Nebraska

Giltner girl wins National American Miss Nebraska pageant

Published

1 year ago

July 4, 2024

Giltner girl wins National American Miss Nebraska pageant

GILTNER, Neb. (KSNB) – The Olympic trials aren’t the only place you will see central Nebraska represented. Makeena Huhman will be representing Nebraska in the National American Miss pageant after being crowned Miss Nebraska Junior Pre-Teen at its pageant in Omaha. The 9-year-old says preparing for a pageant is a process; you have to pick outfits, do your hair, and maybe some nail polish and sometimes the process can be boring or frustrating, but it’s pretty easy work for Huhman.

Huhman said they wore long dresses for the formal portion and her dress was a corset back. In casual wear a jump suit or tank top and shorts are allowed, but a tank top and shorts look can go either way with the judges. Huhman said the goal is to find a happy medium because you don’t want to look perfect or sloppy.

Huhman has been attending pageants since she was six-weeks-old because of her older sister, Taylor is also in pageants. Participating in pageants helps Makenna make new friends, but even she was surprised by her victory.

“At first I was like shocked and my coach and my mom they were both crying, it was really funny,” said Huhman. “I was about to cry honestly, and I thought the girl that won two years ago was gonna win but as soon as they called her name as first runner-up or second she thought it’s gonna be Makenna.”

Huhman said overall, they’re judged on their personality and smile. Her mother, Stephanie Barthel also took a different approach with her pageantry.

“Both Taylor and Makenna have always scored pretty well in everything, but this year the thing that we did different was we hired a pageant coach,” said Barthel. “We met with her on Zoom calls once a week, and she gave us a lot of little insights that I wouldn’t have thought of and those definitely helped Makenna win the crown this year.”

Barthel said Makenna’s pageant coach worked on several things with her including her formal wear walk, casual wear modeling and interviewing skills. Huhman also has a passion for volunteering.

“That would be because my uncle and aunt are volunteer firefighters in Trumball and they don’t get paid for what they do,” said Huhman. “So they do fundraisers, and I absolutely love helping them with that because it’s making new friends and it’s also having fun.”

Huhman said the best part is seeing the firefighters show their personality. Barthel said it’s nice to see someone from central Nebraska represent the state.

“I think that it is really awesome to have a state pageant queen from the small town of Giltner, even just the Tri-Cities area,” said Barthel. “Many of the queens seem to come from like Lincoln and Omaha area; that’s where they get the most contestants from. And just having one from a small town that’s going to show those small town values is going to be really amazing.”

They’re still excited about winning the state title.

“It has been like exciting and fun so far, and I bet it’s going to be even better in Orlando because my mom said we’d be there for like eight days, and I’m like eight days in a really hot place, yay!” said Makenna.

They’re still looking for sponsors to help fund the trip, travel and stay will cost them approximately $4,000. Huhman has racked up a number of trophies during the state competition, but over the Thanksgiving weekend she hopes to add the National trophy to her collection.

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Nebraska

Marijuana reclassification order divides Nebraska leaders, advocates

Published

1 hour ago

December 20, 2025

Press Room

Marijuana reclassification order divides Nebraska leaders, advocates

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – President Donald Trump’s executive order to reclassify marijuana at the federal level is reigniting debate in Nebraska, where voters approved medical marijuana in 2024.

Trump signed the executive order on Thursday, directing federal agencies to reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I drug to Schedule III. The move does not legalize marijuana nationwide but opens the door for more medical research.

Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers joined attorneys general from seven other states in releasing a statement saying they are “concerned” with the order. Hilgers said the science shows marijuana should remain a Schedule I drug.

Sen. Pete Ricketts also opposes the move. He signed a letter with 14 other Republican senators urging Trump not to reschedule marijuana. The letter argues marijuana is linked to mental health issues, impaired driving and workplace accidents.

Local medical marijuana advocate Lia Post disagreed with state leaders’ opposition.

“It just comes to the point, when is enough enough?” Post said.

