Maryland men’s basketball has found itself in plenty of close games over the past few weeks. Four of its last five were decided by seven points or less, and the Terps won three of them.
Nebraska
Nebraska Chamber taps former state senator to lead during leadership transition
LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – The Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry has selected a former state senator and longtime board member to lead the chamber while it searches for a new president and CEO.
Board of Directors Chair Pat Keenan said Thursday that Matt Williams of Gothenburg agreed to serve as interim president.
ALSO READ: Nebraska Chamber president and CEO resigns after less than a year
“The Board is grateful to Matt for stepping into this role during a very active and productive time for the Nebraska Chamber,” Keenan said. “He has steady leadership, strong relationships and trust from his many years of advocacy for economic development, and decades of experience working with the legislature and state government on tax policy and economic development incentives.”
Williams represented District 36 in the Nebraska Legislature from 2015 to 2023.
The chamber said Williams has had a lifelong career in banking and serves as chairman of Flatwater Bank. He previously served as chair of the Nebraska Bankers Association and the American Bankers Association.
His long involvement with the chamber includes membership on the Board of Directors; he currently serves as director for District 6. In 2025, he was named to the Nebraska Business Hall of Fame.
“The Nebraska Chamber is on rock-solid footing, with the clear vision of the Board, and talented and hard-working staff hitting its stride in legislative policy and advocacy, technology, manufacturing, leadership-development, fund-raising and membership. The success of cutting-edge initiatives like 6 Regions, One Nebraska, the launch of the Go Big Future series, and the strong member engagement across the state demonstrate the success and strength of this organization. I’m excited to lend my support in whatever way I can for the Chamber. I know how strong businesses and communities make for a stronger Nebraska, and I’m glad to be part of that.”
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Copyright 2026 KOLN. All rights reserved.
OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Creighton Prep senior Zaiyahn Ornelas won his fourth consecutive Nebraska state wrestling title on Saturday.
According to NSAA records, he joins 39 other wrestlers in state history to accomplish the feat.
“It’s a great feeling,” Ornelas said. “It’s a feeling everybody wants.”
Ornelas won three Class C state titles at Wilber-Clatonia at 106, 113 and 120 pounds before transferring to Creighton Prep for his senior season, where he competed in Class A at 126 pounds.
“Three state titles there and then just thought I could bump up my competition,” Ornelas said.
“Zaiyahn is one of the cleanest technicians I’ve ever seen. That’s a huge testament to his coaching staff at Wilber,” Fisher added.
Ornelas was one of four Creighton Prep wrestlers to win state titles this season, helping lead the Jr. Jays to the Class A team title. Teammates said his presence in the practice room raised their level of competition.
“I could never slack off just because my competition in the state was easy. I always had to come in this room and get better or else I was going to get beat,” said sophomore Cruzer Dominguez, a two-time Class A state champion at 106 and 120 pounds.
Sophomore Kameron Green, the Class A 144-pound state champion this year, also credited Ornelas for aiding in his development.
“Zaiyahn being a training partner has helped me in tremendous ways,” he said. “When he wrestles, he’s not the nicest or shyest kid, but he’s tenacious and tough.”
Junior JT Smith, a two-time state champion at 175 and 190 pounds, said the achievement carries weight for the entire team.
“It’s something really special to have a teammate that’s a four-time state champion,” he said. “That’s something everyone wants to be.”
Fisher said Ornelas’s attitude set the tone from the start.
“He has so many skills and then coming into our room, he’s extremely coachable. Every time he came in here he was humble, ready to work, wanting to get better and that’s why he is as good as he is,” Fisher said.
Ornelas signed to wrestle at the University of Nebraska in November. He said the move to Creighton Prep delivered what he was looking for.
“This is the reason why I came here. I went out to explore, to find the best, and this is the territory that I found. If it wasn’t for these guys — the push — I would have not been there,” Ornelas said.
“It’s hard to believe. That’s kind of what I wanted since the beginning, freshman year,” he said.
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Copyright 2026 WOWT. All rights reserved.
Head coach Buzz Williams had ostensibly found a winning recipe in crunch time. That is, until Wednesday’s clash with No. 12 Nebraska.
Down by five with just over six minutes to play, the key ingredients for a comeback were nowhere to be found. Andre Mills, who had been superb over Maryland’s past few matches, turned the ball over to star forward Pryce Sandfort on an errant pass. Just seconds later, Sandfort splashed a 3-pointer, and Pinnacle Bank Arena went wild.
That sequence was the cap of a 9-0 run and the middle of an 0-of-4 shooting stretch for Maryland. What was largely a competitive contest soon became lopsided, and the Terps fell, 74-61.
