Nebraska
Nebraska Set for National Spotlight at America 250 State Fair in Washington, D.C.
LINCOLN, NEB — Nebraska will be featured on a national stage later this month as part of the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration.
Gov. Jim Pillen joined business and community leaders Monday to preview the state’s participation in the Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C.
The event runs June 25 through July 10 on the National Mall and will showcase exhibits from states and territories as part of the America 250 celebration.
Nebraska’s pavilion will highlight the state’s industries, history and culture, with participation from organizations including Union Pacific, Werner Enterprises, Tenaska, Valley Irrigation, Boys Town, Nebraska Public Power District, the Nebraska State Fair and History Nebraska.
“We’re really, really excited to partner with the businesses and organizations that are supporting Nebraska’s pavilion,” Pillen said. “We’re going to do a ton of bragging about Nebraska’s culture and traditions, our businesses, innovations and ideas.”
Union Pacific, founded in 1862, will be a centerpiece exhibit, highlighting its role in building the transcontinental railroad, completed in 1869 with the Golden Spike in Promontory, Utah.
Today, the Omaha-based railroad operates a freight network spanning 23 states.
“At our Nebraska pavilion, we’re going to give people the opportunity to be an engineer for a day,” said Eric Gehringer, executive vice president at Union Pacific. “We’re going to have a simulator there so both children and adults can see what it takes to help build America.”
Other exhibits will feature agriculture technology from Valley Irrigation, Nebraska’s public power system, Boys Town, the Nebraska State Fair and History Nebraska.
History Nebraska will highlight the 1879 Standing Bear court decision in Omaha, which recognized Native Americans as persons under U.S. law, along with the origins of Arbor Day in Nebraska.
“I want people to come away with a very, very clear picture of what’s made Nebraska who we are,” Pillen said.
Following the announcement, Pillen also updated the wildfire in the Nebraska Panhandle, saying it has burned about 35,000 acres and is roughly 10% contained. Nebraska National Guard aircraft and firefighters are assisting with suppression efforts near Fort Robinson.
The Great American State Fair opens June 25 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
MILFORD, Neb. (KTIV) – A traffic stop that led to the arrest of a man after finding over 500 pounds of cocaine received help from a furry friend.
At approximately 10:25 a.m. on Wednesday, May 27, a trooper with the Nebraska State Patrol saw an eastbound Rouge following a semi too closely near Milford. During the traffic stop, an NSP K9 detected an odor of cocaine coming from the vehicle.
The origin of the furry hero is linked to a Northeast Nebraska organization.
The NSP K9 that detected the cocaine is called Gable. Gable is a 7-year-old Belgian Malinois who has been with the NSP since 2020.
Gable was purchased by the NSP after a donation from the Friends of Baron Companion Animal Foundation. A foundation in West Point, Nebraska, located in Cuming County.
“A great example of a local organization from West Point making a difference for the whole state!” stated NSP in an email to KTIV.
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A legendary Nebraska football coach has passed away. George Darlington died in Lincoln on Sunday morning at the age of 87.
Darlington coached at Nebraska for 30 seasons from 1973 to 2002. He coached defensive ends for the first 13 seasons of his tenure before becoming defensive backs coach in 1986.
During his tenure, Nebraska went 304-65-3, won 14 conference titles, and three national championships. The Huskers also played in a bowl game in each of Darlington’s 30 seasons
After his time at Nebraska ended, he served as an assistant coach at Marshall, Louisiana Tech, Southeast Missouri State and San Diego. He officially retired from coaching in 2010.
Following his retirement, Darlington remained around Husker football. He was a regular observer at football practices and could always be found in the Memorial Stadium press box on game days.
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Nebraska
National Weather Service confirmed at least 8 tornadoes in Nebraska and Iowa from Thursday’s storms
On Thursday morning, June 11, a cluster of thunderstorms raced through southeast Nebraska into southwest Iowa. While it brought heavy rain and lightning to Omaha, just 30 miles south of Omaha, it brought all kinds of significant weather.
The worst of the damage began in Cass County and continued through southwest Iowa. Within this broad swath, winds exceeding 80 mph at times brought substantial tree damage to a region already hit hard by severe storms this season.
The storms also brought hail up to 3″ in central Page County. Then, significant flash flooding occurred in Sidney, Shenandoah, and Essex.
In the days following the storms, the National Weather Service offices in Omaha/Valley and Des Moines have been surveying the damage to determine whether tornadoes or straight-line winds caused it. The findings, released Sunday afternoon, determined that eight tornadoes occurred in the storms. Six of those were rated EF-1 with winds as high as 110 mph. Two were rated EF-0.
NWS Omaha/Valley
The tornadoes began just east of Weeping Water in Cass County, where a farm building had its walls collapse. This tornado was rated a high-end EF-1 with winds up to 100 mph. An EF-0 tornado hit the creekbed of South Cedar Creek, where tree damage was observed.
Farther east, another EF-1 tornado developed north of Union. Extensive tree damage was noted at a residence and the East Union Cemetery. Meteorologist Joseph Meyer visited the cemetery and spoke with the president of the East Union Cemetery.
East Union Cemetery tornado damage
In Iowa, an EF-0 hit southwest Mills County in the bluffs northwest of Tabor. Tree damage was noted in this area.
The strongest tornado of the day happened in Fremont County, just west of Thurman. At a home just west of I-29, a roof was lifted off. This tornado was rated a high-end EF-1 with winds up to 110 mph, which is borderline EF-2 intensity.
NWS Omaha/Valley
As the storms continued into Montgomery and Page Counties, 80-90 mph winds caused extensive damage to trees, power lines, and outbuildings. Within this intense core of winds, several tornadoes occurred in the Villisca vicinity.
One of these, an EF-1, began over Viking Lake and continued east. At one home, the roof was damaged. Grain bins were thrown a mile away, landing at the interchange of US-34 and US-71. This tornado had estimated wind speeds up to 105 mph.
NWS Omaha/Valley
Southwest of Villisca, an EF-1 tornado crossed over northern Page County, twisting trees along a 7-mile path. A final EF-1 occurred between Villisca and Hepburn, where a farm outbuilding lost a wall.
The National Weather Service in Des Moines is still surveying damage in Adams County and near Corning. This story will be updated when those results are released.
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