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Nebraska Growing Readers program boosting literacy in young children

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Nebraska Growing Readers program boosting literacy in young children


LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Early childhood education is taking flight thanks to a statewide Pilot Program.

The Nebraska Department of Education teamed up with the Nebraska Children and Families’ Foundation, the Statewide Family Engagement Center and Unite for Literacy to provide communities with access to numerous books.

The program focuses on enhancing the literacy of young children by providing a wide array of books to communities across the state.

The Vice President of Early Childhood Programs at Nebraska Children and Families Foundation, Stephanni Renn, told Channel 8 this has had a huge impact on younger generations.

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“Kids have more access readily available because of their childcare centers and their school districts,” she said. “We do different assessments on our kids, and one of those is the ECI, which is the Early Communication Indicator. Those kids that were receiving books in their home, scored at benchmark under language practices because families are reading more, they’re choosing books and they have access to books.”

The Executive Director of Educare, Quentin Brown, said having a diverse selection of books helps keep kids interested in reading.

“To think that people can come in and naturally and organically say ‘Oh! There’s a book that looks like me, there’s a book that sounds like me, there’s a book that expresses an interest that I’m interested in,’” he said. “So what we’ve seen is that there has been a natural desire as people pass through our lobby. There’s a natural desire to just pick up books and read and engage with them and it’s a special thing when it’s someone with a child.”

Renn said one of the best parts about the program is the easy access for families.

“If you scan the front page of this book, it takes you to our digital library,” she said. “And so then you can read the book in various languages. So maybe if I’m an ESL parent, and English isn’t my first language, I can listen to it in Spanish, I can listen to it in Korean, whatever language I am more comfortable in and then I can also have it in English. So it really is access to books and it’s about shared reading and hoping that families choose books.”

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And Brown adds that the program is very inclusive for every community.

“One of the important aspects is that children and families have an opportunity to engage in their home language and in their culture and I think that’s a special thing,” he said.





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Endangered Missing Advisory issued for 18-year-old Idaho woman last seen in western Nebraska

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Endangered Missing Advisory issued for 18-year-old Idaho woman last seen in western Nebraska


SIDNEY, Neb. (KOLN) – The Nebraska State Patrol has activated an Endangered Missing Advisory on Sunday night to locate an 18-year-old Idaho woman.

The Middleton Idaho Police Department is attempting to locate Riley Dawn Stevenson. Stevenson is described as a white female, 5′6″, 145 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing a blue t-shirt, tan pants, tennis shoes and white over-the-ear headphones.

According to a press release from the Nebraska State Patrol, Stevenson is diagnosed with autism with the mental capacity of a 12-14 year-old.

NSP said she was last seen in Sidney, Neb. on Sunday afternoon with a possible destination of Kansas City. The vehicle and route of travel are unknown, but she may be traveling with a second female, according to law enforcement.

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Anyone with information is asked to contact the Middleton Police Department through the Canyon County Idaho Sheriff’s Office at 208-454-7531.

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Copyright 2026 KOLN. All rights reserved.



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Nebraska cops respond to gunfire at store and find a dog accidentally shot someone

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Nebraska cops respond to gunfire at store and find a dog accidentally shot someone


Police in Nebraska were called to a convenience store after reports of gunfire — only to find a dog accidentally shot a person with a shotgun.

Officers with the Scottsbluff Police Department were called to Short Stop, a gas station and convenience store, after receiving a report that someone had been shot with a BB gun just after noon on Saturday, KNOP News 2 reported.

However, while on their way to the scene, police were informed that the incident actually involved a shotgun.

At the store, police found a truck with damage consistent with a shotgun blast to the passenger side door.

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The driver of the truck had pulled into the parking lot to shop, but a dog in the back seat of their vehicle moved from one side of the car to the other — and managed to cause the loaded shotgun to discharge.

Police in Nebraska were called to a report of a shooting, only to find that a dog accidentally triggered a loaded shotgun
Police in Nebraska were called to a report of a shooting, only to find that a dog accidentally triggered a loaded shotgun (Google Maps)

The shotgun fired off into the passenger side panel of the car. A pellet also struck a woman who was stopped at a nearby traffic light and had her right arm dangling out of the car’s open window.

The pellet from the shotgun struck her in the upper arm, police said.

The woman’s injury was not believed to be life-threatening. She was taken to a nearby hospital by a family member.

It is against the law in Nebraska to travel with a loaded shotgun in a vehicle, according to the report.

The incident is being investigated by the Scottsbluff Police Department.

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Nebraska State Track (5/23): KMAland lands 23 state medals on final day in Omaha

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Nebraska State Track (5/23): KMAland lands 23 state medals on final day in Omaha


(KMAland) — Twelve girls and 11 boys KMAland athletes/events were state medalists on Saturday at the final day of action at the Nebraska State Track & Field Championships in Omaha at Burke Stadium.

Check out the area rundown below and full results linked here. 

BOYS CLASS C 

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Seven KMAland athletes won state medals in Class C with Johnson-Brock’s Calvin Benham (discus throw) and Deacon Bernadt (300 hurdles), Palmyra’s Gannon Hubbard (1600), Owen Ramaekers (1600) and Leyton Mapson (100) and Falls City’s Tanner Jackson (pole vault) all taking individual medals. The Palmyra 4×100 meter relay team also snagged a medal.