Williams used his coach’s challenge just a minute and a half into Wednesday’s contest. The reversed call didn’t result in points right away — the Terps turned it over the very next possession — but it undoubtedly sent a crystal clear, no-nonsense message to the sideline.
And Maryland’s defense was ready for the rowdy away game occasion. The Terps notched just five points in the opening five minutes — two coming on a thunderous Solomon Washington slam — but didn’t allow Nebraska on the scoresheet. In fact, Maryland turned the Cornhuskers over twice in that span, and Guillermo Del Pino rejected a Jamarques Lawrence layup.
Nebraska started the game 0-of-6 from the field before finding the net. Sandfort channeled his shooting prowess, sinking a 3-pointer to give the Cornhuskers their first advantage of the match six-and-a-half minutes in.
Forward Braden Frager was the true catalyst for Nebraska’s sudden surge, logging seven of the team’s first 10 points and operating well in transition. His quick-hit offense didn’t allow Maryland to set up its effective half-court defense.
The Terps’ offense remained relatively cold as the midway point of the half approached. They embarked on a 1-of-8 shooting stretch, with Nebraska consistently switching on Maryland’s perimeter looks and forcing Washington into some perimeter shots.
Interestingly enough, it was Washington and his frontcourt counterpart — Elijah Saunders — that offered the team a surge from beyond the arc. The two combined for four of the squad’s first five 3-pointers — two of Saunders’ makes came in the last five minutes of the half to keep Maryland within striking distance.
The Cornhuskers took a six point advantage into the halftime locker room, up 33-27.
Rienk Mast finally got into a bit of rhythm to open the second half, burying a 3-pointer in an attempt to keep the Terps at bay. But Maryland’s offense wasn’t rattled. It didn’t revert to the same isolation playbook that it has sometimes found itself running; it instead was gritty on the glass and earned multiple second-chance opportunities.
Nebraska was being worn down on defense, and its crowd was becoming less intense. Maryland just needed to establish some prolonged momentum.
But the game remained deadlocked for the ensuing minutes. Andre Mills began to display some of the athletic lane-driving traits he’s exhibited over the past 10 contests. But he also drilled a pair of long-range jumpers, quickly becoming the team’s leading second-half scorer.
As the clock ticked below 10 minutes left with the game decided by just a matter of points, the Terps’ offense hit a stagnant stretch. Coit took four consecutive shots — and made only one — while the team’s ball movement came to a screeching halt.
After Nebraska’s 9-0 run, things didn’t realign on the attack for Maryland. Coit continued to struggle, going 2-of-6 from three in the second half. Mills also missed back-to-back looks, and from there, the result was all but decided.
1. Elijah Saunders’ big day. With Mills struggling in the first half Wednesday, Saunders picked up some of the slack. The 40% 3-point shooter made half of his looks, resulting in a season-high five 3-pointers against the Cornhuskers. That comes just one game after he set his previous season-high of four 3-pointers against Washington.
2. Paint production erased. Maryland’s frontcourt did some damage Wednesday night, but much of it came from deep. The Terps finished with just 14 points in the paint compared to Nebraska’s 26. Despite both teams grabbing seven offensive rebounds, Maryland didn’t make much of the second chance opportunities in the restricted area.
3. More Del Pino minutes. After playing 27 minutes and securing the win with an alley-oop lob against Washington, Del Pino was on the court for 15 minutes Wednesday. Though he finished without any points, he seems to have earned Williams’ trust and continues to operate the floor well from a distribution perspective.
OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – President Donald Trump delivered the first State of the Union address of his second term on Tuesday night.
In his speech, Trump touted his administration’s achievements and took aim at his predecessor, former President Biden. He also spoke on a number of topics such as current economic conditions and affordability.
Reactions from local lawmakers and the Nebraska Democratic Party are coming in following Tuesday’s speech.
DON BACON
Congressman Don Bacon says he liked the president’s focus on the economy.
“More a lot of good. A few things I would like to fine tune myself, but the emphasis on the economy and the, lower prices for gas, for prices, for energy inflation, lower than wages. That is a theme he needs to be doing all the time,” Bacon said in an interview.
Bacon also shared a full statement:
“The President highlighted several real accomplishments that are strengthening our economy and improving the lives of the American people. The border is secure, violent crime is declining, fentanyl deaths are falling, gas prices are down, and wages are rising faster than inflation for the first time in five years. These are the winning issues that the President should focus on every day.
