Nebraska Update

Nebraska senior defensive back Ceyair Wright returns home this Saturday, when Husker football visits the UCLA Bruins. Wright has experienced a long journey, from L.A. football standout and actor to one of the most outspoken leaders for the Cornhuskers.

School bonds had a relatively successful night overall, with voters in the Wausa, Logan View, Sterling and Minden School Districts approving tax increases to construct new school buildings and improve athletic facilities. In the Ashland-Greenwood School District, voters approved an override of the district’s property tax levy. However, in Columbus and Stanton, voters rejected bonds aimed at funding construction for new buildings.

Nebraska high school wrestling fans will likely notice officials huddled around a monitor during this year’s state finals. That’s because coaches will have the chance to challenge calls, under an experimental rule approved by the NSAA Board of Directors on Wednesday.

Start your day with Nebraska Update – your trusted daily news podcast for statewide headlines and valued perspective – all in just a few minutes. From the Capitol to your community, Nebraska Public Media’s local journalists bring you the state’s top stories every weekday morning.

Eighteen-year-old Marshall Fry was charged with making terroristic threats and arrested Oct. 22 in Sarpy County. An affidavit from the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office stated that the Instagram account “marshall506861” posted the comment, “Finna shoot you guys up,” on a post from Scary Acres, a seasonal haunted house attraction. Michael Halbleib, Scary Acres’ head of security and a former Omaha police officer, reported the comment to the Sheriff's Office on Oct. 6. Following the report, Investigative Sgt. Matt Barrall said the Sheriff’s Office issued a search warrant for the account to Meta, which provided an ISP address, phone number and birthdate that linked the account to Fry. The sergeant said Fry’s search history revealed alarming results.

Data released in October showed that four in five Nebraska children who want to be in an afterschool program miss out. Afterschool Alliance, a national afterschool organization, conducts the study every five years.

Despite tariff concerns and low grain prices, Nebraska ag producers are on track for a good year overall. Net farm income in the state is projected to reach around 8.4 billion dollars, up from just under 6 billion dollars last year. Increased livestock receipts and government payments represent the bulk of the additional income, which were enough to offset lower crop receipts and production expenses.

The University of Nebraska Omaha's Center for Research and Human Movement Variability has made Nebraska an internationally recognized player in the biomechanics field. Now, with a final round of funding from the National Institutes of Health, MOVCENTR will work to future-proof its services, therapies and research.

Temperatures remained into the 80s well in the fall this year in parts of the Midwest. Agrivoltaics offers a respite to extreme heat and land access for new farmers.

The three members of the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission did not attend a public hearing on the draft regulations for the substance in October, but they did consider six categories of recommendations that came from the hearing. The recommendations included allowing additional forms of cannabis, increasing the number of licensed facilities and increasing the plant limits for cultivators.