BELLEVUE, Neb. (WOWT) – With Election Day seven weeks away, local election officials are taking advantage of a national push to make sure eligible voters are registered in time to cast their ballots Nov. 3.

The Sarpy County Election Commission is hosting a National Voter Registration Day event 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Bellevue Public Library. The site was chosen to call attention to the addition of a new ballot drop box at the location, off Fort Crook Road at Harvell Drive.

“Your voice matters, and that’s why we’re holding this event in recognition of National Voter Registration Day,” Sarpy County Election Commissioner David Jones said in a news release. “Our office is ready to make sure you’re registered to vote, update your information if needed and share upcoming election deadlines so that you’re prepared for the 2026 Nebraska Statewide General Election.”

Important dates

The new box is one of seven secure sites Sarpy County voters can drop their mail-in ballots, starting Friday Sept. 25. At Tuesday’s event, eligible voters can register to vote, update their current voter registration information, and fill out an application for early voting in the General Election in November.

Douglas County has 13 ballot drop-off locations. Lancaster County mail-in voters can bring their ballots to one of five locations. The Nebraska Voter Information Lookup portal also lists locations where early ballots can be securely submitted. The site also helps voters locate necessary forms and polling places, and information on tracking your cast ballot online.

As Voter ID is a requirement in Nebraska and Iowa, residents registering to vote will need to produce a valid state-issued photo driver’s license or ID; or a U.S. passport.

Mail-in ballots will start getting sent out Monday, Sept. 28 in Nebraska; and Monday, Oct. 19 in Iowa. That’s also when those acting as a verified agent for someone casting an “absentee” vote will be able to pick up ballots from their election commission.

Early in-person voting at county election offices start Monday, Oct. 5.

Deadlines

The last day to register to vote in the General Election is Friday, Oct. 23.

Nebraskans can register to vote online at the Secretary of State’s website; or in person at the DMV or Nebraska health or education departments as part of the licensing processes at those agencies. Iowans can also register to vote online; or by bringing the registration form to via IDOT or their county auditor. Those applications must be received by Friday Oct. 16.

Residents can also bring their completed state voter registration form to their county’s election commission office to complete the registration process by the Oct. 23 deadline.

All ballots must be returned to election officials — whether via mail, dropbox, or cast in person — by 8 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 3.

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – Diesel prices in Nebraska are now at a record high, averaging $5.96 Monday, adding some challenges for companies that use trucks.

Kent Grisham, with the Nebraska Trucking Association, is worried about how the high diesel prices will affect future generations.

“It’s actually likely that we will see some of the smaller operations, one-truck owner-operators, fleets that are particularly small that simply can’t handle that kind of rapid and overwhelming fuel inflation,” Grisham said.

That concern extends beyond business to his family, too.

“I know that my family, my grandchildren, These kinds of prices are going to be affecting everything for them well into the future,” Grisham said. “We can’t afford the cost of food going up as much as it has, let alone the cost of fuel.”

Monday night at Shoemaker’s Travel Center, the cost of a gallon of diesel was $5.99, impacting truck drivers like Ben Denny.

“It hurts everybody and I’m just in there with everybody,” Denny said. “I drive slower. I meet my on-time deliveries. I hold it between there and 68 and just keep a conscious awareness of what I’m doing to maintain less diesel use.”

Higher diesel prices are impacting the Food Bank of Lincoln, too.

“We’ve been watching these costs since the beginning of the year and if it continues at this pace, this will be our highest year on record in the last four years for fuel costs,” Michaella Kumke, the CEO, said. “Anything that goes into anything beyond food, I mean, that takes away from our food budget.”

For some, these prices could just be too much.

“The thing of it is the higher the prices, the harder it is to make a living, or make a successful living,” Denny said.

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LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for portions of south-central and southeast Nebraska until 10PM Monday night. Primary hazards will be isolated hail up to 1.50″ (ping pong size) and potential damaging wind gusts up to 80 mph.

***There is likely a DIFFERENT watch coming for southeast/eastern Nebraska soon.

There is a window Monday afternoon and evening for strong to severe storms capable of all hazards if a storm is able to remain isolated. Then, we’ll transition to clustering storms and messy storm moves later in the evening.

Training storms and flash flooding potential is there into the overnight period as well.

A cold front moving through the area this afternoon will bring the potential for strong to severe thunderstorms from south-central Nebraska into the eastern sections of the state. All modes of severe weather are possible, including damaging winds, large hail, and tornadoes.

The tornado threat is centered across eastern and southeastern Nebraska, with the potential for a strong tornado or two if storms remain discrete enough to take advantage of atmospheric wind shear.

The window of greatest concern runs from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., though the severe threat will begin to diminish after 10 p.m.

Wind damage appears to be the primary concern across the state, with a heavy rain threat also possible.

Some areas have already picked up over an inch of rain this morning, and a Flood Watch is in effect for the Lincoln and Omaha metro areas and southeastern Nebraska from 6 p.m. Monday through 1 p.m. Tuesday.

Conditions this afternoon will start warm and breezy, with highs reaching the upper 70s to upper 80s, with some areas in the low 90s in southern sections of the state.

The Pattern Shifts: Cooler Tuesday, Then Warming

Behind the cold front, much cooler conditions arrive Tuesday with highs in the upper 60s. Expect a cloudy, overcast day with scattered rain showers — similar to Sunday’s weather pattern.

Rain chances will increase Tuesday night into Wednesday as additional rounds of moisture move through. Below though is a first look at rain chances from 4 p.m. Monday to 4 p.m. Tuesday.

By mid-week, temperatures will gradually warm back up, reaching near 90 degrees by Friday before cooling into the weekend.

A Wet Week Ahead

This is just the beginning of an active weather pattern. Multiple rounds of rain are expected through the week, with shower and storm chances nearly every day through the weekend. While severe weather threats will diminish after Monday, the heavy rain and flooding concern will persist.

Rainfall amounts could be significant: areas across eastern Iowa may see 4 to 6 inches, while 2 to 5 inches is possible across southeast Nebraska. Even areas further west will see decent moisture at times throughout the week.

Weekend Plans? Bring a Poncho

If you’re heading to the game on Saturday, plan accordingly — rain chances continue into the weekend, so a poncho or rain gear is recommended.

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