He is right that Iran must never be allowed to possess a nuclear weapon. A nuclear-armed Iran is a serious threat to America and our allies. I am glad he acknowledged the regime’s brutality, including the recent massacre of approximately 50,000 of its own people after they stood up against their government.
I was disappointed to hear the President double down on his approach to tariffs. Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution gives tariff authority to Congress. The Supreme Court’s common-sense and straightforward ruling got it right. Broad-based tariffs are also not smart economic policy, functioning as a tax on American consumers, manufacturers, and farmers, and are unpopular nationwide by roughly two to one.”
DEB FISCHER
In a statement, Sen. Deb Fischer said she was pleased to hear Trump renew some of his commitments.
“Tonight, President Trump articulated the success of his policies to rebuild our military, keep our communities safe, lower energy costs, and realize the American dream for all U.S. citizens. I was pleased to hear the president renew his commitment to securing our borders, strengthening our economy, and cutting waste, fraud, and abuse. I look forward to continuing to partner with him to make America safer, stronger, and more prosperous.”
ADRIAN SMITH
Congressman Adrian Smith also released a statement with his thoughts.
“Under President Trump’s leadership, Republicans passed the Working Families Tax Cuts, delivering meaningful tax relief for hardworking Americans across the country. We have seen robust engagement with key trading partners, helping to level the playing field for American farmers, ranchers, manufacturers, and workers.
Americans have seen lower gas prices, decreased inflation, secure borders, and mortgage rates reach a three-year low. While our work is far from over, I am encouraged by the progress we have made and the direction our nation is headed.
I remain committed to working in Congress to build on this progress and ensure that Nebraska’s families, small businesses, and agricultural producers can continue to thrive. Together, we can make the Good Life even better for all Nebraskans.”
PETE RICKETTS
U.S. Senator for Nebraska Pete Ricketts took to social media after the president’s speech.
MIKE FLOOD
A statement from Rep. Mike Flood was shared on the Republican Main Street Caucus’s page.
“Together, we’ll work to deliver on this and much more to ensure that the next generation of American families can live the dream that has helped make our country great for the last 250 years.”
Read Republican Main Street Caucus Chairman @USRepMikeFlood‘s full statement right… pic.twitter.com/0c9zDkcSYV
— Republican Main Street Caucus (@MainCaucus) February 25, 2026
NEBRASKA DEMOCRATIC PARTY
The Nebraska Democratic Party also shared a statement with First Alert 6, describing the speech as “unhinged” and “decisive.”
“As Americans, we just witnessed the most unhinged and divisive State of the Union address to the nation this evening. Instead of uniting the country, President Trump further drove a wedge between the working class and the billionaires. We continue to witness the greatest shift of wealth from those who need healthcare and want to purchase their first home to those who receive pardons and are part of the Epstein Class.
Trump continued his lies about “no new wars” and how the United States has restored its standing globally. Back at home, Americans will continue to wonder what is happening to our private data that DOGE incompetently handled and voter roll information that was blackmailed from states like Nebraska.
Instead of being straight with us on affordability, he insults us with his alternative reality on grocery prices, energy costs, and unaffordable healthcare premiums. Trump also threw out a new “pledge” that data centers will build their own energy. If he were serious about needed regulations around data centers, this would be a law, not a pledge.
He continued to lie to us about “capturing the worst of the worst” by ICE agents when the administration has clearly detained children and murdered innocent Americans in the streets.
Trump continues to fatten his pockets via Emoluments Clause violations, making over $5 billion while in office, rather than tell us how he plans to return the average $1,700 he owes Nebraskans in illegal tariff revenue.
Donald Trump made no mention of the Epstein File survivors who attended, or the worst job market in over two decades, or the contributions by immigrants to this nation during his speech. Despite his assertions that our economy is benefiting all, he will continue to profit off the backs of working Americans like no president before, with cryptocurrency schemes, backroom deals with elites, and oil industry takeovers.
The Nebraska Democratic Party will continue to organize, ensuring Democratic candidates win back Congress in November and hold Trump and his radical administration accountable. This begins at home, where we will work harder than ever to ensure Nebraskans are fairly represented at all levels of our government.
Since 2025, Democratic candidates have won or outperformed 90% of key races nationwide, including here in Omaha and Lincoln, proving that the movement to oppose this administration will continue.
Trump’s polling numbers continue to tank as he continues to fail on his two big lies of unifying the country and making things affordable. If there ever was a time to register to vote and cast your ballot, the midterm elections could be the means to stop Donald Trump and his chaotic and dismantling of our great nation. The Nebraska Democratic Party stands ready to do our part to preserve and protect our democracy that has endured for 250 years.”
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Copyright 2026 WOWT. All rights reserved.
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