u/Cultural_Path_1523

When Tyson Foods announced last November that it would shutter its massive meatpacking operation in Lexington, the school district and the city prepared for the worst. Lexington Public Schools Superintendent John Whetzal said the district expected to lose anywhere from 150 to 750 students. Planning for that decrease was difficult, since district officials didn’t know whether to expect a 5% decline or a 25% decline in enrollment.

Those numbers are now available, and they show that the worst-case scenario didn’t play out. Whetzal said enrollment dropped about 9.3% since last school year – from 3,172 students to 2,877.

Right Babe Body Club in Omaha is taking a unique approach to fitness by reviving the VHS workout tape craze of the 1980s.

“If you throw humor in there, everybody’s going to relax. It’s also intriguing, it’s funny, it makes you curious. It just creates a common ground for conversation," club founder Missy Magnuson said.

When birds collide with buildings, they become stunned and may fly away, only to die somewhere else from internal injuries, or they become tired and disoriented, never making it to their destination. Fatalities can also be caused by birds flying around confused and wasting energy, which can leave them vulnerable to other threats.

“Lights Out” programs aim to raise awareness about the dangers of artificial lights at night for migratory birds, while encouraging businesses and homeowners to turn off unnecessary lights during fall and spring migration windows.

A small team inside Omaha’s City Hall responded to more than 50,000 calls and emails last year on everything from potholes to overgrown lawns and vacant vehicles. Here's how the Mayor's Hotline operates.

Che Kristian Salpas was charged via criminal complaint in federal court with carrying an explosive into an airport, a felony that carries up to five years in prison.

According to the report, the top 25 employees with the most overtime pay added more than $72,000 to their annual salaries, averaging nearly $190,000 a year. The top 100 added more than $45,000 on average, boosting their pay to an average of more than $160,000 per year.

The Daily Nebraskan has helped shape young journalists for 125 years. As the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's student newspaper celebrates a milestone anniversary, its general manager talked about the future of student journalism in a changing industry.

On July 26, the U.S. Geological Survey measured the temperature in the Niobrara River, east of Valentine, at 92.7 degrees. That broke the record for the previous high of 90.1, recorded in 2017.

A North Platte police officer who previously investigated internet crimes against children as part of a Homeland Security task force faces federal charges of possessing child sex abuse materials.

Records obtained by Nebraska Public Media News indicate an Israeli company wants to buy land near Hallam to build a hyperscale data center.

Stark Power, based in Tel Aviv, Israel, acquired a company known as Sagebrush Infrastructure in June. Sagebrush builds hyperscale data centers and natural gas-fired power plants.

Darin Schwaninger, a landowner outside of Hallam, said representatives from Sagebrush reached out to buy his land, offering a purchase agreement with a four-year option.

Thirteen landowners — ranging from farmers to family trusts – signed purchase agreements with the company, totaling over 1,400 acres of land, according to documents filed with the Lancaster Register of Deeds.

Forget the College World Series! This marked the 10th year the Tecmo Bowl National Championship was held in Omaha.

The Omaha Police Department previously said the gloves had been deployed twice in the 2025-2026 school year on students. On Monday they elaborated on the circumstances.

Last year the Omaha Police Department bought 40 pairs of the gloves for around $66,000. The gloves were intended to be used by school resource officers “as another use of force option with the goal of deescalating and preventing use of force situations."

The Bellevue Police Department has used them twice this year. Neither of those incidents involved school resource officers.

The gloves carry less electricity than tasers.

Kevin Kugler grew up in Lincoln, announced Husker and high school sports at Nebraska Public Media, and has climbed to the national stage of sports broadcasting. On Tuesday, he will enter the Nebraska Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame.

The use of artificial intelligence is growing in classrooms, with national data showing more teachers and students are using it. Those national trends are reflecting what’s happening in some Nebraska schools.

Property tax relief now accounts for nearly half of Nebraska's state budget, as lawmakers face a $208 million deficit this fiscal year. Direct and indirect relief totals more than $3 billion. That's 47% of the state’s total budget.

Omaha officials still haven't determined the cause of a void along the streetcar route that swallowed a sidewalk and partially collapsed a vacant building in June.

It’s now up to the building owners whether or not to demolish the building.

About 40% of parents expect to be more financially stressed with back-to-school shopping this year, and about 30% expect to use installment payments, credit or savings to cover the costs.

The Nebraska State Education Association president said teachers, especially elementary school teachers, will put hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars from their own pockets into the classroom.

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In 1926, there were 7,000 school districts in Nebraska. By 2000, that number was 544, and today it's 244. Take a look at how some communities found new life for the school buildings left behind after they were shut down.