Humanities Desk

Nebraska students scored better in English Language Arts on the statewide assessment last school year compared to the previous school year. But third grade scores decreased, according to new state data.

The voter-approved ballot initiatives legalizing medical marijuana will stand following a legal challenge alleging they received false signatures. This will have a lasting effect on Nebraskans with criminal convictions, as well as quantity of police interactions according to Nicole D. Porter with The Sentencing Project.

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.

Lincoln LGBTQ plus lounge DAME is hosting a Thanksgiving dinner for those in the community that may not have a supportive family to celebrate with. The celebration is Thanksgiving Day at DAME from 6 to 10pm and is free to attend. Attendees must be 21 or over.

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.