Nebraska

Nebraska Humane Society working to become ‘no kill’ shelter

Published

1 year ago

October 4, 2024

Nebraska Humane Society working to become ‘no kill’ shelter

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – The Nebraska Humane Society is closer than ever to becoming a “no kill” animal shelter after implementing changes over the past year.

Data from the national animal welfare organization, Best Friends Animal Society, showed nearly 1,700 cats and dogs were euthanized in Nebraska shelters last year, with more than 1,100 of those at Nebraska Humane Society in Omaha.

“It really is a tough topic to talk about, but they are decisions that have to be made occasionally,” said Steven Elonich, the Nebraska Humane Society’s VP of PR, Marketing and Internal Communication.

Unlike some shelters, Elonich said NHS does not euthanize for space nor based on time but will for other circumstances.

“If you have a cat who’s 17 years old that comes in with cancer, is it better to give them relief or is it better to let them spend their time suffering? If you have a dog who comes in with multiple bites, is it better for the community if we put them back out there again?” explained Elonich.

In the last seven years, NHS has increased the number of animals saved from euthanasia, from 79.6 percent in 2017 to 86.4 percent in 2023, according to Best Friends Animal Society.

NEBRASKA HUMANE SOCIETY SAVE RATES

2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023
79.6%	79.8%	80.2%	83.6%	85.3%	86.9%	86.4%

Now NHS is working to become “no kill,” which is defined as saving 90 percent of animals a year.

To help them get there, Best Friends Animal Society embedded an employee at NHS for a year.

“Best friends did an embed with us beginning in July of 2023, just ended in June of 2024. They started a number of programs and helped us with a number of programs we already have in existence to try to help us get closer to that number,” told Elonich.

New programs include Barks and Rec, which Elonich explained, “is kind of like renting a dog for a day. It gets them out of the shelter, it relieves stress, it gets them in front of more people that may otherwise not see them.”

They also started daily playgroups for dogs to help socialize them, making them more adoptable.

The Nebraska Humane Society started daily playgroups for dogs to help socialize them, making them more adoptable.(Erin Sullivan)

To prevent an overflow of cats they started a Community Cat Project.

“Kitties that are clearly not comfortable being inside cats, we’re able to trap, neuter, release, do vaccinations and get them back out there where they’re happiest and not have to look at euthanasia and those types of options for those cats,” said Pam Wiese, the Nebraska Humane Society’s CEO.

NHS is also trying to increase adoptions and reduce surrenders by offering resources, such as financial support or training.

“It’s about teaching people to be better pet owners, it’s about offering resources to help them keep their pets when times are hard, and it’s about us having best practices internally to make sure pets have the best outcome when they get out of here,” explained Elonich.

After a year of implementing these changes, the results are in. “It’s been really successful,” said Elonich.

“It (NHS) had been no-kill every month this year except for one, where they had a little bit of a dip, but they’re doing tremendously,” said Stacy Rogers, Best Friends Animal Society’s Regional Director for Great Plains and Midwest.

Elonich feels confident NHS will maintain the 90 percent no-kill benchmark for the remainder of 2024.

Rogers added, having the public support these efforts will be key to continued success.

“Getting your community to come in and foster pets when you’re full and adopt animals. Even if they’re not in the position to adopt or foster right now, support the shelter through sharing the message or making donations,” told Rogers.

Wiese said, unlike a decade ago, NHS now operates around 80 percent capacity, which is around 550 animals a day. This ensures they have room for emergency intakes and avoid getting overwhelmed with animals.

Rogers also reminds people who are looking for a specific breed to always check shelters first. “I was just at a shelter this week that had poodle mixes and beagles and a pug mix, and everything that people think they’re not going to find in a shelter are there.”

Best Friends is helping other shelters across the nation to become no-kill. Sometimes those efforts include helping change city ordinances to allow stray cats to live outside and implement community cat programs, like the one in Omaha.

States that are no kill include Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Delaware. Rogers said heavy spay/neuter initiatives were implemented on the east coast much sooner than the rest of the country, helping those states achieve that status.

The two states with the highest rates of euthanasia in the U.S. are Texas and California, according to Best Friends.

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Nebraska

Nebraska State Patrol troopers find 242 pounds of cocaine during commercial truck inspection

Published

5 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

Nebraska State Patrol troopers find 242 pounds of cocaine during commercial truck inspection

LEXINGTON, Neb. (KOLN) – Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol arrested one person after finding more than 240 pounds of cocaine during a commercial vehicle inspection.

On Tuesday afternoon, an NSP Carrier Enforcement trooper conducted a commercial vehicle inspection on a semi tractor/trailer driven by Arwinderjit Singh, 30, of California, near mile marker 254 on Interstate 80.

Arwinderjit Singh mugshot(Dawson County Jail)

During the inspection, the trooper became suspicious of criminal activity. An NSP K-9 detected the odor of a controlled substance inside the cab of the semi, troopers said.

After searching the cab, troopers located 242 pounds of cocaine concealed underneath the sleeper bed, NSP said.

Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol arrested one person after finding more than 240 pounds... — Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol arrested one person after finding more than 240 pounds of cocaine during a commercial vehicle inspection.(Nebraska State Patrol)

Singh was arrested on suspicion of possession of cocaine, possession with intent to deliver, possession of an open alcohol container, no drug tax stamp and displaying a fictitious license plate.

Singh was lodged in Dawson County Jail, and his bond was set at 10% of $2 million. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 12.

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Nebraska

Athlete of the Week: Creighton Prep boys wrestling’s Zaiyahn Ornelas

Published

17 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

Athlete of the Week: Creighton Prep boys wrestling’s Zaiyahn Ornelas

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.”

The senior ended his career as the 39th four-time state champion in Nebraska history, winning three at Wilber-Clatonia before joining the Jr. Jays.

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.”

The sophomore won his first state title after finishing as a runner-up at 126 pounds as a freshman.

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.”

The junior finished the season as a back-to-back state champion after winning a gold medal at 175 pounds as a sophomore.

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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Nebraska

Nebraska Chamber taps former state senator to lead during leadership transition

Published

1 day ago

February 26, 2026

Press Room

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.”

Matt Williams(NE Chamber)

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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