Category Archives: Central Nebraska News
Hastings Police Department's activity from March 12
HASTINGS - The Hastings Police Department released their daily activity from Thursday, March 12. Reported Offenses: On March 12, 2026, a 68-year-old Grand Island resident reported a theft in the 1500 ...
Mar 13, 2026 Hastings Police Department, Courtesy
Area fire departments battling grass fire near Evergreen Road west of Kearney
KEARNEY - Area fire departments were fighting a grass fire amid Red Flag Warning conditions near Evergreen Road, along the Union Pacific Railroad tracks west of Kearney during the afternoon hours of T...
Mar 12, 2026 A Kearney Volunteer Fire Department grass rig fighting the grass fire near the Union Pacific railroad tracks on March 12, (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
Former bank CFO convicted of bank fraud involving Columbus car wash and debts in $4.3 million loan fraud
OMAHA - United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that a federal jury in the District of Nebraska convicted Aaron T. Luneke, 44, of Columbus, Nebraska, on both counts of a federal indictment ch...
Mar 12, 2026 (Courtesy)
Kearney Public Schools Names Jason Sullivan as Next Sunrise Middle School Principal
Kearney Public Schools is pleased to announce that Jason Sullivan has been selected as the next principal of Sunrise Middle School, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year. Sullivan will succeed Mark...
Mar 12, 2026 Jason Sullivan (Photo Courtesy Kearney Public Schools)
Fonner Park trainer fined $1,000 for possessing needle and syringe in tack room
GRAND ISLAND - The Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission (NRGC) has fined trainer David Anderson $1,000 for being in possession of a needle and syringe in his assigned tack room at Fonner Park on Marc...
Mar 12, 2026 (Carol Bryant, Central Nebraska Today)
Walnut Middle School's Teichmeier named Nebraska Economic Educator of the Year
GRAND ISLAND - Blake Teichmeier, financial literacy teacher at Walnut, has been named the 2025-2026 Mary Lynn Reiser Economic Educator of the Year award from the Nebraska Council on Economic Education...
Mar 12, 2026 Walnut Middle School teacher Blake Teichmeier (Courtesy photo)
High Wind Watch issues for parts of central Nebraska for Thursday evening
HASTINGS - A High Wind Watch has been issued for parts of central Nebraska for the evening and overnight of Thursday, March 12. The National Weather Service - Hastings has issued the watch for Valley,...
Mar 12, 2026 The large American flag at Perkins in Kearney blows violently in wind gusts up to 60 mph on Dec. 18, (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
New trial date set for Hastings man charged with child abuse resulting in death
HASTINGS - New trial dates were set for a Hastings man charged after his five-month-old son died due to heat exposure in a vehicle in Adams County District Court. Jeremy Hansen, 36, has been charged w...
Mar 12, 2026 Local Court News, (Central Nebraska Today)
Brian Kort of Grand Island Public Schools receives UNKLES Award
KEARNEY - The University of Nebraska at Kearney Department of Educational Administration has selected Brian Kort of Grand Island Public Schools as the 2026 recipient of the UNKLES Award, recognizing e...
Mar 12, 2026 Brian Kort, (UNK Communications, Courtesy)
Stitch by stitch, student-led crochet club builds community at UNK
KEARNEY - Julia McKlem moved from table to table inside a classroom in the basement of Calvin T. Ryan Library, stopping beside each group of students as they meticulously worked yarn through metal hoo...
Mar 12, 2026 UNK junior Julia McKlem, center, leads an activity during a recent Crochet Circle meeting, where members created yarn from old T-shirts. McKlem started the student organization last year and serves as president. (Photo by Erika Pritchard, UNK Communications)