Post said the argument from state leaders ignores what Nebraska voters decided in November 2024 when they overwhelmingly approved medical marijuana.

“It does open up the door for research, which really makes me happy, and the ability to speak to my doctor. It’s hard to be excited when you know you’re just a part of the big, giant grift that is going on,” Post said.

The federal change would allow the FDA to study marijuana’s medical uses. That could potentially help veterans, seniors, and people with chronic pain. Advocates said it also removes excuses for state leaders to delay implementation.

“I feel like we are in the exact same place we always are with the people wanting medical cannabis, the current law supporting medical cannabis, but the elected officials stopping medical cannabis,” Post said.

The federal rescheduling process could take several more months to finalize. The executive order does not legalize recreational marijuana. Trump made that clear Thursday, saying he is not open to that.

“It is a big deal, it is change, and change is always a big deal. Anything to do with medical cannabis and politics, I have to find the joy in whatever small wins there are, because there are so few,” Post said.

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Nebraska

Nebraska football adds run game coordinator, defensive edge coach to staff

Published

13 hours ago

December 19, 2025

Press Room

Nebraska football adds run game coordinator, defensive edge coach to staff

Courtesy Nebraska Athletics

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Nebraska football is bolstering its staff with the addition of a run game coordinator and a defensive edge coach.

On Friday, head coach Matt Rhule announced the hiring of run game coordinator Lonnie Teasley and defensive edge coach Roy Manning.

Teasley spent the last five seasons with South Carolina, serving as the Gamecocks’ offensive line coach for the last three years.

He was also an assistant offensive line coach on Rhule’s Temple staff in 2014. Teasley also had stints with the Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Tech.

“Lonnie Teasley brings a wealth of offensive line coaching experience to our staff,” Rhule said in a press release. “Lonnie has had great success throughout his career and specifically has been one of the elite offensive tackle coaches in the country. He also has a proven track record as an excellent recruiter. Lonnie will make a positive impact on our coaching staff and the Nebraska Football program.”

Manning worked with new defensive coordinator Rob Aurich as a defensive edge coach at San Diego State in 2025. He helped the Aztecs rank among the nation’s top defenses.

Manning has also spent time coaching at USC, Michigan and Cincinnati.

“We are excited to add Roy Manning to our defensive staff,” Rhule said. “Along with Coach Aurich, he was a key part of the defensive transformation at San Diego State this past season. Roy has experience coaching defense from front to back and has coached at high-level programs throughout his career.”

Nebraska fired three assistant coaches following a lopsided loss to Iowa in November: defensive coordinator John Butler, offensive line coach Donovan Raiola and defensive line coach Terry Bradden.

Aurich has been hired to lead the defense and Geep Wade is Nebraska’s new offensive line coach.

SEE ALSO: Report: Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola to enter the transfer portal

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Husker Fans flock to NCAA Volleyball final four despite no Nebraska

Published

1 day ago

December 19, 2025

Press Room

Husker Fans flock to NCAA Volleyball final four despite no Nebraska

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – With 2025 NCAA Volleyball Championships in Kansas City this season, many Nebraska fans made plans ahead time given the driving distance to Lincoln. The Huskers lost in the regional final at home yet many fans still attended the final four.

“We just want to watch high-quality volleyball, grow the sport, and it’s a competitive sport, and there’s still four very good teams here,” Elizabeth Wright, a life-long Nebraska Volleyball fan, said.

Hundreds of Husker faithful dawned their red Nebraska gear as they entered the T Mobile Center on Thursday night with their team not playing. When asked about which team Nebraska fans would support, the majority of interviewees said Texas A&M.

“Part of me wants to watch Texas A&M win just because they beat us, and if they win, it gives us a little validation that we lost to the best team,” Karla Huneke, a Grand Island native and Nebraska Volleyball fan, said.

Overall, the surprise of Nebraska not making the NCAA Volleyball Championship didn’t impact Nebraskans from attending the final four.

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