OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – A Nebraska businessman and pillar of the Omaha community passed away over the weekend.

Michael Yanney, founder of Burlington Capital investment company, has died at 92 years old.

Yanney was born in Kearney in 1933. He and his wife, Gail, founded “Partnership for Kids,” a mentoring and scholarship program back in 1986.

He also founded the E.K. & Mary Yanney Heritage Park in Kearney and named it after his parents.

In May 2024, Yanney received the University of Nebraska – Kearney’s highest honor: the Ron and Carol Cope Cornerstone of Excellence Award. The above photo shows Yanney accepting the award.

Governor Jim Pillen and Nebraska Rep. Don Bacon are some of the figures remembering Yanney’s impact on the state.

REACTIONS

Pillen called Yanney a “true friend for a long time” on social media.

Bacon shared his thoughts on social media Sunday.

Sen. Pete Ricketts said Yanney was a “business leader and a true titan” of the community.

In his post, Nebraska Rep. Adrian Smith said that Yanney “embodied the very best of the American Dream, rising from humble beginnings to leave an enduring mark on our state.”

Senator Deb Fischer added in her message Monday morning.

Rep. Mike Flood also shared his condolences.

—

Watch breaking news unfold on our livestream. Download the First Alert 6 streaming app to your TV or find us in your favorite streaming platform.

Copyright 2026 WOWT. All rights reserved.

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) — Whether it’s serving as a substitute or a paraprofessional, retired teachers play a vital role in education.

But new legislation aims to fix a problem in Nebraska: retirees who help too much, too soon might be required to repay some of their retirement benefits.

Currently, retired teachers must wait 180 days before volunteering regularly, with an exception of eight days a month during that period.

Sen. Dan Lonowski of Hastings introduced the bill, which changes the waiting period to 120 days with no volunteer exceptions.

The bill has the support of the Nebraska State Education Association, or NSEA.

“We’ve heard stories from retirees that were forced to pay back tens of thousands of dollars because they didn’t even realize they had helped out too much during that 180 days,” NSEA President Tim Royers said. “So this is a nice, clean, hard break. You’ve just got to sit out on the bench for a few months, but by November, you’re able to get back and help and support your community.”

Beyond filling in the classroom, retired teachers serve another very important purpose, Royers said.

They’re coaches to newer teachers, bringing a wealth of knowledge as veteran mentors to a profession that historically experiences high rates of burnout.

Click here to subscribe to our 10/11 NOW daily digest and breaking news alerts delivered straight to your email inbox.

Copyright 2026 KOLN. All rights reserved.

Nebraska (22-3, 11-3) remained home to play Northwestern (10-16, 2-13) on Saturday for the second time this season. The Huskers picked up the win to sweep the Wildcats on the year, dominating the afternoon 68-49.

Nebraska pulled away in the second half, scoring 40 points after entering halftime up 28-27. The Huskers battled with Northwestern multiple times in the game, with the Wildcats even taking a four-point lead early in the second. But Nebraska took control of the game by scoring from beyond the arc.

The Huskers shot 11-of-25 from beyond the arc with Pryce Sandfort leading the charge. He scored a game-high 29 points by shooting 10-of-21 from the floor, 6-of-13 from 3-point range and 3-of-3 from the free throw line. Sandfort also hauled in six rebounds.

Nebraska finished 24-of-53 in total and 9-of-12 from the line. The Huskers also outrebound the Wildcats 40-24. Northwestern finished 20-of-50 and 6-of-11, respectively. The Wildcats also scored 27 points off 18 turnovers. But Northwestern hit just 3-of-15 from beyond the arc.