Nebraska
Federal grant to help Beatrice beautify its downtown area, make it more pedestrian friendly • Nebraska Examiner
BEATRICE, Nebraska — A federal grant is expected to turn a long-discussed project to enhance downtown Beatrice into a reality.
The city recently was named a recipient of a $21.4 million grant from the federal infrastructure bill, which will be used to reroute U.S. Highway 136 one block south, around the downtown core, to make that area more pedestrian- and festival-friendly.
An official with the Main Street Beatrice program, which is leading redevelopment efforts, said that moving semi-truck traffic off the east-west highway, known as Court Street, in the center of downtown will allow the community to string holiday lights, install public art, benches and landscaping, and more easily shut off the street for festivals and events.
“It opens up a world of opportunities,” said Morgan Fox, executive director of Main Street Beatrice.
Tobias Tempelmeyer, Beatrice’s city manager, echoed that sentiment.
“It’s a very transformative project for us,” he said.
The grant money is coming from the federal Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity program, or RAISE, which is part of the bipartisan infrastructure program passed under President Joe Biden.
The RAISE program has granted more than $7.2 billion to about 550 projects across the country, including one other in Nebraska.
That is a $750,000 grant to Lincoln County to study alternative routes for freight traffic and improvements for pedestrians and bicyclists’ infrastructure, and support the ongoing development of the Nebraska International Port of the Plains, which is being developed near North Platte.
In Beatrice, rerouting Highway 136 has been discussed for several years, but it always included concerns about how to finance such a project, as well as questions about whether rerouting the east-west highway along Market Street, one block to the south, might harm restaurants, bars and others businesses along Court Street.
The city already has designated truck routes around Court Street, but the routes are voluntary, and few truckers traveling east-west used them, according to Tempelmeyer.
Gov. Jim Pillen, in a recent press release, congratulated Beatrice on obtaining the grant funds, noting the assistance from the Nebraska Department of Transportation.
“I’m proud that Beatrice leaned into this opportunity and appreciate NDOT’s efforts to support them in making the project a reality. It’s a big win for Nebraska,” said Pillen, who has called for increasing use of federal grant funds.
The $21 million grant will be used to redesign and reconstruct the highway and to add pedestrian and cyclist safety features, the press release said.
Tempelmeyer said a formal vote to accept the federal grant will be taken by the Beatrice City Council in the next couple of months.
After that, he said, the city will hire an engineering firm to design the approximately six block rerouting. It will be at least two years, Tempelmeyer estimated, before work to reroute the highway and to beautify Court Street will begin.
(WOWT) – On this day in 1972, the eastern cottonwood was named the official Nebraska state tree.
It replaced the original choice, the American elm.
The cottonwood is often associated with Nebraska’s pioneer era. Several famous landmarks were cottonwood trees. Their shoots were often collected by settlers.
Today, the cottonwood grows throughout the state, with the largest being in Wheeler County.
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On July 4, 2026, our country will celebrate its 250th birthday. Every day leading up to it, First Alert 6 will take a look at the people and events that shaped our area.
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Copyright 2026 WOWT. All rights reserved.
NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (KNOP) – The Nebraska Extension hosted a workshop Wednesday morning for ag producers, focusing on how to use drought monitoring and forecasting tools, assess drought impacts and risks, explore management strategies, and identify available resources.
Organizers say the goal is to help producers make more informed, timely decisions as changing weather patterns continue to affect soil moisture, crop conditions, and long-term planning.
The session also highlighted practical tools farmers can use to track drought development and adjust operations before conditions worsen.
“The really warm temperatures and strong wind just sucked the moisture out of the soil, out of the vegetation and this has been going on since at least October and were not going to come out of it over the night, it’s going to take a while to rebuild those moisture supplies even if we get average moisture it will be enough for vegetation but it won’t helped us recover what we’ve already lost,” said Deborah Bathke, Nebraska state climatologist.
Officials add that continued education and early planning are key to helping producers stay resilient through increasingly variable growing seasons.
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Copyright 2026 KNOP. All rights reserved.
Adam Carriker is joined by HuskerOnline publisher Sean Callahan to break down the upcoming season for Matt Rhule and Nebraska football. Callahan gives unique insight on what Nebraska’s offense may look like, realistic expectation for quarterback Anthony Colandrea, if the offensive line is legit better, the new 4-2-5 defense, the undersized defensive line and if the Huskers will win more than seven games. Also, will Nebraska basketball make a Sweet 16 run again?
Hit the play button for that and more in this episode of the Carriker Chronicles. For a synopsis, scroll down.
Synopsis
In the latest installment of the Carriker Chronicles, Adam Carriker and Sean Callahan discuss the upcoming season for Nebraska football and why this year is so important. They explain that Year 4 under Matt Rhule is a big turning point because by now, the program should reflect his system, culture, and recruiting. If things are going to work long-term, this is the season where fans should really start to see it.
One of the first things they talk about is the overall vibe of the offseason. Callahan mentions that Nebraska has “closed the lab,” meaning the team is done experimenting and now fully focused on playing football. The expectation is that players understand the system better and can execute at a higher level without the outside distractions.
They also discuss the offense and what it might look like under Dana Holgorsen. While there may be some similarities to past systems, there will also be differences based on the players Nebraska has. Part of the conversation is quarterback Anthony Colandrea, and they set realistic expectations for him. He doesn’t have to be perfect, but he does need to be consistent, make plays with his feet and take care of the football.
The offensive line is another key topic. Callahan believes the group has improved this offseason, especially with players like Elijah Pritchett, who seems to be on the uptick. If the offensive line can protect the quarterback and create running lanes, it could make a huge difference for the entire offense. They also mention the running back room, which has potential but still needs to prove itself during the season.
On defense, Nebraska is expected to run more of a 4-2-5 scheme this year. This means more speed on the field, but it also raises questions about size, especially on the defensive line. One of the biggest concerns is whether the defensive front can hold up against physical teams. However, they point out that the secondary might be the strongest position group, which could help balance things out.
Special teams are briefly discussed, with the expectation that they will be solid but not necessarily a major strength or weakness. Recruiting is another area where Nebraska seems to be trending in the right direction, which is important for building long-term success.
They also touch on men’s basketball and whether the team can make another Sweet 16 run. While it’s possible, it will depend heavily on player development and who will replace those that have left.
To wrap it up, they debate whether Nebraska football will win more than seven games this season. It’s seen as a realistic but challenging goal. This is a critical year for Matt Rhule and the program, and fans should have a much clearer idea of the team’s future by the end of the season.
Program order
- 00:00: Intro
- 01:09: Sean Callahan Joins the Show
- 01:54: Year 4 Under Matt Rhule
- 04:04: Offseason Vibe: Closing the Lab, Focusing on Football
- 05:30: Dana Holgorsen: Similarities & Differences to Expect
- 07:30: Offensive Line: Offseason Improvements
- 09:45: Elijah Pritchett Spotlight
- 12:54: Running Back Room: What to Expect
- 15:20: Defensive Scheme: What to Expect This Year
- 18:53: Biggest Defensive Question Marks
- 22:10: Strongest Defensive Position Group
- 23:00: Special Teams Outlook
- 25:08: Recruiting Class Breakdown
- 27:45: Nebraska Basketball Preview
- 29:50: Over/Under: 7 Wins Next Season
- 31:18: Fan Questions
Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI, subscribing to HuskerMax on YouTube and visiting HuskerMax.com daily.
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