Nebraska
Nebraska Department of Transporation Update

Work will begin on US-26, from Mitchell to Scottsbluff
Weather permitting, work will begin April 13, 2026 on U.S. Highway (US-26), from reference post 13.25 to reference post 21.25, according to the Nebraska Department of Transportation.
Simon Contractors, Inc., from Cheyenne, Wyo., is the contractor for this project. Work includes installing ADA ramps at various locations in the town of Mitchell, pavement repair and paving new asphaltic concrete between Mitchell and Scottsbluff. Traffic will be maintained with lane closures. A 12-foot width restriction will be in effect. Anticipated completion is Oct. 2026.
Motorists are reminded to drive cautiously in and near work zones, to buckle up, and put phones down.
Work will begin in District 5 Sidemount DMS Boards
Weather permitting, work will begin April 13 on the District 5 Sidemount DMS Boards project, according to the Nebraska Department of Transportation.
Watts Electric Company, of Waverly, is the contractor for this project. Work includes installing digital message boards and automated gates at various locations in the panhandle of Nebraska. Traffic willbe maintained with shoulder closures. Anticipated completion is Oct. 2026.
Motorists are reminded to drive cautiously in and near work zones, to buckle up, and put phones down.
Work will begin on N-250, north of Lakeside
Weather permitting, work will begin April 13 on Nebraska Highway 250 (N-250), from reference post 0.2 to reference post 13.38, according to the Nebraska Department of Transportation. Work will also resume south of Smith Lake, from reference post 13.38 to reference post 26.10.
Werner Construction, of Hastings, is the contractor for both projects. Work includes asphalt paving, culvert extensions, curb and gutter, flumes, and grading and seeding. Traffic will be maintained with lane restrictions and a pilot car with flaggers. A 12-foot width restriction will be in effect. Anticipated completion is Nov. 2026.
Motorists are reminded to drive cautiously in and near work zones, to buckle up, and put phones down.
NDOT, UNO Conducting Community Stakeholders Survey and Public Meetings for Unmet Needs of Rural Intercity Bus Service
The Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) is partnering with the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Center for Public Affairs Research (UNO CPAR) to conduct an Intercity Bus Service Study of the intercity bus services available in Nebraska.
As part of the Study, NDOT is requesting input from stakeholders and community members with an interest in the state’s intercity bus public transportation services by utilizing the survey link provided below. NDOT administers the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA’s) Section 5311(f) funding for rural intercity bus services in Nebraska, and this survey is an important element of the consultation process required under this program. A major focus of this effort is to determine the need for state/federal assistance to maintain current services or provide expanded connections from rural areas to connect with the national intercity bus network. By using these services many Nebraska residents can reach key connecting points for more distant travel.
Comments can be submitted via the survey at ndot.info/656469. Answers to the survey are confidential and will only be shared in the aggregate form. Comments must be submitted by April 30, 2026.
In addition to the survey, there will be two public meetings scheduled via Zoom to gather input. The first meeting will be on Tuesday, April 21 from 1-2 p.m. To join the meeting, visit unomaha.zoom.us/j/95425601695 and enter meeting ID 954 2560 1695. The meeting can also be joined via one tap mobile at +17193594580,,95425601695# US or +12532050468,,95425601695# US.
The second meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 29 from 9-10 a.m. To join the meeting, visit unomaha.zoom.us/j/92503332015 and enter meeting ID 925 0333 2015. The meeting can also be joined via one tap mobile at +16694449171,,92503332015# US or +16699006833,,92503332015# US.
Input from the meetings will be used by NDOT as it considers using federal funds to maintain the existing intercity services or provide additional intercity services.
For questions about the survey, please contact Clay Stevens, UNO Center for Public Affairs Research, at claystevens@unomaha.edu. For questions about the consultation process or the intercity bus program, contact Sarah Soula at NDOT at sarah.soula@nebraska.gov or 402-479-4871.
Appropriate provisions for the hearing and visually challenged or persons with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) will be made if NDOT is notified by April 8, 2026. For those without internet access, information may be obtained at NDOT Headquarters, 1500 Nebraska Parkway, Lincoln, NE 68502 or by contacting Sarah Soula, NDOT Transit Manager, at 402-479-4871 or sarah.soula@nebraska.gov.
For more information visit ndot.info/intercityf3e2cc.

