Nebraska
This Southeast Nebraska Town Mixes A Historic Downtown With Quirky Museums And Native Roots – Islands
Nebraska is best known for college football and some stellar homegrown agriculture, hence why the state has been nicknamed “the Cornhusker State.” But while many visitors are busy cheering on Herbie Husker and enjoying high-quality corn and beef, they might be missing out on this state’s interesting hidden gems.
Think of Valentine, the underrated city that is an adventurer’s paradise of hikes, rivers, and canyons, or the Sandhills Scenic Byway, which is one of the most beautiful roads in America. And nestled in Pawnee County, you’ll find Pawnee City, renowned for its historic downtown, eccentric museums, and Indigenous heritage. Located about 80 miles from the capital city of Lincoln, Pawnee City is home to the Pawnee City Historic Business District, a cluster of almost 60 buildings spread across a six-block area, which includes the County Courthouse that dates back to 1911.
The district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and for those keen on exploring the borough, the Pawnee City Public Library provides a self-guided itinerary. In 1881, a fire almost destroyed the town, though it was later reconstructed. If you are a history buff, pay a visit to the Historical Society & Museum to learn more about the city’s courageous past. If you are also curious about your family history, head to one of its edifices, the Genealogy Center, where you can unearth your family line.
Unconventional museums in Pawnee City
Austin, Texas, may be popular for its Museum of the Weird, but Pawnee City, Nebraska, has its own eccentric museums to offer. Larry and Jeanne Rinne brought to life a private museum — called the Rinne’s Private Toys and Dolls Collectibles Museum — that displays a collection of 2,000 dolls and more than 1,000 replica vehicles. Visitors are welcome to visit their quirky museum, just be sure to book an appointment ahead of time.
Jerry’s Dream Museum conjures up memories of an old-school Phillips 66 gas station and a 1950s Valentine Diner. Plus, the story behind this museum is incredibly heartfelt. When Pawnee City local Jerry Stephens passed away, his friends wanted to make his dream of reconstructing this 1937 gas station a reality. Several years after his death, the museum finally opened, and it now welcomes car enthusiasts and history buffs alike. Besides memorabilia from the past, visitors can also attend car shows and car-themed events, some of which include exciting car races.
Discover Indigenous history in Pawnee City
The name Pawnee originates from the Indigenous community that once lived in the region. The Pawnee were divided into four tribes — the Kitkahahki, Chaui, Skidi, and Pitahawira. They lived in earth lodges, grew corn, hunted buffalo, and crafted weapons and pottery. Following battles with the nearby Sioux tribes and the arrival of European settlers, the Pawnee were obliged to surrender some of their territories, leaving Nebraska, and creating their own colony in Oklahoma between 1874 and 1875.
Around Pawnee City, you can find historical markers that commemorate important events related to these Indigenous people, but if you want to delve even deeper into the history, head to the Pawnee Indian Museum State Historic Site in Kansas, located about two hours from Pawnee City. The museum offers a chance to see an authentic Indigenous dwelling, understand the Pawnee culture, and acquire further knowledge from archaeological finds.
Should you wish to visit Pawnee City, the best way to reach your destination is to fly into the nearby Lincoln Airport, which is only about an hour and a half away from this charming little locale. Other major airports are located in Kansas City and Omaha. The former is two hours away from the town, while the latter is about an hour and 40 minutes.
Nebraska
4.1-magnitude earthquake hits south-central Nebraska
People across Nebraska and Kansas reported feeling an earthquake Sunday afternoon.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, a quake measuring 4.1 on the Richter Scale struck around 1 p.m. about 3 miles east of the Webster County village of Cowles, which is in south-central Nebraska near the Kansas border.
A quake of that magnitude is considered “light” and not likely to cause damage.
But the USGS received dozens of reports from people who said they felt the quake, some as far away as Omaha and Manhattan, Kansas. Numerous people took to social media to report feeling the quake.
Two aftershocks of 2.6 magnitude later occurred near the original quake site, one about 90 minutes after the initial quake and one later Sunday night.
Earthquakes are relatively rare in Nebraska, but the state does usually record one or two minor ones per year. The last time Nebraska recorded a quake of a magnitude 4 or above was in December 2023, also in Webster County.
Nebraska
Nebraska Lottery results: See winning numbers for Powerball, Pick 3 on March 2, 2026
The results are in for the Nebraska Lottery’s draw games on Monday, March 2, 2026.
Here’s a look at winning numbers for each game on March 2.
Winning Powerball numbers from March 2 drawing
02-17-18-38-62, Powerball: 20, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from March 2 drawing
21-28-58-65-67, Powerball: 25
Check Powerball Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from March 2 drawing
7-5-8
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 5 numbers from March 2 drawing
03-08-09-17-25
Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning 2 By 2 numbers from March 2 drawing
Red Balls: 14-26, White Balls: 17-18
Check 2 By 2 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning MyDay numbers from March 2 drawing
Month: 05, Day: 03, Year: 23
Check MyDay payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from March 2 drawing
28-41-42-50-55, Bonus: 02
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Nebraska Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 3, 5: By 10 p.m. CT daily.
- Lucky For Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
- 2 By 2: By 10 p.m. CT daily.
- MyDaY: By 10 p.m. CT daily.
- Lotto America: 9:15 p.m CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a USA Today editor. You can send feedback using this form.
Nebraska
NioCorp to start work on its minerals mine in southeast Nebraska
NioCorp announced Monday that it plans to start work on its critical minerals mine in southeast Nebraska.
The project, which the company is calling its mine portal project, will involve building a main entrance to the Elk Creek underground mine and will serve as the primary access point for personnel, equipment, and materials for the underground mining operations. It also will include excavating bedrock, drilling and blasting to establish the twin mine ramps, on-site access road construction, and construction of on-site supporting infrastructure.
The project, which will cost nearly $45 million, is set to get underway before the end of the month. It marks the first time Colorado-based NioCorp will actually start any significant work on the main mine, from which the company hopes to extract niobium, scandium, titanium and other minerals.
“Given the size of this excavation work, the portal project really marks the beginning of a major pre-construction activity at the Elk Creek Project site and is an important step toward preparing for underground development,” Scott Honan, the company’s president and chief operating officer, said in a release.
Mark A. Smith, Niocorp’s chairman and CEO, called the project, “a significant milestone.”
Niocorp has spent more than 15 years trying to develop the mine on land in Johnson County, about 65 miles southeast of Lincoln.
The company still needs to raise a significant amount of money to make the $1.2 billion mine a reality, though. In December, NioCorp said it had raised about $360 million, or a little more than a quarter of the total cost. It is still waiting for approval of a $780 million debt financing application from the Export-Import Bank of the United States.
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