Category Archives: Central Nebraska News
G.I. "March Madness" emergency exercise simulates historic Joplin tornado
GRAND ISLAND - The City of Grand Island's Emergency Management Department successfully conducted its annual "March Madness" Emergency Exercise on Thursday, March 19 in coordination with Nebraska's NCA...
Mar 20, 2026 An emergency exercise March 19 in Grand Island simulated the 2011 tornado in Joplin, Missouri. (Courtesy photo)
Hastings College Alpha Chi students, professor attend national convention
HASTINGS - The Hastings College chapter of Alpha Chi, the all-discipline academic honorary, participated in the national Alpha Chi convention on March 11-13, in Orlando, Florida. Sophia Lee, a junior ...
Mar 20, 2026 Attending the 2026 Alpha Chi national convention from Hastings College included (from left) Dr. Jessica Henry, Nickytha Georges, Sophia Lee and Catie Reed. (Courtesy photo)
CHI Health honors donation and transplantation with April tributes
GRAND ISLAND - April is National Donate Life Month, an important time dedicated to raising awareness about the critical need for organ, eye and tissue donation. In honor of generous donors, their fami...
Mar 20, 2026 (Courtesy)
Nebraska Farm Bureau mobilizes Disaster Relief Fund in response to wildfires
LINCOLN - In response to the devastating wildfires, Nebraska Farm Bureau has activated its Disaster Relief Fund to support farm and ranch families and communities impacted across the state. The wildfi...
Mar 20, 2026 Nebraska Farm Bureau, (Courtesy)
Cottonwood Fire now 80 percent contained, fire remains active west of Jeffrey Reservoir
NEBRASKA - The Cottonwood Fire in central Nebraska is now 80 percent contained, the fire remained active west of Jeffrey Reservoir. Current Situation: When fire managers develop fire-suppression plans...
Mar 20, 2026 Map of the Cottonwood Fire, (Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 1, Courtesy)
Red Flag Warning issued for central Nebraska on Saturday
HASTINGS - A Red Flag Warning for critical fire weather conditions has been issued for central Nebraska on Saturday as record breaking high temperatures are expected. The National Weather Service - Ha...
Mar 20, 2026 Flames from a grass fire in progress, (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
Windy Hills fifth grader recognized among top ten in statewide essay contest
Kearney Public Schools is proud to announce that Peyton Wolf, a fifth-grade student at Windy Hills Elementary, has been recognized as one of the top ten essay winners in a statewide contest sponsored ...
Mar 20, 2026 Peyton Wolf, a fifth-grade student at Windy Hills Elementary, has been recognized as one of the top ten essay winners in a statewide contest, (Kearney Public Schools, Courtesy)
Forecast highs in the 90s have a chance to set all-time March temperature record in central Nebraska
GRAND ISLAND - Forecast highs in the 90s on Saturday, March 21 have a chance to set all-time March maximum temperature records in Grand Island and Hastings. A large ridge of high pressure currently re...
Mar 20, 2026 Early spring sunset in central Nebraska, (Brian Neben, Courtesy)
Former State Sen. Dan McKeon to enter diversion program in disturbing the peace case
LINCOLN - Former District 41 State Senator Dan McKeon will enter into a diversion program rather than a bench trial in his misdemeanor case. McKeon was originally charged with misdemeanor public indec...
Mar 20, 2026 Senator Dan McKeon, (Nebraska Legislature, Courtesy)
NDOT: Work will begin on I-80, near Kearney
KEARNEY - Weather permitting, work will begin March 23 on Interstate 80 (I-80) near reference post 269.04, according to the Nebraska Department of Transportation. Paul Reed Construction & Supply, ...
Mar 20, 2026 Interstate 80, (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)