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Drought conditions continue to worsen across eastern Nebraska

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Drought conditions continue to worsen across eastern Nebraska


LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – The U.S. Drought Monitor is produced in partnership between the National Drought Mitigation Center at UNL, NOAA, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Since 2000, every Thursday, they release their latest report. And every Thursday, we hope for some good news on drought conditions across Nebraska. Sadly, we haven’t had much good news lately – and that trend continues this week with the latest report issued.

The latest drought monitor continues to show worsening drought conditions across eastern Nebraska with areas of extreme and exceptional drought continuing to expand. Areas across central and western sections of the state remained unchanged from last week, with widespread moderate to severe drought for most locations.

The latest drought monitor, released on Thursday, May 25th(KOLN)

The biggest changes we saw from last week’s report, were expansions in areas of extreme and exceptional drought across eastern Nebraska. Areas of extreme drought continued to push further south in south central Nebraska, with areas of exceptional drought also continuing to push further south into parts of Butler, Polk, Seward, and York Counties. Lancaster County also saw severe drought conditions expand across southeastern parts of the county.

Parts of south central and southeastern Nebraska saw drought worsen this week.
Parts of south central and southeastern Nebraska saw drought worsen this week.(KOLN)

Rainfall has been almost completely MIA this month across parts of eastern Nebraska – including in Lincoln. In fact, Lincoln is currently on pace to tie for the driest May on record with just 0.49″ of rain at the Lincoln Airport since the month started. The 30 day observed rainfall graphic shows a line basically stretching from Omaha to Lincoln down towards Grand Island and Hastings where absolutely pitiful rainfall amounts have been observed over the last 30 days.

Driest Mays on record for Lincoln
Driest Mays on record for Lincoln(KOLN)
30 day observed rainfall
30 day observed rainfall(KOLN)

Over an ever long stretch – the meteorological spring season, which covers March, April, and May – Lincoln has only seen 1.71″ of precipitation at the Lincoln Airport. That number is currently good for the third driest meteorological spring season on record. You combine that with the fact that we saw WELL below average snowfall this winter, plus another exceptionally dry fall and summer period last year, and it’s easy to see why we have so much drought across eastern Nebraska.

Driest meteorological spring seasons in Lincoln
Driest meteorological spring seasons in Lincoln(KOLN)

The forecast moving forward offers little hope for any “drought-busting” rainfall. Projected rainfall amounts over the next week are expected to be highest across western Nebraska, where several inches of rain are possible. Unfortunately, for those areas that need the rain the most, little is expected for eastern Nebraska.

Rainfall potential over the next 7 days
Rainfall potential over the next 7 days(KOLN)



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Nebraska

Grand jury indicts Nebraska State Penitentiary inmate in the murder of his cellmate

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Grand jury indicts Nebraska State Penitentiary inmate in the murder of his cellmate


LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – A grand jury indicted a man in the murder of his cellmate at the Nebraska State Penitentiary on Oct. 29, 2022.

Lancaster County Attorney Pat Condon announced Monday a grand jury made up of 16 people returned an indictment charging Tyler Stanford with first-degree murder in the killing of his cellmate, Philip Garcia.

Under Nebraska Law, a grand jury is called whenever “a person has died while being apprehended by of while in the custody of a law enforcement officer of detention personnel.” The grand jury determines whether an offense against Nebraska criminal laws occurred regarding the death.

Following the indictment being filed, the District Court of Lancaster County scheduled Stanford to virtually appear from the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution for his initial court appearance on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m.

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This is an ongoing investigation. The Lancaster County Attorney’s Office coordinated with investigators from the Nebraska State Patrol, Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office and Lincoln Police Department.

Click here to subscribe to our 10/11 NOW daily digest and breaking news alerts delivered straight to your email inbox.



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Nebraska Extension offers Part 107 drone test prep courses

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Nebraska Extension offers Part 107 drone test prep courses


During the months of June, July and August 2024, Nebraska Extension will be offering one-day (eight hour) courses across the state to prepare individuals to pass the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aeronautical Knowledge Exam.

