The Banner County Fire Chief imposed a complete fire ban this week until conditions improve, including open burning, bonfires and fireworks.
Nebraska
How to Watch Nebraska Women’s Basketball vs. Southern: Preview, Breakdown, TV Channel
The No. 23 Nebraska women’s basketball team returns to the floor Tuesday following a dicey weekend that could have easily ended up with an early-season defeat. Taking on Southland Conference contender Southeastern Louisiana, the Huskers needed a 24-11 fourth-quarter outburst to take care of the Lions 78-68 Saturday afternoon in Lincoln.
NU was missing the services of five-star Britt Prince who head coach Amy Williams said was “injury-related” and was day-to-day dealing with a lower leg/ankle injury. Sophomore and reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Year Natalie Potts was the difference maker tallying a team-high 17 points with four treys and seven rebounds. Alberte Rimdal and Logan Nissley each added 14 points as it was an afternoon where the depth of Nebraska showed out.
The Huskers will need to clean up its interior play, which was quite an evident shortcoming on Saturday as Southeastern Louisiana outscored NU 40-24 in the paint while Nebraska barely outrebounded the Lions 30-29.
Up next in a midweek battle with another mid-major conference contender in Southern who will be upset-minded going into Pinnacle Bank Arena. Here’s all you need to know for Tuesday.
How to Follow Along
Matchup: Nebraska (2-0, 0-0 B1G) vs. Southern (0-3, 0-0 SWAC)
When: Tuesday, November 12
Where: Pinnacle Bank Arena, Lincoln, NE
Time: 7 p.m. CST
Watch: B1G+
Listen: Huskers Radio Network and Affiliates
Southern Scout
Head Coach: Carlos Funchess | 7th Season | 95-87 Southern Record | 2x NCAA Tournament Appearances, 2x SWAC Tournament Champions | Spent the previous 14 years as an assistant at Southern, working mostly with recruiting and post players before taking the head job prior to the 2018-2019 season.
2023-2024 Record: 15-15 (13-5 SWAC, 3rd) | Lost in First Round of SWAC Conference Tournament | Did not qualify for the postseason.
All-Time Series: Nebraska Leads 3-0 (2019 last matchup, 73-39 NU)
Fun Fact: Tuesday’s game will mark the fourth all-time meeting between the schools with all four coming in November at Nebraska. The Huskers have outscored the Jaguars 162-77 in the last two meetings in 2019 and 2015.
Key Returners: Aleighyah Fontenot, G, Sr. | Aniya Gourdine, G, Sr. | Tionna Lidge, C, Sr. | Soniyah Reed, G, Sr. | Sky Castro, F, Sr.
Key Additions: Taniya Lawson, G, Jr. (Texas Southern) | Kiana Wilson, G, Jr. (Florida Southwestern College) | D’Shantae Edwards, G, Jr. (Bethune Cookman) | DaKiyah Sanders, G, Gr. (Alabama State).
Key Departures: Genovea Johnson, G, (Eligibility) | Taylor Williams, G (Eligibility) | Chloe Fleming, G (Eligibility) | Raven White, F (Eligibility) | Kyanna Morgan, G, Gr. (Arkansas State) | Sirviva Legions, G, Jr. (Long Island) | Cayla Obillo, G (Eligibility).
Outlook: Defined by his consistency, Carlos Funchess enters his seventh season with Southern with expectations to push for his third NCAA Tournament appearance while leading the Jaguars. After spending 14 seasons at Southern as an assistant, Funchess got the call for the main job entering the 2018-2019 season and has only had one year below .500. The Jaguars have the SWAC Tournament twice with the latest coming during the 2022-2023 season.
Following a 15-15 record a year ago, the Jaguars enter 2024 looking up at preseason SWAC favorite Grambling State who took 10-of-24 possible first-place votes. Southern was picked second, but with only two first-place votes.
It’s a tough non-conference late for the Jaguars who have six-straight Power Four opponents to begin the season which has included losses to Oklahoma (76-44), Missouri (66-51) and an 84-56 defeat to Iowa State on Sunday.
A pair of returning guards are leading the way for the Jaguars early in November as Aniya Gourdine (13.3 PPG) and Aleighyah Fontenot (10.0 PPG) spearhead the offense. The back court will also see Soniyah Reed, who also returns for her senior season, as she’s averaging six points per game in three contests this season. Look for Funchess to leverage 6-4 center Tionna Lidge to exploit the inside struggles of Nebraska.
Taniya Lawson has seen the most playing of the new transfers from Southern. The junior guard came over from fellow SWAC foe Texas Southern after averaging just over 10 points per game in two seasons. Another in-conference transfer, D’Shantae Edwards scored a season-high nine points against Iowa State and will see playing time after coming over from Alabama State.