Check out the area rundown below.

10. Johnson-Brock (18.33 points)

•5th Place: Calvin Benham, discus throw (162-07)

•7th Place: Deacon Bernadt, 300 hurdles (40.61)

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18. Palmyra (14 points)

•5th Place: Gannon Hubbard, 1600 meters (4:28.92)

•7th Place: 4×100 meter relay (43.71) & Owen Ramaekers, 1600 meters (4:29.68)

•8th Place: Leyton Mapson, 100 meters (11.28)

•10th Place: 4×400 meter relay (3:29.08)

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•17th Place: Tyler Jensen, pole vault (12-00.00) & Grady Vasa, 800 meters (2:01.68)

23. Falls City (11 points)

•6th Place: Tanner Jackson, pole vault (13-06.00)

•9th Place: Caleb Offner, discus (158-11)

34. Johnson County Central (5 points)

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•12th Place: Trevin Huskey, 1600 meters (4:35.69)

Louisville (0 points)

•10th Place: Keegan Witte, 800 meters (2:00.34)

•11th Place: 4×400 meter relay (3:29.29)

•24th Place: Lincoln Heins, 800 meters (2:06.83)

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BOYS CLASS D 

Humboldt-TRS had another solid Saturday with Kameon Dettmann taking second in the 800, and Emmett Glathar finishing in fourth place in the discus. Weeping Water added a pair of medals with Tucker Bickford taking sixth in the 800 and their 4×400 finishing in seventh.

Check out the area rundown below.

13. Weeping Water (15 points)

•6th Place: Tucker Bickford, 800 meters (2:01.40)

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•7th Place: 4×400 meter relay (3:32.92)

16. Humboldt-TRS (13 points)

•2nd Place: Kameon Dettmann, 800 meters (1:58.70)

•4th Place: Emmett Glathar, discus (161-01)

•12th Place: 4×400 meter relay (3:35.78)

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•15th Place: Axton Wamsley, 800 meters (2:05.58)

36. Falls City Sacred Heart (5 points)

•15th Place: Brenden Lemerond, 1600 meters (4:50.68)

•16th Place: Bo Fletcher, 1600 meters (4:51.67)

54. Lourdes Central Catholic (1 point)

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•9th Place: Justus Kreifels, discus (145-06)

GIRLS CLASS C 

Conestoga’s Abigail Harvey led the area with wins in the 800 and 200 wheelchair events while Harley Lubben of Johnson County Central was third in the shot put. Other medalists included JCC’s Molly Webber (100 & 200), Palmyra’s Alaena Hopkins (shot put), the Palmyra 4×400 and Ayla Garrett of Conestoga (triple jump).

Check out the area rundown below.

12. Johnson County Central (22 points)

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•3rd Place: Harley Lubben, shot put (40-02.25)

•5th Place: Molly Weber, 100 meters (12.37) & 200 meters (25.52)

29. Palmyra (5 points)

•6th Place: Alaena Hopkins, shot put (39-03.25)

•7th Place: 4×400 meter relay (4:04.31)

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•15th Place: Hailey Hengtgen, 1600 meters (5:40.25)

•18th Place: Kylie Badertscher, 800 meters (2:26.73)

35. Conestoga (3 points)

•1st Place: Abigail Harvey, 800 wheelchair (3:24.73) & 200 wheelchair (50.14)

•6th Place: Ayla Garrett, triple jump (36-02.00)

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•11th Place: Chloe Bergmeyer, triple jump (35-00.25)

•21st Place: Ayla Garrett, 300 hurdles (50.45)

Johnson-Brock 

•20th Place: Rylie Beethe, 300 hurdles (50.01)

•23rd Place: Leighton Edwards, 800 meters (2:29.12)

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Falls City

•22nd Place: Jennifer Sweeney, 1600 meters (6:19.21)

GIRLS CLASS D 

Humboldt-TRS’ Lillian Bowen led the area with a runner-up in the 800 while Lourdes Central Catholic’s Lily Madison ended up third in the triple jump. The Knights were fourth in the 4×100, and Brooklyn Borer added a fifth-place finish in the 100 hurdles for LCC.

Check out the area rundown below.

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11. Lourdes Central Catholic (20 points)

•3rd Place: Lily Madison, triple jump (36-05.75)

•4th Place: 4×100 meter relay (50.89)

•5th Place: Brooklyn Borer, 100 hurdles (15.84)

•12th Place: Harper Rutt, triple jump (33-11.00) & Brooklyn Borer, 300 hurdles (49.18)

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14. Humboldt-TRS (16 points)

•2nd Place: Lillian Bowen, 800 meters (2:23.47)

•14th Place: Grayson Sherman, 1600 meters (5:44.33)2

34. Weeping Water (4 points)

•11th Place: Kallie Brack, 1600 meters (5:38.16)

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Falls City Sacred Heart (0 points)

•15th Place: Hallie Jones, shot put (34-07.25)

Thank you for reading kmaland.com

At KMA, we attempt to be accurate in our reporting. If you see a typo or mistake in a story, please contact us by emailing kmaradio@kmaland.com.





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