“The Part 107 Test Prep Course has been very successful, and students have been doing very well,” said Dirk Charlson, statewide extension educator of digital ag and course instructor, referring to the same course offered in early 2024.

During the months of January through March, Charlson taught this course across the state at six locations from the Nebraska Panhandle to Lincoln. The course had a total attendance of 87 students, who represented a mix of backgrounds from growers, educators, real estate accessors, professional photographers, and individuals involved in emergency management. In addition to Nebraska, students traveled from several states to attend, including Wyoming, Kansas, Iowa and Missouri.

This course covers aviation topics such as regulations, airspace, radio communication, weather, aircraft performance, and other basic aviation concepts necessary to pass the Part 107 knowledge exam. The exam is taken at an FAA designated location and consists of 60 multiple-choice questions.

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The Part 107 Remote Pilot Exam Prep Courses are available to the public. Aviation experience is not essential to be successful in the course. The course will be offered at seven locations across the state from June through August, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time:

  • June 7 — UNL Panhandle Research, Extension and Educator Center, 4502 Ave. I, Scottsbluff.
  • June 14 — Syracuse Public Library, 480 Fifth St., Syracuse.
  • June 21 — Hall County Extension Office, 3180 W. Hwy 34, Grand Island.
  • June 28 — Gage County Extension Office, 1115 W. Scott St., Beatrice.
  • July 10 — Henry J. Stumpf International Wheat Center, 76025 Rd. 329, Grant.
  • Aug. 8 — Dodge County Extension Office, 1206 W. 23rd St., Fremont.
  • Aug. 16 — UNL West Central Research, Extension and Education Center, 402 W. State Farm Rd., North Platte.

Registration is available online for each location. Pre-registration is required with a $275 registration fee.

Please contact Dirk Charlson for more information on this course at 402-460-0742 (text or call).



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Nebraska Extension Introductory Level Crop Scout Training – 5/21/24 @ 8:30am

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Nebraska Extension Introductory Level Crop Scout Training – 5/21/24 @ 8:30am


A May 21 Nebraska Extension training course is scheduled for industry representatives and corn and soybean growers wanting to learn how to better manage corn and soybean pests.

The introductory level crop scout training is designed for entry-level scouts who are working for crop consultants, industry agronomists or farm service centers in Nebraska and neighboring states. The training is also ideal for growers who scout their own fields or are interested in improving productivity, as well as for students being employed by agribusinesses.

The course, which will be held in-person, is from 8:55 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. with registration at 8:30 a.m. at the University of Nebraska’s Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center which is located at 1071 County Road G, Ithaca, NE 68033. Nebraska Extension Educator Aaron Nygren says, “We look forward to providing participants a hands-on, in-person experience focusing on important crop scouting skills.”

Topics covered during the day include:
• Scouting Tips and Understanding Corn & Soybean Growth & Development
• Crop Diseases & Quiz
• Scouting Techniques – Soil, Tissue, Disease Samples & Drone Best Practices
• Identifying Weeds – Morphology, Using a Key to Identify Weed Seedlings
• Corn & Soybean Insect Scouting, Identification, Management
• Nutrient Deficiencies in Corn & Soybeans
• Hands on Practice

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Some of the benefits past registrants stated the training provided included practical/working knowledge and better accuracy in field scouting. Other participants appreciated the hands-on, practical format. Past participants have consistently given the training high marks and state that the knowledge gained from attending improved their scouting skills.

Cost for the program is $100, which includes lunch, refreshment breaks, workshop materials and a 3 ring binder instruction manual. The take-home instruction manual includes a variety of reference materials that provide resources for crop scouting. For those attending the daylong training that don’t want a copy of the instruction manual, the fee is $60. Attendees should preregister to reserve their seat and to ensure workshop materials are available the day of the training session.

Certified Crop Advisor continuing education credits are being applied for with 6 credits in pest management, 1 in crop management and .5 in fertility/nutrient management.

To register or for more information, go to https://enreec.unl.edu/fieldcropscouttraining, contact Nebraska Extension at (402) 624-8030, or e-mail Aaron Nygren at anygren2@unl.edu. Preregistration requested by May 17 for meal planning purposes.

Extension is in the university’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

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