Humanities Desk

A Doniphan, Nebraska teen with more than 40 charges related to sextortion pled no contest to four counts of 1st degree sexual assault and one count of human trafficking. In Hall County District Court on Tuesday, the prosecutor agreed to the plea deal, meaning multiple victims will avoid testifying in public. Cody Holum, an 18-year-old from Doniphan, faces sentencing at a hearing January. Each individual charge could result in a 50 year prison term.

President-elect Donald Trump nominated conservative think tank CEO Brooke Rollins as Secretary of Agriculture. Congressman Flood wrote in a statement to Nebraska Public Media that Rollins has broad policy experience, and he is looking forward to working with her. Nebraska Farmers Union President John Hansen has concerns about the nominee’s lack of agriculture-specific experience but says her close ties with Trump could make her an effective secretary.

A rural Nebraska family weaves farming with their cultural identity. Here’s how this work has helped preserve traditional Brazilian food cultivation in an unlikely place.

State Senator Mike McDonnell announced his candidacy for Omaha mayor Thursday evening. McDonnell previously served as Omaha’s fire chief and has represented a South Omaha district in the Nebraska legislature for the last 8 years. He will face current Omaha mayor Jean Stothert, Douglas County Treasurer John Ewing and nonprofit executive Jasmine Harris in next spring’s election.

A route for a trail connecting the state’s two largest metro areas was approved Wednesday night. The Lower Platte South Natural Resources District Board of Directors voted 14 to 4 in favor of a 10-mile route in western Cass County. The new trail will connect to existing segments of the MoPac Trail that reach the Omaha and Lincoln metro areas. The estimated cost of the project is more than $15 million dollars.

The Lincoln Chamber of Commerce is adding a new program to empower historically underrepresented entrepreneurs in the state’s capital city.

The annual Christmas tree for the Durham Museum was chopped down and delivered Monday. The tree is currently being decorated with lights and ornaments by members of a bridge maintenance crew provided by Union Pacific. The tree lighting ceremony is on November 29th.

The Papio-Missouri River Natural Resource District Board approved a contract Thursday to remove a sandbar near the Highway 75 bridge over the Platte River south of Omaha. Removal will decrease the flood risk to surrounding areas. The project comes at a cost of around $4 million dollars and is expected to be completed by May 2025.

A multigenerational Indigenous nonprofit is hosting its second annual fashion show to display participants’ culture and journeys toward emotional healing. Here’s how the program has adapted after its inaugural show last year.

The search for the next chancellor of the University of Nebraska at Kearney continues with listening sessions planned for next week.