Nebraska
Federal cuts pause Nebraska opioid reduction program
LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – The 12-month opioid reduction program was introduced in Nebraska hospitals back in September of 2024 as a way to prevent patients who needed painkillers after surgery from developing an addiction to them.
Less than a year later, and as those behind it say work was just beginning, funding for the program has been cut.
The program provided those undergoing an operation in Nebraska hospitals with a nurse before and after surgery, as well as at-home pain relief kits in an effort to prescribe the least amount of opioids to patients possible.
The $3 million of grant money used to fund that program was terminated by the federal government just last week, putting operations on pause. With that money being recalled, the pause on the program in its current form could be permanent.
The program was modeled to last until September 2025 and be implemented on over 4,000 patients. This cut comes just past the halfway point. In that time, those behind it say only 107 patients were able to be helped through it.
“Now you’re stopping it and you’re kind of wasting the money you’ve invested by not finishing the program completely,” Jeremy Nordquist, the president of the Nebraska Hospital Association, who represents more than 90 hospitals in the state, said. “If they wanted to stop it at the end of the fiscal year in September when the program was supposed to be done, and then now renew it after that, that would make a lot of sense. Then, at least you would have a baseline of data that you could use.”
Last Thursday, a federal judge temporarily blocked the cancellation of the funds that this program falls under. That case is still active, and the Nebraska’s opioid program will remain on pause until a final decision on the funding is made.
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Copyright 2025 KOLN. All rights reserved.
Nebraska
‘Trump Barn’ regains its sign, thanks to anonymous donor and installation help
ASHLAND, Neb. (Nebraska Examiner) – Online trolls had a field day in March when Nebraskans got wind that a stiff breeze had taken a political sign that named a red barn along Interstate 80 in eastern Nebraska.
Much of the social media discourse centered on a combination of higher gas prices, tariffs, war, political fatigue and polling headwinds during the second term for President Donald Trump.
The barn’s owner, farmer Alan Volger, told the Nebraska Examiner at the time he probably couldn’t afford another red-letter “TRUMP” sign, nor could he physically put a new sign up.
“I gotta have somebody else put signs up,” he said. “I don’t care how high it goes, I gotta keep one foot on the ground.”
Volger said the timing seemed OK since the president is term-limited and cannot run again. He still had his signs up supporting property tax reform and opposing abortion.
But this week, Dr. Pat Castle of LIFE Runners, an anti-abortion group from Lincoln, and a friend of Castle’s who owns a lift, posted a new “TRUMP” sign on the “Trump Barn.”
They had funding help from a supporter of Nebraska Secretary of State candidate Scott Petersen, who paid for the sign and let his preferred candidate for Nebraska’s top election official take the credit.
Petersen and fellow Republican Secretary of State Bob Evnen have been in a pitched primary race over the future of counting votes in Nebraska elections. Both have expressed support for Trump.
So this week a different set of online trolls had a good day, punching back against the Nebraskans who had said they were ready to see something else driving from Omaha to Lincoln.
One said, “He made his barn great again.”
Critics also clapped back. One said, “Surprised they could afford to drive it there with the price of diesel.”
Volger, on Friday, said he had heard from a number of people who wanted the sign back up, and he said a bunch of people driving on I-80 when it went back up on Wednesday honked at them.
He said even the Nebraska State Patrol has used his barn as a landmark, recalling a lost man he saw wandering on his property that troopers said the barn helped them locate.
His goal for this year is to get the barn repainted so it looks a little nicer in the pictures people share online. He said his painter agreed to take the signs down and put them back up.
“I’m sure not doing it,” Volger said, laughing.
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Copyright 2026 KOLN. All rights reserved.
Nebraska
South Dakota State Center Damon Wilkinson Commits to Nebraska Basketball
Nebrasketball is one step closer to finishing off its roster construction for next season.
On Thursday, South Dakota State center Damon Wilkinson committed to the Huskers. He has two seasons of eligibility remaining.
Career Experience
The 6-foot-10, 245-pound Wilkinson spent the last three seasons at South Dakota State, developing into an All-Summit League-level player. Most recently, as a sophomore, the De Smet (SD) native averaged 13.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.3 assists for the Jackrabbits.
In total, he’s appeared in 59 games, including 19 starts. During the 2025–26 season, Wilkinson averaged 23.9 minutes per game while shooting 58.9% from the field and 72.0% from the free-throw line.
Nebraska is getting a player who scored in double figures in each of his final eight games, including a 19-point outing and three games with 18 points during that stretch. His career high, 24 points, came against UNO.
Where Wilkinson Slots in for the Big Red
Wilkinson has the potential to start for the Huskers next season. Regardless, he gives Fred Hoiberg some much-needed depth in the frontcourt. Nebraska has already signed Boston College transfer Boden Kapke, who stands 6-foot-11 and 255 pounds, but adding another experienced big man would help bolster the rotation for another potential NCAA Tournament run.
