Nebraska

Fentanyl-related deaths on the rise in Nebraska

Published

2 years ago

May 27, 2023

Fentanyl-related deaths on the rise in Nebraska

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Last year, around 1.5 million potentially lethal doses of Fentanyl were distributed last year in Nebraska.

“This year by all accounts of the numbers and where they’re trending it’s not slowing down,” said Steven Bell, special agent in charge with the DEA’s Omaha Division.

According to a recent study from the CDC, fentanyl-related deaths more than tripled between 2016 and 2021.

While Nebraska only sits at around 200 reported deaths a year, in Iowa the number is over 400.

However, Bell tells 6 News while that number seems good, it’s not exactly what it looks like.

“Our numbers are relatively what I would consider low, that it’s probably underreported,” he said.

Fentanyl is often laced with common opiates sold on the streets and not from a pharmacy. All it takes is a dose of around the same amount of eight crystals from a salt shaker to be deadly.

“You have a population who don’t know what they’re taking, and you end up dead,” said Bell.

According to the DEA, the problem points back to the Mexican-based Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels. Both are trafficking fentanyl all over the country, including in Nebraska.

“Make no mistake, they have associates here who coordinate with them on a daily basis on importing product and exporting currency,” Bell said.

In April of this year, 28 members and associates of the cartels were indicted through the DEA’s “Operation Last Mile” investigation effort. However, those addicted to the drugs still continue to suffer from their crimes.

“There has to be a treatment aspect to help curb the demand,” said Bell.

6 News went inside the halls of Northpoint Omaha. It is a drug and alcohol rehab center where people with fentanyl addiction can get help.

“We do have a medical detox program here. So we’ll use medication like suboxone to help taper somebody off,” said Tiffany Gormley, Northpoint Omaha’s clinical director.

Gormley shared with 6 News the signs of a Fentanyl overdose. They include but aren’t limited to small pupils, shortness of breath and erratic behavior.

While help is here through treatment and law enforcement investigations, both Gormley and Bell say honesty is key. Especially when it comes to underreporting.

“This is a community challenge. It is a community issue. It has to be a community solution. It starts with having a conversation,” said Bell.

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Nebraska

Purdue Transfer Quarterback Marcos Davila Commits to Nebraska

Published

2 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Press Room

Purdue Transfer Quarterback Marcos Davila Commits to Nebraska

KALEB HENRY

Kaleb Henry is an award-winning sports reporter, covering collegiate athletics since 2014 via radio, podcasting, and digital journalism. His experience with Big Ten Conference teams goes back more than a decade, including time covering programs such as the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Oregon Ducks, and USC Trojans. He has contributed to Sports Illustrated since 2021. Kaleb has won multiple awards for his sports coverage from the Nebraska Broadcasters Association and Midwest Broadcast Journalists Association. Prior to working in sports journalism, Kaleb was a Division I athlete on the Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville Track and Field team where he discussed NCAA legislation as SIUE’s representative to the Ohio Valley Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

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Nebraska

Rhule talks Dante Dowdell, navigating new landscape of roster management

Published

10 hours ago

December 20, 2024

Press Room

Rhule talks Dante Dowdell, navigating new landscape of roster management

Many Nebraska football fans were caught off guard and surprised when they saw Dante Dowdell’s name pop up in the transfer portal.

The big and physical downhill runner played in every regular-season game this season with seven starts. Dowdell rushed for 614 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns in 2024.

With Emmett Johnson and Dowdell, the Huskers looked to have a nice 1-2 punch in the backfield in 2025. Johnson as the shifty all-purpose back with plenty of make-you-miss and receiving ability in him. Dowdell, a young back who’s still developing in certain areas, as the 6-foot-2, 225-pound north-south bruiser who was money in short-yardage and goal-line situations.

But the days of being caught off guard and surprised by anything dealing with college football are over. With the way the sport is operating right now, Matt Rhule wasn’t surprised Dowdell is looking elsewhere.

According to Nebraska’s head coach, the process of Dowdell’s departure started well before the transfer portal opened.

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Nebraska

Strong winds 'exacerbated' grass fire in central Nebraska, officials say

Published

18 hours ago

December 20, 2024

Press Room

Strong winds 'exacerbated' grass fire in central Nebraska, officials say

Courtesy Sherman County Sheriff’s Office
Courtesy Custer County Emergency Management
Courtesy Custer County Emergency Management

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Several rural fire departments are working to extinguish a grass fire in central Nebraska.

Custer County Emergency Management said the first started Thursday around 3:38 p.m. just north of Broken Bow.

Strong winds “exacerbated” the situation, according to county officials.

The fire spread quickly, and additional fire crews were called in to help put out the fire. In total, over 30 fire departments responded to the scene.

The Custer County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an “accident” during the fire.

In a press release sent around midnight, officials said the fire was 25% contained.

People are asked to avoid the area and limit travel.

“Smoke, fire equipment, and emergency traffic should be expected in the area throughout the night and for the foreseeable future,” county officials said in the release.

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