Nebraska
Hundreds lose power across southeast Nebraska after Thursday morning storm
LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – Hundreds of people are without power in southeast Nebraska after a severe storm passed through Thursday morning.
The Lincoln Electric System outage map showed 115 customers without power across the city at 11:36 a.m.
Norris Public Power District’s outage map also shows 45 customers affected by the storm. As of 11:36 a.m., there were nine active outages.
According to the Nebraska Public Power District outage map, 657 customers were affected by the storm. Most of the affected customers were near Plattsmouth in southeast Nebraska. As of 11:37 a.m., 27 customers remain without power.
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Nebraska
Mandatory evacuation orders for area near Crawford, Fort Robinson
Mandatory evacuations have been ordered near Crawford, including Fort Robinson State Park, as the South Fork Fire continues to spread in western Nebraska.
According to the City of Crawford, evacuations are currently underway for an area north of Crawford that includes the area south of Dodd Road, west of Dodd Road, and FF Street.
Fort Robinson has also been evacuated.
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission said Fort Robinson State Park and Peterson Wildlife Management Area have been temporarily closed due to the fire.
The fire has burned approximately 9,000 acres and is currently 0% contained, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
Nebraska Game and Parks said the park and the WMA will remain closed until further notice to support firefighting operations and protect public safety.
Nebraska
Nebraska State Runner-up and Futures Finalist Matt Brailita (2026) to Swim for Johns Hopkins
Fitter and Faster Swim Camps is the proud sponsor of SwimSwam’s College Recruiting Channel and all commitment news. For many, swimming in college is a lifelong dream that is pursued with dedication and determination. Fitter and Faster is proud to honor these athletes and those who supported them on their journey.
Omaha, Nebraska native Matt Brailita is headed to Baltimore in the fall. He announced his commitment to Johns Hopkins University earlier this spring, writing on social media:
“I am very excited to announce my commitment to continue my academic and athletic career at Johns Hopkins University ! I’m extremely grateful for everything my family, friends, and teammates have done to support me every step of the way. A special thanks to Coach Tom and Coach Andy for always pushing me beyond what I believed in. Also a huge thanks to Coach Scott and Coach Chris for giving me this opportunity of a lifetime. GO BLUE JAYS!”
Brailita swam for Omaha’s Millard North High School under coach Andy Cunningham. He wrapped up his senior season with a pair of runner-up finishes at the 2026 NSAA Championships, earning lifetime-best times in both the 200 IM (1:50.84) and 100 breast (56.01). He also notched a PB in the 50 free (20.76) while leading off Millard North’s 200 free relay in prelims. He anchored the same relay in finals, splitting 20.01. Brailita leaves Millard North High School as a 10-time State medalist and a multiple-event team record-holder. He was 2026 Metro Conference champion in the 100 fly and as a member of 2 relays, and he was nominated for Metro Omaha World Herald Swimming Athlete Scholar.
Brailita swims year-round with Greater Omaha Aquatic Leopardsharks under coach Tom Beck. In addition to IM and breast, he excels in fly and free. In March, he competed at Columbia Sectionals, where he finaled in the 50 free (15th), 100 breast (11th), 50 fly (8th), 100 fly (10th), and swam prelims in the 50 breast (8th) and 200 IM (10th). He left the meet with new PBs in the 100 free (46.30), 50 breast (26.25), 50 fly (22.51), and 100 fly (49.86).
Last summer, Brailita hit LCM lifetime bests in the 50 breast (30.81), 100 breast (1:06.84), 200 breast (2:29.93), and 200 IM (2:11.12) at Madison Futures, making finals in the IM. He opened the 2026 long-course season with a pair of PBs (24.83 in the 50 free and 27.09 in the 50 fly) at the GOAL Sprint Cup in April.
Brailita will join the Blue Jays’ class of 2030 with Alistair Guth, Finn Nelson, Lukas Funderburk, Matthew Ko, Nicolas Aldana Huelga, Samuel Zhang, and William Thurk. His best times would have scored in the ‘A’ finals of the 200 IM, 100/200 breast, and 50/200 free, and the ‘B’ finals of the 100 free and 100 fly at the 2026 Centennial Conference Championships.
Best SCY times :
- 200 IM – 1:50.84
- 100 breast – 56.01
- 200 breast – 2:06.83
- 50 free – 20.76
- 50 free relay split – 20.01
- 100 fly – 49.86
- 200 free – 1:41.83
- 100 free – 46.30
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