Author Archives: Brian Neben
Barn Quilt Community Art project launches at Trails & Rails Museum
KEARNEY - The Trails & Rails Museum, in partnership with Rose Mapel of Artistic Innovations NE, is pleased to announce the Barn Quilt Community Art Project, a collaborative community art initiativ...
Jan 22, 2026 Barn Quilt Community Art Project Launches at Trails & Rails Museum, (Courtesy)
Hastings man charged with intentional child abuse after child found in ditch
HASTINGS - A Hastings man has been charged with intentional child abuse after a 15-month-old child was found in a ditch in rural Adams County on Oct. 4, 2025. Austin Hendrick, 31, has been charged wit...
Jan 22, 2026 Local Court News, (Central Nebraska Today)
Cold Weather Advisory issued across all of central Nebraska
HASTINGS - A Cold Weather Advisory has been issued across all south-central Nebraska from Friday, Jan. 23 through Sunday, Jan. 25. According to the National Weather Service - Hastings, the advisory wi...
Jan 22, 2026 Cold Weather Advisory issued from midnight tonight until 12 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 25, (NWS Hastings, Courtesy)
New Health Science Education Center opens doors on UNK campus
KEARNEY - Students, staff and faculty stepped inside the future of rural health care education Wednesday morning during a "first look" event at the new Health Science Education Center II on the Univer...
Jan 22, 2026 Health Science Education Center under construction, (UNK Communications, Courtesy)
Hastings Police Department's activity from Jan. 21
HASTINGS - The Hastings Police Department released their daily activity from Wednesday, Jan. 21. Arrests/Citations: On January 21, 2026, a 22-year-old Hastings resident was arrested for obstructing a ...
Jan 22, 2026 Hastings Police Department, Courtesy
Black Hills Energy shares safety and energy-saving tips as cold weather arrives
NEBRASKA - Forecasts are calling for arctic temperatures across Nebraska in the coming days. Black Hills Energy is preparing for the cold weather and encourages you to do the same. Colder weather brin...
Jan 21, 2026 Black Hills Energy, (Courtesy)
State planning to move boys from troubled Kearney youth center to Omaha
KEARNEY - State leaders plan to move all boys out of Kearney's state-run youth treatment center months after multiple allegations of sexual abuse there. The teens would go to what's currently a youth ...
Jan 21, 2026 Four different employees at the Kearney Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Center are alleged to have had inappropriate sexual contact with teenagers in custody at the center. Prosecutors have charged one of those employees with sexual abuse of a protected person. Photo by Lori Potter for the Flatwater Free Press
Buc-ee's planning to build first Nebraska location in Gretna
GRETNA - Buc-ee's, the popular gas station chain, is planning to build their first location in Nebraska at Gretna. The Gretna city council met on Tuesday, Jan. 20 and approve a request to annex 43 acr...
Jan 21, 2026 Jshanebutt / Depositphotos.com
Man flying from Omaha, who caused plane to make emergency landing, sentenced to prison
OMAHA - A man who was flying from Omaha to Detroit who disrupted the flight, causing the plane to divert to Cedar Rapids and make an emergency landing, was sentenced today to more than a year in feder...
Jan 21, 2026 A Delta Air Lines flight passes over central Nebraska, (Brian Neben, Courtesy)
Traffic stop in Central City results in arrest of two for drug possession
CENTRAL CITY - Merrick County Deputy initiated a traffic stop on Highway 30 near 15th Avenue in Central City on a Ford F150 driven by Kirt Bauers, 58, of Clarks, Merrick County. During the stop a sear...
Jan 21, 2026 Merrick County Sheriff's Office, (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)