Nebraska
Police Drop Investigation Into Vandalization of Nebraska Blessed Mother Statue
A local police investigation into the vandalization of a Blessed Virgin Mary statue outside a Catholic charitable group’s headquarters in Nebraska is currently listed as “inactive” after police were unable to identify the perpetrator.
Although one of the building’s security cameras caught the vandal on video, Erika Thomas, a representative for the Lincoln Police Department, told CNA that the case is inactive and that “it doesn’t look like there has been any movement on it because they don’t have any suspects.”
The incident occurred on the campus of Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska (CSS) on Feb. 7 at 6:32 p.m.
Video footage shows a man calmly approach and remove the Marian statue, which normally sits in front of the building’s entrance. After a brief struggle, the man rips the 5-foot-tall resin statue from its pedestal and carries it out of view. The statue was later found headfirst in a nearby dumpster.
A police report obtained by CNA lists the incident as a “larceny,” not as vandalism nor a possible hate crime.
When questioned by CNA on whether the vandalism would be investigated as a possible hate crime, the police representative said “no.” She explained that the criteria for a hate crime under Lincoln law require there be an intent to intimidate and that since no suspect has been identified the perpetrator’s intent cannot be determined.
“The suspect was too far away from the camera to be able to identify them,” Thomas said.
“All that our incident report says is that it looks like they had security camera video that saw the person taking it and putting it in the dumpster. They ended up finding it and there are no suspects listed,” she added, noting that “the case is listed currently as inactive.”
CSS is a nonprofit organization that offers several programs to help underprivileged pregnant mothers and families as well as programs to help migrants. The group works in conjunction with the Diocese of Lincoln, and Bishop James Conley of Lincoln serves as president of the board.
Katie Patrick, executive director of CSS, told CNA that this was the first time an incident such as this had occurred on their campus. Patrick said that the Marian statue is relatively new to the grounds, being added as part of the building’s renovation in October. She said that the statue of the Blessed Virgin was meant as “a symbol of the hope and love we strive to bring in every encounter.”
“As far as what would motivate someone to do something like this to Our Lady, it’s hard to say,” Patrick said.
While admitting that it could just be “a random act of violence,” Patrick said that “it could be construed as a hate crime since the statue was pried off its pedestal (it was held on by a concrete adhesive) and placed upside down in a nearby dumpster.”
She noted that the incident occurred the same day a local television station ran a story featuring their refugee resettlement program.
“There’s no way to know if there’s a connection, but it appears someone was trying to make a statement against CSS and/or the Church.”
Despite the perpetrator’s actions, Patrick said the statue only sustained “minor” damage and that it will be restored to its pedestal later this week.
Rather than bearing any anger toward the perpetrator, Patrick called for people to pray for him.
“We’re praying for this individual — praying that he’ll find remorse in his petty crime and ask for forgiveness from God,” she said. “The public has been made aware of this unfortunate event so that they too can pray for this man and for our mission to bring hope in the good life to those in need.”
LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – Hundreds of people are without power in southeast Nebraska after a severe storm passed through Thursday morning.
The Lincoln Electric System outage map showed 115 customers without power across the city at 11:36 a.m.
Norris Public Power District’s outage map also shows 45 customers affected by the storm. As of 11:36 a.m., there were nine active outages.
According to the Nebraska Public Power District outage map, 657 customers were affected by the storm. Most of the affected customers were near Plattsmouth in southeast Nebraska. As of 11:37 a.m., 27 customers remain without power.
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Mandatory evacuations have been ordered near Crawford, including Fort Robinson State Park, as the South Fork Fire continues to spread in western Nebraska.
According to the City of Crawford, evacuations are currently underway for an area north of Crawford that includes the area south of Dodd Road, west of Dodd Road, and FF Street.
Fort Robinson has also been evacuated.
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission said Fort Robinson State Park and Peterson Wildlife Management Area have been temporarily closed due to the fire.
The fire has burned approximately 9,000 acres and is currently 0% contained, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
Nebraska Game and Parks said the park and the WMA will remain closed until further notice to support firefighting operations and protect public safety.
Nebraska
Nebraska State Runner-up and Futures Finalist Matt Brailita (2026) to Swim for Johns Hopkins
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Omaha, Nebraska native Matt Brailita is headed to Baltimore in the fall. He announced his commitment to Johns Hopkins University earlier this spring, writing on social media:
“I am very excited to announce my commitment to continue my academic and athletic career at Johns Hopkins University ! I’m extremely grateful for everything my family, friends, and teammates have done to support me every step of the way. A special thanks to Coach Tom and Coach Andy for always pushing me beyond what I believed in. Also a huge thanks to Coach Scott and Coach Chris for giving me this opportunity of a lifetime. GO BLUE JAYS!”
Brailita swam for Omaha’s Millard North High School under coach Andy Cunningham. He wrapped up his senior season with a pair of runner-up finishes at the 2026 NSAA Championships, earning lifetime-best times in both the 200 IM (1:50.84) and 100 breast (56.01). He also notched a PB in the 50 free (20.76) while leading off Millard North’s 200 free relay in prelims. He anchored the same relay in finals, splitting 20.01. Brailita leaves Millard North High School as a 10-time State medalist and a multiple-event team record-holder. He was 2026 Metro Conference champion in the 100 fly and as a member of 2 relays, and he was nominated for Metro Omaha World Herald Swimming Athlete Scholar.
Brailita swims year-round with Greater Omaha Aquatic Leopardsharks under coach Tom Beck. In addition to IM and breast, he excels in fly and free. In March, he competed at Columbia Sectionals, where he finaled in the 50 free (15th), 100 breast (11th), 50 fly (8th), 100 fly (10th), and swam prelims in the 50 breast (8th) and 200 IM (10th). He left the meet with new PBs in the 100 free (46.30), 50 breast (26.25), 50 fly (22.51), and 100 fly (49.86).
Last summer, Brailita hit LCM lifetime bests in the 50 breast (30.81), 100 breast (1:06.84), 200 breast (2:29.93), and 200 IM (2:11.12) at Madison Futures, making finals in the IM. He opened the 2026 long-course season with a pair of PBs (24.83 in the 50 free and 27.09 in the 50 fly) at the GOAL Sprint Cup in April.
Brailita will join the Blue Jays’ class of 2030 with Alistair Guth, Finn Nelson, Lukas Funderburk, Matthew Ko, Nicolas Aldana Huelga, Samuel Zhang, and William Thurk. His best times would have scored in the ‘A’ finals of the 200 IM, 100/200 breast, and 50/200 free, and the ‘B’ finals of the 100 free and 100 fly at the 2026 Centennial Conference Championships.
Best SCY times :
- 200 IM – 1:50.84
- 100 breast – 56.01
- 200 breast – 2:06.83
- 50 free – 20.76
- 50 free relay split – 20.01
- 100 fly – 49.86
- 200 free – 1:41.83
- 100 free – 46.30
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