and museums.
Around 80 Grand Island students are making the trip. Lee said the students cover their own costs, with fundraising largely run though the school’s booster program helping offset the expense.
Bishop Neumann’s 53 students benefited from community donations, along with a holiday greenery sale and fundraisers, which Kellett said helped cover airfare and other costs.
For both directors, the trip carries extra weight tied to the nation’s 250th anniversary.
“That’s a pretty big milestone,” Lee said. “And to be able to be a part of that is pretty neat.”
Kellett said the moment will stay with students long after the parade ends.
“These kids, they’ll be around for the 300th anniversary of the country, and they’ll be able to look back and tell their grandkids, ‘you know, I was there at 250 and was able to march in the National Independence Day Parade,’” Kellett said.
Both bands have spent the summer preparing. Grand Island started working on its music after its final spring concert in May, rehearsing its marching and music together on Tuesday evenings.
Bishop Neumann has rehearsed continuously over the summer and marched in two parades to prepare, a 150th anniversary celebration in Weston and the Papillion Days parade.
Kellett said the band’s last rehearsal in Wahoo drew residents who lined the streets holding signs and cheering the students on.
“The students have come in, and they’ve worked really hard,” Kellett said. “They have their music memorized and they’ve worked on their marching skills, and so all that effort into this they’re ready to go for the parade.”
The parade starts at 9:30 a.m. CT Saturday at Third Street and Constitution Avenue.
LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – Like his father, Zack Erstad is a Husker. Erstad, the son of Hall of Fame baseball player Darin Erstad, joined the Nebraska men’s golf program on Tuesday.
Zack signed with the Huskers one month after winning a state championship at Lincoln East. With the Spartans, Erstad was a two-time NSAA champion. He was Class A’s individual runner-up in 2026. The previous year, Erstad claimed the Nebraska Junior PGA Championship title.
Erstad said joining the Huskers is a dream come true. The Nebraska newcomer grew up playing baseball and hockey. However, he focused solely on golf while in high school.
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Copyright 2026 KOLN. All rights reserved.
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