Nebraska
Severe storms cause significant damage across eastern Nebraska, western Iowa
OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – At least four area were hit by severe weather Thursday night, resulting in reports of multiple tornados in northeast Nebraska and western Iowa.
Bennington and Manley in Nebraska and Randolph and Essex in Iowa were impacted by severe weather Thursday. The National Weather Service is expected to confirm in the coming days exactly what damages were the result of tornadoes.
One possible tornado was spotted near Oakland, Iowa, at about 8 p.m. Nearly an hour later, there was serious concern about a very large tornado that was passing through the Essex, Iowa, area.
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Several First Alert 6 viewers submitted photos and videos of damage to their homes and vehicles.
At about 7 p.m., tornado sirens went off in Omaha after a tornado touched down north of the city. Sirens were also going off in Bennington and Elkhorn, and people at Eppley Airfield took shelter for about 15 minutes.
As the storm passed through Colfax and Dodge counties, strong winds kicked up a dust cloud big enough to force drivers to pull off Highway 30 near Rogers and North Bend. A tornado warning was issued for Dodge County at about 6 p.m., but a tornado was not confirmed in that area.
OPPD’s peak outage number reached about 1,200 customers on Thursday night just after 9 p.m.
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Nebraska
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Nebraska
Former OSU, Nebraska wrestler AJ Ferrari arrested after police pursuit in Nebraska
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (KOKH) — Former Oklahoma State and Nebraska Cornhuskers wrestler Albert “AJ” Ferrari was arrested in Nebraska after leading officers on a police pursuit on Friday night.
According to a report from the Nebraska State Patrol, a trooper attempted a traffic stop after noticing a driver speeding on Interstate 80 near North Platte at mile marker 176, later identified as Ferrari.
The NPS trooper followed Ferrari as he exited at mile marker 179 heading northbound on Highway 30.
The trooper clocked Ferrari’s vehicle, a Chevrolet Corvette, traveling over 110 miles per hour in a 55 miles per hour zone.
During an attempted traffic stop, Ferrari refused to stop and fled westbound, leading to a pursuit. After several miles, Ferrari stopped his car and fled on foot.
Officers found identifying information in the vehicle. Ferrari was found the next morning by authorities.
Ferrari was booked into Lincoln County Jail for flight to avoid arrest, willful reckless driving, and obstruction.
In 2022, Ferrari left the Oklahoma State Wrestling program following an investigation by the Stillwater Police after a woman accused Ferrari of sexual assault.
Charges against Ferrari were later dismissed by the Payne County District Court.
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Nebraska
Five-Star Forward Dawson Battie Returning to Nebraska for Official Visit
One of the nation’s top forwards is giving Nebraska another look.
First reported by Robin Washut of HuskerOnline, the Big Red have secured an official visit from the No. 13 overall prospect in the 2027 recruiting class. Dawson Battie of St. Mark’s High School in Dallas, Texas, will visit Lincoln for the third time overall during the weekend of Oct. 9.
Battie, a five-star recruit according to the 247Sports Composite rankings, first traveled to campus in August of 2025 before returning to watch the Huskers take on then-No. 9 Illinois in February. Despite Nebraska’s nine-point loss, the visit left a lasting impression, and the Huskers have remained among his top schools. They’ll now get another opportunity to strengthen their position this fall.
Here’s the latest on Battie’s recruitment, including where Nebraska stands and why the Huskers feel confident about their chances leading down the final stretch until the early signing period in November.
Battie’s Other Top Schools
The composite five-star has no shortage of Division I offers. Battie holds 23 in total, with Nebraska, SMU, Texas, Kentucky, and Kansas appearing to be among the top on his list.
The Huskers were one of the first Power Conference programs to offer the Dallas native, extending one in October of 2024. Since then, Battie’s recruitment has taken off, but Nebraska has remained within striking distance.
To date, Battie has visited SMU three times, Nebraska twice, and both Texas and Kentucky once. He also has official visits scheduled this fall to Texas A&M, Houston, SMU, and Virginia before announcing his college decision.
100% Committed #GBR #God✝️ #Committed pic.twitter.com/Etd7xtmIgC
— Ty Schlagel (@TySchlagel) October 20, 2025
NU’s 2027 Recruiting Class to Date
Nebraska currently has one commitment in its 2027 recruiting class: Ty Schlagel. The 6-foot-5 rising senior from Cretin-Derham Hall in St. Paul, Minnesota, is ranked No. 107 nationally in the 247Sports Composite.
The four-star recruit committed to the Huskers last October over fellow Big Ten programs such as Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin. He quickly developed a strong relationship with Fred Hoiberg’s staff and has remained committed ever since.
NU is expected to add at least one or two more high school prospects to the class, making Battie one of the program’s biggest remaining targets left on the board.
Other 2027 Prospects Who Have Visited Lincoln in 2026:
- Mathias Alessanco- Forward (★★★★)
- Ryan Hampton- Shooting Guard (★★★★★)
- Chase Richardson- Point Guard (★★★★)
All 2027 Prospects Nebraska Has Offered
Nebraska has extended offers to 13 prospects in the 2027 class, with most of them being forwards. Battie is one of the two five-stars on this list.
Dooney Johnson (Gonzaga), Jack Kohnen (Iowa State), London Dada (Creighton), Donovan Davis (Iowa State), Chase Richardson (Texas A&M), Jalen Brown (Wisconsin), Ryan Hampton (Kentucky), and Mathias Alessanco (South Carolina) are committed to other schools.
Remaining uncommitted targets include Battie, Eden Vinyard, Isaiah Mack-Russel, and Cherif Millogo. They could also work to flip targets closer to signing day, though with the 5-for-5 eligibility rules passing earlier this week, the Huskers have several players on their current roster who have gained an additional year.
- Mathias Alessanco- Forward (★★★★)
- Dawson Battie- Forward (★★★★★)
- Eden Vinyard- Forward (★★★★)
- Ty Schlagel- Forward (★★★★)
- Donovan Davis- Forward (★★★★)
- Jack Kohnen- Forward (★★★★)
- London Dada- Forward (★★★)
- Isaiah Mack-Russel- Forward (★★★)
- Chase Richardson- Point Guard (★★★★)
- Dooney Johnson- Point Guard (★★★★)
- Jalen Brown- Shooting Guard (★★★★)
- Ryan Hampton- Shooting Guard (★★★★★)
- Cherif Millogo- Center (★★★★)
What Happens Next?
Nebraska’s staff has plenty of reason to feel optimistic. Not only have the Huskers remained contenders throughout Battie’s recruitment, but they’ll also get another opportunity to host him before the early signing period in November.
Several high-profile programs remain near the top, but a strong start to the 2026-27 season against Providence and Boise State could further strengthen NU’s pitch. While NIL will undoubtedly play a role, Battie’s recruitment appears to be centered on relationships, player development, and overall fit.
If the Huskers can check those boxes, they’ll have a real shot. Battie has the talent to start as a true freshman, and wherever he signs, he’ll likely have an opportunity to contribute right away. Landing him would give Nebraska the highest-ranked recruit in program history, making it easy to understand why Hoiberg and his staff aren’t backing down from the fight.
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