Nebraska

Our entrepreneurship opportunity • Nebraska Examiner

Published

1 year ago

October 21, 2024

Our entrepreneurship opportunity • Nebraska Examiner

Older Nebraskans remember radio commentator Paul Harvey. Popular for his “The Rest of the Story.” Mr. Harvey told stories about someone or something, teasing his audience to guess who or what he was talking about. After a commercial break he shared the “rest of the story.”

Entrepreneurship, or the creating and growing of businesses, is core to America’s success. As recently as the decade before the pandemic, growing research indicating America’s entrepreneurship culture was in decay. Calls for revitalizing America’s entrepreneurial spirit sounded. Truth be told, we Americans have an active tradition of cycling between “all is going to the dogs” and “good times are here again.”

The rest of the story is rooted in the dark days of the pandemic. We, like much of the world, were gripped by a once-in-a-lifetime health crisis. Over a 100 million Americans came down with COVID-19 and over 1.2 million died. Economic shutdowns, isolation, jobs lost, and failed businesses occurred. During COVID, working from home became more commonplace, and millions of us reconsidered how we made our living and lived. In the pandemic the roots of an entrepreneurship renewal were planted. Hundreds of thousands of our neighbors decided they did not want to go back to the shop floor or office. They were tired of working for someone else and desired something different than a long commute and having a boss.

In the New York Times dated Oct. 4, 2024, authors Ben Casselman and Sydney Ember penned a story titled “Pandemic Start-Ups Are Thriving, and Helping Fuel the Economy.” In this story the authors cite statistical evidence that something has changed with dramatically higher new business formation rates. Their story also captures insights into why this is happening. For America this is a point-in-time opportunity that warrants our encouragement and support. Entrepreneurship is driving creativity and innovation, and revitalizing and energizing our economy, society and communities.

These cycles of entrepreneurship are not new to America. My pop grew up in the 1920s and 1930s working on the family’s farms, and then as a laborer. That is how most Americans made their living in those times. Upon returning from World War II, serving in the U.S. Army, my father went back to work as a meat cutter and grocery clerk. With a little cash in his pocket, he dreamed of a different life. He got married, started a family, began buying homes, cars and appliances, enabled by becoming a small business owner.

After World War II, with a booming economy, there was a surge in entrepreneurship. Of my dad’s six brothers, all but one became entrepreneurs. None of them became rich, but they raised and educated families, paid taxes, hired folks, ensured their retirements and gave back to their communities.

This pattern is repeating itself across America and Nebraska in 2024. In 2022, the Unicameral Legislature enacted the Nebraska Small Business Assistance Act. The act provides funding for Nebraska-based startup and existing small businesses. The response to the act has been overwhelming, with nearly 3,000 inquiries.

This level of interest far exceeds what we would expect from the normal startup data. Recent analysis by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Bureau of Business Research found over 63% of these small business owners pursued entrepreneurship because they wanted to be their own boss — just like my pop.

The rest of the story is still to be written. Nebraska has a critical choice. Each year state and local governments spend hundreds of millions of dollars on traditional economic development focusing on business attraction and real estate development.

If just 10% of this spending was invested in supporting entrepreneurship, we could grow a more diverse, equitable, rooted and resilient economy, one entrepreneur’s dream at a time. Entrepreneurship builds families, communities and stronger state economies.

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Nebraska

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

Published

12 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

1 day 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 Chamber taps former state senator to lead during leadership transition

Published

2 days 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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