Nebraska

Nebraska officials plan to form school safety task force

Published

3 years ago

May 26, 2022

Nebraska officials plan to form school safety task force

LINCOLN, Neb. (WOWT) – State officers need to convene a process power to handle present security protocols in Nebraska faculties.

With college security high of thoughts this week following a capturing at an elementary college in Uvalde, Texas, that left 21 folks — principally schoolchildren — lifeless, Nebraska officers confirmed to six Information on Thursday that they’re within the means of forming a panel to scrutinize the security of the state’s faculties.

“These tragedies are too widespread in our nation, and their causes have to be confronted,” a information launch from the chairwoman of the Unicameral’s schooling committee states.

State Sen. Lynne Walz’s workplace issued the discharge Thursday calling on Nebraska Schooling Commissioner Matt Blomstedt to create a Faculty Security Activity Pressure to make sure the state’s public faculties are and stay protected by reviewing present college security and safety procedures and using preparedness methods.

“…tragic occasions like these in Uvalde compel us to strengthen the should be extra united than ever,” the discharge from Walz’s workplace states. “Within the coming weeks and months Nebraska schooling leaders will ask powerful questions, course of gathered info, take heed to consultants, and help faculties in doing the whole lot in our energy to maintain college students protected.
Each concern and thought are on the desk for consideration as a result of, whereas tragedies just like the one in Texas can rapidly change into political and partisan, the security of our college students is an ethical crucial upon which we will all agree.”

Blomstedt instructed 6 Information in an e mail that he’s supportive of the concept.

“I’ve been engaged with Sen. Walz as she convened a number of schooling leaders over the previous two days to debate the latest tragedy in Texas. I respect Sen. Walz [sic] name to motion to create a process power and shall be working together with her and different schooling and group leaders in that effort.
Colleges throughout Nebraska have been steadfast of their efforts to supply protected environments for college kids. I imagine the broader name to evaluate what’s already in place and what extra could be executed in Nebraska isn’t just necessary, however crucial.”

“I do know our schooling group is dedicated to our college students, households, and educators,” mentioned Walz, who largely represents Dodge County. “They are going to proceed to make sure our faculties are protected and welcoming locations the place each pupil can thrive.”

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Nebraska

Archeological survey of 1860s Nebraska homestead is underway

Published

19 hours ago

April 16, 2025

Press Room

Archeological survey of 1860s Nebraska homestead is underway

STANTON COUNTY, Neb. (KTIV) – Archeologists with the Nebraska State Historical Society are digging at the site of an 1860s Stanton County homestead.

The Sharp Homestead, located near Pilger at the intersection of Nebraska Highway 15 and U.S. Highway 275, started Nov. 21, 1865, when Charles F. Sharp submitted a homestead application to the Nebraska Land Office in Nebraska City.

Sharp built a 16-by-24-foot, one-and-a-half-story, three-room house by 1872. It also contained a stable, a granary and a cellar below the house.

The 2014 Pilger tornado uncovered historical artifacts at the site, which led to further investigation. Architectural debris like brick, metal hinges and glass were later discovered.

Additionally, items like stoneware and flatware, a set of pliers, an old horseshoe and other unidentifiable metal items were found.

Button found at excavation site.(Nebraska State Historical Society)

Nolan Johnson, an archeologist with the Nebraska State Historical Society, has been working on the Sharp Homestead project since 2016.

Project lead, NSHS archeologist Nolan Johnson uses GPS for coordinate plotting of digging area... — Project lead, NSHS archeologist Nolan Johnson uses GPS for coordinate plotting of digging area and artifact location.(Nebraska State Historical Society)

Johnson said the Sharp Homestead is a significant site due to its age and could help scientists understand the evolution of farming practices in Nebraska.

“The archival record from the 1860s-1880s is scant and archeology is an important tool for filling in those gaps in our understanding of how people lived in Nebraska in the past,” said Johnson.

Over the next six to eight weeks, four state archeologists and two technicians will excavate several one-meter square grids by hand to recover artifacts and hopefully find evidence of building foundations.

Watering the dirt to enable digging. Evaporation from strong winds combined hardens dirt.... — Watering the dirt to enable digging. Evaporation from strong winds combined hardens dirt. Water makes digging manageable.(Nebraska State Historical Society)

Most of the recovered artifacts will be collected for cleaning, processing, analysis and storage at the State Archeology Office in Lincoln.

A comprehensive project report will be released detailing the excavations and providing results of the team’s findings once the analysis is complete.

The historical society is working with the Nebraska Department of Transportation to make way for a 10-mile expansion of U.S. Highway 275 from Norfolk to Omaha Expressway.

The expressway is planned to be expanded from two lanes to four lanes beginning 8.5 miles east of Norfolk and extending to the intersection of Nebraska Highway 15 and U.S. Highway 275.

The Sharp Homestead archeological work is the largest project the Nebraska State Historical Society and the Nebraska Department of Transportation have partnered on in more than 20 years.

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Nebraska

Committee amendment would pare down access to medical marijuana in Nebraska

Published

2 days ago

April 15, 2025

Press Room

Committee amendment would pare down access to medical marijuana in Nebraska

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – The Nebraska Legislature’s General Affairs Committee is now mulling an amendment to LB 677 that would prohibit cannabis flower, one of the most common forms. It would also keep PTSD off the list of qualifying conditions.

A group of veterans flocked to the Capitol Rotunda on Monday, telling lawmakers to reverse course and saying that cannabis can help people deal with the pain of war.

“It’s very inhumane to not allow people the medical option to help them with their with their issues and their situations,” said Benjamin Marksmeier, a wounded veteran. “Medical cannabis has the most beneficial factors and carries the least amount of risk, and for me, the amount of opioids that I needed to combat my pain was a ridiculous amount.”

Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana, the group behind the medical cannabis ballot drive that was supported in November by more than two-thirds of voters, said they can’t back the bill with that amendment.

“We will not concede to leaving people out, to making this more difficult for patients to access,” Crista Eggers, the director Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana, said. “Voters have spoken. We are going to honor and respect the voters whether lawmakers want to or not.”

Sen. Rick Holdcroft, the chair of the General Affairs Committee, said the bill wouldn’t have the votes to make it out of committee and onto the floor if it included access to flower and PTSD as a qualifying condition.

The committee is expected to convene on Thursday to take up the issue.

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No. 21 Nebraska softball completes sweep of Northwestern with shutout victory

Published

2 days ago

April 14, 2025

Press Room

No. 21 Nebraska softball completes sweep of Northwestern with shutout victory

Courtesy Nebraska Athletics

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The No. 21-ranked Nebraska softball team completed the sweep over Northwestern on Monday, shutting out the Wildcats 3-0 in Evanston.

With the win, the Huskers swept the Wildcats for the first time since 2017, outscoring Northwestern 24-2 in the series.

The Huskers moved to 31-10 (11-3 Big Ten) on the season, and the Wildcats fell to 20-15-1 (9-4 Big Ten).

After being named Big Ten Pitcher of the Week for the fourth time this season, Jordyn Bahl tossed a complete game shutout and fanned a season-high 14 batters.