After establishing himself as one of the better bigs in the Summit League a season ago, Wilkinson’s production is well known. However, the jump to the Big Ten, widely regarded as the best conference in college basketball last year, will be a significant step up.
Still, his size and length would help replace what NU lost. Rebounding and interior scoring were two areas the Big Red struggled with despite all the success they saw. Wilkinson could provide an answer to both, helping Hoiberg stay more competitive against the top teams in the conference, like Michigan, Illinois, and Purdue.
NU’s Roster (With Wilkinson and Current High School Commits) Moving Forward
|
2026-27 |
2027-28 |
2028-29 |
2029-30 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Cale Jacobsen- Sr. |
Will Cooper- Sr. |
Leo Curtis- Sr. |
Jacob Lanier- Sr. |
|
Henry Burt- Sr. |
Taj DeGourville- Sr. |
Braden Frager- Sr. |
Colin Rice- Sr. |
|
Pryce Sandfort- Sr. |
Damon Wilkinson- Sr. |
Jacob Lanier- Jr. |
Ty Schlagel- Jr. |
|
Connor Essegian- Sr. |
Leo Curtis- Jr. |
Colin Rice- Jr. |
|
|
Boden Kapke- Sr. |
Braden Frager- Jr. |
Ty Schlagel- So. |
|
|
Trevan Leonhardt- Sr. |
Jacob Lanier- So. |
||
|
Kadyn Betts- Sr. |
Colin Rice- So. |
||
|
Will Cooper- Jr. |
Ty Schlagel- Fr. |
||
|
Taj DeGourville- Jr. |
|||
|
Damon Wilkinson- Jr. |
|||
|
Sam Orme- Jr. |
|||
|
Leo Curtis- So. |
|||
|
Braden Frager- So. |
|||
|
Jacob Lanier- Fr. |
|||
|
Colin Rice- Fr. |
Husker Potential Starting Lineup
The window to enter the transfer portal closed April 21, but Nebraska is still not done adding to its roster. Even so, the foundation of next year’s lineup has already largely taken place.
Pryce Sandfort and Braden Frager are set to return, and the Big Red added Sam Orme, Kapke, Kadyn Betts, Trevan Leonhardt, and Taj DeGourville as well. That gives the Huskers multiple starting-caliber pieces to replace those that were lost from a season ago.
Frager and Sandfort are expected to start as off-ball guards, with Leonhardt likely taking over primary ball-handling duties. Orme and Kapke appear to be the leading candidates at the four and five spots, though both will still need to earn their roles. Either way, Nebraska has depth, and adding Wilkinson only strengthens it further.
Why Nebraska Makes Sense for Wilkinson
Even if he doesn’t fit into a starting role in 2026–27, the former Jackrabbit still has multiple years of eligibility remaining to develop in the Big Ten. And at the very least, he will factor into Nebraska’s rotation.
NU doesn’t have an abundance of players listed near the 7-foot range, so Wilkinson’s ability to score and rebound made him a clear priority on his visit this week. Besides those mentioned, Nebraska’s top – and only – returning frontcourt player is the 7-foot-2 Leo Curtis.
After leading Nebraska to a Sweet 16 appearance with an underfunded roster just over a month ago, the coaching staff has proven it can develop players at a high level. For a player like Wilkinson, with multiple years of eligibility remaining, Lincoln presents a strong opportunity to grow within a rising program.
The addition of Wilkinson leaves Hoiberg with one remaining roster spot for the 2026-27 campaign.
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Nebraska
$1M Powerball winning tickets sold in Nebraska
LINCOLN, Neb. (KSNB) – Nebraska has some new millionaires, so check your tickets to see if you are one of them.
Two lucky players who bought Powerball tickets for the Wednesday, April 29, drawing are holding tickets worth $1 million.
The Nebraska Lottery has confirmed that two tickets sold for Wednesday’s $143 million Powerball drawing matched the first five numbers, but not the Powerball number itself.
- Trotter’s Whoa & Go Express IV, 1111 S. 2nd St. in Ord.
- Mega Saver, 4725 S. 77th Ave. in Omaha.
The winning numbers from Wednesday’s Powerball drawing were 3, 19, 35, 51, 67; the Powerball was 15.
Thirty-four $1 million Powerball winning tickets have been sold in Nebraska since the $1 million prize was added to the game in January 2012.
Winning Nebraska Lottery Lotto tickets expire 180 days after the drawing.
If your prize is $20,000 or more, you must claim it in person at Lottery headquarters in Lincoln. Additional information about claiming prizes can be found at the Nebraska Lottery website, nelottery.com, or by calling 800-587-5200.
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Copyright 2026 KSNB. All rights reserved.
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