You have about a 1 in 9.2 quintillion chance of creating a perfect #NCAA men's basketball #MarchMadness bracket. A UNL student was nine picks away from making that happen. He had one of the top brackets in the world out of ESPN's 24 million entries. nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news...

Nebraska will add another person to its death row. Just minutes ago, a three-panel judge decided Jason Jones will receive the death penalty for a quadruple murder in 2022 that stunned the town of Laurel, Nebraska. nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news...

Quite a few fire departments across Nebraska aren’t issuing burn permits despite Gov. Pillen lifting the ban. It was put in place just 3 weeks ago when the largest wildfire in the state’s history broke out. Here’s what some had to say: nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news...

As Union Pacific eyes its merger with Norfolk Southern, the Omaha-based company is rolling out a new locomotive that honors the president. (This follows the company's donation to the WH for its $300M ballroom reno.) nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news...

The Morrill Fire didn't just torch 600,000+ acres — it stole some Nebraskans' livelihoods. NPM's Molly Ashford has this painful story of loss and what lies ahead for a Bridgeport ranch. nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news...

Mid-March is the best time to see the Sandhill Crane migration. But more cranes are staying in Nebraska year-round because of the state's milder winters. https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news-articles/milder-winter-weather-keeping-sandhill-cranes-and-million-of-dollars-in-nebraska-longer/

Brady's public school staff whipped up about 500 breakfast burritos and sandwiches to firefighters battling the 130,000-acre Cottonwood fire south of town. https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news-articles/brady-school-members-continue-wildfire-support-as-students-return-to-class/

New: Some Nebraska landowners' property would be put under water if the Perkins County Canal route remains unchanged. NPM's Fred Knapp spoke to a landowner who says they shouldn't be displaced for a plan that might not even be allowed by courts: nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news...

New: State leaders struck an uncertain tone Saturday when talking about how much aid Nebraska will receive from the feds for these historic wildfires. So Gov. Pillen is seeking all the help he can get from other cities in Nebraska and other states. nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news...

Four big wildfires are burning across Nebraska, including one that's near a popular lake in west-central Nebraska. Gov. Pillen has issued a state of emergency for several counties as people are ordered to evacuate. Here's what we know so far: nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news...

Nebraska is one of 10 states – and the only one with Republican leadership – named in a congressional probe into Medicaid fraud. From NPM's Molly Ashford: nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news...

U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts is calling for improvements at the Omaha UPSPS Processing and Distribution Center after an audit found a list of processing and accuracy issues. https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news-articles/ricketts-letter-highlights-ongoing-issues-at-omaha-postal-facility/

Immigrants in Nebraska will have one less resource after May. UNL’s College of Law, which has helped people in Nebraska communities for 28 years, is closing down. nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news...

New: LPD is now investigating the $2.5 million contract awarded by the Department of Economic Development to an acquaintance of Gov. Pillen. https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news-articles/lincoln-police-department-now-handling-investigation-of-suspect-25-million-no-bid-state-contract/

EPIC, the petition group that wants to replace property taxes with consumption taxes, is again finding itself back at the drawing board. https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news-articles/third-time-is-the-charm-epic-20-again-pauses-petition-circulation-aims-for-2028-ballot/

Sunday's weather felt beautiful, but these warm days are adding up. Nebraska just wrapped up its warmest winter on record since the 1930s, when the Dust Bowl encased the Great Plains. #newx #drought nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news...

Three candidates who hope to replace Sen. Hardin in Nebraska’s 48th District told me they’re running because senators have upended or slow-walked legislation approved by voters, like minimum wage increases and medical marijuana. nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news...

New on Nebraska Public Media News: Nebraska saw a nearly 330% increase in ICE arrests in 2025. And compared to previous years, many more of those arrested don't have criminal backgrounds. nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news...

New on Nebraska Public Media: A few girls basketball teams in Nebraska are hanging on by a thread — losing games by 50+ points week after week. Hear from NSAA, HS sports writer Stu Pospisil and players about what’s going on in girls HS basketball. #nebpreps nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news...

Nebraska is looking to dish out tax and grant incentives to Union Pacific as it tries to acquire Atlanta-based Norfolk Southern. https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news-articles/senators-pitch-business-incentives-to-keep-union-pacific-in-nebraska-during-merger/

A former Omaha Mav is now an Olympic gold medalist. Jake Guentzel is repping #TeamUSA which beat Canada on Sunday in a thrilling match. https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news-articles/maverick-to-medal-winner-former-omaha-hockey-standout-helps-team-usa-bring-home-the-gold/

A Nebraska state senator wants access to a secure, tunneled parking garage for safety reasons. He said lawmakers have needed to use it after voting for controversial bills, including the 2023 law on abortion restrictions and gender affirming care. nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news...

Dozens of small business owners on Wednesday asked a legislative committee to not implement sales taxes on services commonly offered by independent shop owners. nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news...

Gov. Pillen wants to allocate $7 million to private and parochial K-12 school scholarships. This is the latest attempt to use public money for private school use, which voters rejected in 2024. nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news...

Wheat isn’t grown as much as it used to be across the Great Plains. That’s because of drier weather and because wheat has seen fewer advancements than other crops. But seed companies and universities are working to develop a wheat hybrid. nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news...

