Nebraska
UNK’s Light It Up awards celebrate entrepreneurship in central Nebraska – UNK NEWS
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KEARNEY – Successful and aspiring entrepreneurs were recognized April 21 during the annual Light It Up awards ceremony at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
Hosted by UNK’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Rural Development, the event celebrates the vision, innovation and hard work of entrepreneurs and advocates who are making a difference in Kearney and throughout greater Nebraska.
The following awards were presented during the ceremony at Discovery Hall:
Student Entrepreneur Award
Fallon Wells, Flourish Floral Company
The winner of UNK’s Big Idea business pitch competition, Fallon Wells graduates next month with a degree in interior and product design and a minor in entrepreneurship. She’s returning to her hometown of Central City, where she’ll own and operate a flower shop.
“What truly sets Fallon apart is her commitment to her community. By choosing to invest in and sustain a local business in her hometown, she is helping preserve an important community staple. Her work ensures continued access to a service that brings people together during meaningful moments,” her nomination stated.
Emerging Entrepreneur Award
Connor Streit, PolyPath Med
Connor Streit, founder of PolyPath Med, earned the Emerging Entrepreneur Award for his efforts to reduce medical waste. His business focuses on repurposing unused sterile plastic from operating rooms, diverting thousands of pounds from landfills.
Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award
Cody Lawson, 1to1 Technologies
Cody Lawson started his business as a teenager and has grown it into a multistate technology support and repair company known for its customer-focused approach and community involvement. The business has seven full-time employees and a new facility in Central City.
“Cody is our poster child for the entrepreneurial spirit,” his nomination stated. “He inspires others to take the leap and mentors those who attempt it.”
Entrepreneurship Advocate Award
Caleb Pollard, Valley County Economic Development/Ord Area Chamber of Commerce
Caleb Pollard serves as executive director of Valley County Economic Development, an organization formed through an interlocal agreement between the city of Ord, Valley County, Ord Area Chamber of Commerce and Greater Loup Valley Activities. Through coaching and regional partnerships, he has supported business growth across the area, helping generate millions in revenue and expand employment opportunities. An entrepreneur himself, Pollard co-founded Scratchtown Brewing Company in Ord.
“Caleb’s commitment to Ord and the Sandhills spans more than 25 years, beginning as a college student, returning after stints in Lincoln and Omaha, and planting deep roots with his family in 2008,” his nomination stated. “He draws an explicit parallel between his personal philosophy and community building: ‘I love to garden … you plant seeds with intention, and with a lot of patience and hard work, you hope that you reap a harvest. … We’re very intentional in taking a much longer view on how to build community.’”
Alumni Entrepreneur Award
Noah Young, The Shiloh Farm
A 2018 UNK graduate, Noah Young has built a large online following while promoting agriculture and homesteading education, reaching audiences worldwide. His Shiloh Farm social media accounts have more than 2 million followers on Instagram and TikTok, making him one of the most-viewed ag influencers.
“Everyone who has ever met him will tell you that his love for agriculture is real and that he really does want everyone to experience it,” his nomination stated. “I had the opportunity to travel with Noah this summer across many different states and was able to see the impact he has on people thousands of miles away.”
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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