There’s not much to take away from Jaguars as they face off against stiff, early season competition, but they don’t seem to pack as much of a punch as Southeastern Louisiana did on paper. Getting Prince back into the lineup is key for the long-term, but Nebraska should win handily either way.
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Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI, subscribing to HuskerMax on YouTube, and visiting HuskerMax.com daily.
Cheyenne County banned fireworks in rural areas while allowing communities to make their own decisions. Potter and Dalton both enacted local restrictions.
Potter adopted an ordinance June 22 banning fireworks within village limits and its 1-mile zoning jurisdiction. Violators face a $500 fine, increasing to $1,000 per discharge during a red flag warning.
Sidney, however, took a different approach, temporarily limiting fireworks between Wednesday and Sunday morning.
In Dawes County, fireworks remain banned, but the Mr. Fireworks display following Saturday’s Crawford rodeo received an exemption. Organizers said the show remains tentative depending on wind conditions and availability of the local fire department.
Regardless of local rules, Hohbein urged Nebraskans to pay attention to their environment.
“There are three things that are really dangerous for a wildland fire situation, and that’s hot, dry and windy. When those three conditions occur, any kind of fire can start easier, quicker, and then spread much faster,” Hohbein said.
If possible, he recommends leaving fireworks to the professionals.
While Hohbein has seen fewer public displays this year, many professional shows are becoming larger with bigger shells and additional safety measures, including dedicated safety officers and firefighters on site.
“With the hazardous conditions, let somebody else worry about those shooting off fireworks, and then just sit back and enjoy,” Hohbein said.
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LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) — After a hamstring injury during Nebraska’s baseball season, Will Jesske was advised to take it easy this summer. He is, but Jesske has found a new way to stay involved in the game.
Jesske is coaching a local legion baseball team. He is a volunteer assistant for Lincoln Hotel Group, the senior legion team for Standing Bear High School.
Jesske, a Lincoln Southeast graduate, describes himself as the “hype man” in the LHG dugout. He brings energy and enthusiasm, which players enjoy. Jesske said coaching is a way he can give back to local players while helping LHG’s coaching staff. Jesske played under Tanner Lewis and Kyle Beacom in high school. They now lead the LHG legion program.
Jesske is entering his senior season at Nebraska. He has appeared in 95 games over his career, including 33 during the Huskers’ 43-win season this spring. Jesske was injured early in the season but played through it as Nebraska hosted an NCAA regional. He hit .318 in his junior season. Jesske said he is fully healthy and credited extended rest with his recovery.
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Copyright 2026 KOLN. All rights reserved.
Nebraska
Former Nebraska wrestler AJ Ferrari wanted in Lincoln, accused of assaulting pregnant woman
LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – Former Nebraska wrestler AJ Ferrari is wanted in Lancaster County on suspicion of assaulting a pregnant woman in May.
An arrest warrant was filed for Ferrari on Thursday. He faces three felony charges which include first-degree false imprisonment and assault by strangling a pregnant woman.
According to an arrest affidavit, a woman from California contacted police in Lincoln on May 8 just after midnight. She told officers her daughter called for help and pointed them to Ferrari’s apartment.
Police arrived at the apartment and knocked on the door. A pregnant woman came out after several minutes of knocking with no answer. Officers said the woman was visibly upset.
She told officers that Ferrari tried taking her phone away after an argument, but she wouldn’t let him take it. The arrest affidavit shows Ferrari then dragged her off a bed by her feet.
Police think Ferrari then got on top of her and strangled her, likely until she was unconscious. The woman told police that she felt as though her throat “collapsed” and that she was “breathing through a straw.”
Once regaining consciousness, police said the woman tried hiding in a closet and contacting her mother on another device. But Ferrari followed her, pushed her onto a bed and sat on her until she apologized, according to the affidavit.
She apologized in order to be released, police said. The woman then tried to leave the apartment, but police said Ferrari dragged her by the arm back inside. She found her phone and contacted her mother, yelling “help!”, prosecutors wrote.
Ferrari grabbed the phone and hung up, according to the affidavit. The woman’s mother tried calling several more times before calling police.
Authorities transported the woman to Bryan West for treatment. Officers said she sustained injuries consistent with strangulation, including bruising around her neck and other abrasions.
Last weekend, Ferrari was arrested in Lincoln County on suspicion of flight to avoid arrest, willful reckless driving and obstructing the police. He was cited after a trooper chased a Corvette in the North Platte area.
Lincoln County authorities told KOLN that Ferrari is out on bond. His current whereabouts are unclear.
Court records show that the woman has filed for a protection order against Ferrari. A hearing has been set for July 7 to give him an opportunity to show the court why one should not be issued.
Previously, Ferrari was booked in Lancaster County, Nebraska for an outstanding warrant in January of this year, but those charges were dismissed later that week.
Ferrari parted ways with the Huskers in April of this year.
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Copyright 2026 KOLN. All rights reserved.
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