No. 7! The Nebraska men's basketball team reached new heights Monday when they were listed at No. 7 in the AP Top 25 poll. It's the highest ranking ever for the team. nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news...

An Omaha woman is currently in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, completely alone, on a quest to prove that you don't need to be an expert to do something extraordinary. nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news...

Mahoney State Park replaced the ice in its ice rink with a synthetic surface called glice. Is it as nice? Skaters we spoke to don't mind it. https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news-articles/is-glice-as-nice-as-real-ice-mahoney-state-park-officials-think-so/

A hospital in Nebraska is requiring patients and staff to wear face masks again as the number of patients with flu soars. https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news-articles/flu-cases-drop-but-hospitals-seeing-more-patients/

The State Board of Ed was set to decide on a Community Achievement Plan — until discussion of transgender care arose. https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news-articles/mention-of-transgender-care-imperils-douglas-sarpy-learning-community-plan-at-state-board-of-ed-meeting/

There are differing opinions among Nebraska's congressional delegation on whether the U.S. should ramp up its military operations in Greenland. https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news-articles/flood-ricketts-support-greenland-negotiations-bacon-calls-military-action-one-of-the-silliest-things/

As the CDC backs away from vaccines, some Nebraska pediatricians are reminding parents that vaccines are safe and available. https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news-articles/lincoln-pediatrician-recommends-previous-cdc-vaccine-schedule/

After an error that resulted in 3 districts receiving overpayments in state aid, Ed. Commissioner Brian Maher says his department is making some changes. https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news-articles/nebraska-education-commissioner-discusses-literacy-school-funding-headed-into-new-year/

On the same afternoon state senators sent a letter about NU's for Nebraska Medicine, the NU regents decided to delay the vote. https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news-articles/regents-meeting-to-vote-on-buying-clarksons-half-of-nebraska-medicine-delayed/

As the Legislature convenes Wednesday, senators will surely be focused on the $471M budget shortfall. One committee chair expects DHHS will be a big target for cuts. https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news-articles/budget-challenges-may-overshadow-initiatives-in-legislature/

Nebraska's going big for the United States' 250th birthday this year. Part of the celebration includes displays from PragerU. https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news-articles/controversial-content-creator-prageru-displays-posted-in-nebraska-capitol-ahead-of-america250-celebrations/

In case you missed it: Nebraska's Dept. of Ag revealed Monday that several counties have reported bird flu in flocks in the last two months. https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news-articles/nebraska-reports-more-cases-of-bird-flu/

Nebraska's unemployment rate continues to be lower than the national average, but more Nebraskans are losing their jobs. https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news-articles/nebraskas-unemployment-rate-might-not-be-telling-the-whole-story-on-job-market/

Several Nebraska clinics closed in 2025 due to financial issues. A western Nebraska hospital is transforming its facility to avoid that fate. https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news-articles/oshkosh-hospital-will-convert-to-rural-emergency-hospital-model-preserving-ems-care-in-the-area/

If it seems like everyone is sick right now, it's probably because there's high transmission of flu and COVID-19 in Nebraska. UNMC's Dr. Mark Rupp says the peak is expected to arrive in early January. https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news-articles/nebraska-seeing-surge-in-influenza-a-cases/

Some state laws and programs are changing in 2026, including Nebraska's SNAP program, which will now restrict purchases of soda and energy drinks. https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news-articles/soda-and-energy-drinks-off-the-table-for-snap-users-starting-jan-1-in-nebraska/

A lot of Nebraskans spent money this year on repairing damage left behind from gnarly winds. And these high wind events are becoming increasingly common. https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news-articles/strong-winds-broke-records-along-with-trees-buildings-and-budgets-in-nebraska-this-year/

Nebraska reports its second measles case of the year. Health officials say it's an unvaccinated child in Platte County who may have exposed others at two locations in Columbus. https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news-articles/nebraska-reports-second-measles-case-this-year/

Sen. Dan McKeon suggests Gov. Pillen interfered in a December vote in which senators unanimously decided to recommend expelling him. https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news-articles/senator-accused-of-inappropriately-touching-staff-member-says-calls-to-resign-are-politically-motivated/

A new effort in Crete hopes to peel people away from the keyboards and hold more uniting community events in person. Organizers, which includes a former state senator, want to focus more on what unites neighbors in a year marked with political violence. nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news...

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is proposing big program cuts as it tries to shore up its $21M budget deficit. It's also making $6.5M in "proactive" cuts. Hearings on cuts and consolidations begin today. NPM's Jolie Peal previews what's at stake: nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news...

An ethanol plant for years contaminated Mead, Nebraska. Questions remain over the health impacts it may have left behind. From Jessica Wade at the Reader: nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news...

A German-based company that makes combines in Omaha for the Canadian market plans to move production overseas to avoid 50% reciprocal Canadian tariffs on steel and aluminum. thereader.com/2025/10/01/g...

It became apparent last summer that some bur oak trees at Mahoney State Park were in trouble. Dozens started dying, and the problem has only gotten worse. ✍️📸by @jackieourada.bsky.social nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news...

New: The group that tried in 2024 to abolish property, income and inheritance taxes is back with an “EPIC 2.0” petition. Organizers say they’d have adequate funding this time around “if everyone who signed the initial EPIC Option petitions donated just $250.” nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news...