Nebraska

Rep. Adrian Smith passes bill naming Lexington post office for Bill and Elsie Barrett • Nebraska Examiner

Published

1 year ago

December 10, 2024

Rep. Adrian Smith passes bill naming Lexington post office for Bill and Elsie Barrett • Nebraska Examiner

LINCOLN — Republican U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith of Gering has secured House passage of a bill to name a Lexington, Nebraska, post office for one of his predecessors, former 3rd District GOP Rep. Bill Barrett of Lexington, and Barrett’s wife, Elsie.

Barrett, a Korean War veteran who worked for his family’s oil company, served a dozen years in the Nebraska Legislature in the 1970s and 1980s, finishing his term as speaker. He won election to Congress in 1990 and served five terms.

A conservative on tax policy who rose through the ranks, Barrett finished his tenure as vice chairman of the House Agriculture Committee. The 3rd District is home to a large amount of Nebraska’s farm and ranch land.

Barrett helped write and pass the Freedom to Farm Act of 1996, which eliminated federal price supports and production caps, freeing farmers to plant more of what made money but also eventually cut consumer prices.

Smith, in his floor speech on the post office bill, said Barrett was “known for his ability to cultivate consensus and connect with anyone,” and served as president of his freshman congressional class, a group that Smith noted included future House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio.

“Tirelessly focused on issues important to Nebraska’s farmers and ranchers, Bill’s former staff have recounted how he would always ask, “Does this help the Third District?” Smith said. “He set a lasting standard of dedicated statesmanship.”

Elsie Barrett, a Connecticut native and nurse, met Bill Barrett while he was stationed out east in the Navy. They married in 1952. She later served on the Nebraska Foster Care Review Board.

The Senate will consider its own version of the bill, co-sponsored by Nebraska U.S. Sens. Pete Ricketts and Deb Fischer.

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Nebraska

Huskers/OSU game three canceled

Published

10 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Courtesy Nebraska Athletics

The third matchup this weekend between No. 9 Nebraska and No. 21 Oklahoma State was canceled Sunday due to expected bad weather in the Stillwater, Okla., area. The Cowgirls won the first matchup Thursday, 2-1 in 11 innings, while the Cornhuskers won Saturday, 4-3. The game will not be made up.

Nebraska now prepares for its home opener Thursday at Bowlin Stadium as the Huskers take on South Dakota State in a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.

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Nebraska

Nebraska State Patrol investigates attempted murder/suicide in Kearney County

Published

22 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Nebraska State Patrol investigates attempted murder/suicide in Kearney County

MINDEN, Neb. (KSNB) – The Nebraska State Patrol, with assistance from the Kearney County Sheriff’s Office and Kearney County Attorney’s Office, is investigating an attempted murder/suicide in rural Kearney County.

The Kearney County Sheriff’s Office was called to the scene Saturday afternoon.

According to NSP, three children and a woman had gunshot wounds, with the woman found dead.

The three children were transported by ambulance to Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney and treated for their injuries. Two of the children have since been transported to Children’s Hospital in Omaha.

NSP said all three children are expected to survive. The children are all under the age of 12.

This investigation is ongoing. Law enforcement said there is no ongoing threat to the public.

According to NSP, names are not being released at this time to protect the identities of the victims.

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Nebraska

UNK Students Selected for Nebraska Intercollegiate Band – Sandhills Express

Published

1 day ago

February 28, 2026

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UNK Students Selected for Nebraska Intercollegiate Band – Sandhills Express

Ten UNK students will perform with other outstanding instrumentalists from across the state as part of the 2026 Nebraska Intercollegiate Band. Front row, from left: Olivia Kohmetscher, Kaia Johnson, Douglas Davidchik, Micah Feddersen and Avery Reitz. Back row, from left: Evan Porter, Ike Smith, Kaitlyn Obrecht, Cameron Grafel and Chloe Harms. (Courtesy UNK, Click to enlarge)

KEARNEY, Neb – Ten students will represent the University of Nebraska at Kearney as members of the 2026 Nebraska Intercollegiate Band.

They’ll perform 11:30 a.m. March 7 in Kimball Recital Hall on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus as part of the 65th annual Nebraska State Bandmasters Association convention. The concert is free and open to the public.

The Nebraska Intercollegiate Band includes outstanding instrumentalists from colleges and universities across the state. Students selected for the honor spend time rehearsing together in Lincoln before performing for the public. This year’s ensemble is led by guest conductor Donald McKinney, director of bands at Indiana University.

“Rehearsing and performing in the Nebraska Intercollegiate Band will be an excellent opportunity for experiential learning,” said professor Duane Bierman, director of bands at UNK. “Not only will these students get a great musical experience but they will also get a chance to expand their network and grow their interpersonal skills.”

Students representing UNK include:
Broken Bow – Cameron Grafel, horn
Columbus – Douglas Davidchik, clarinet
Elm Creek – Chloe Harms, euphonium
Grand Island – Olivia Kohmetscher, tenor saxophone
Kearney – Ike Smith, trumpet
Kearney – Micah Feddersen, trumpet
Kearney – Avery Reitz, string bass and tuba
La Vista – Kaitlyn Obrecht, piano
Minden – Evan Porter, percussion
Ravenna – Kaia Johnson, flute