Tom's Talk

It has been a year since the Arbor Day tornadoes tore across southeast Nebraska, including Lincoln and Lancaster County. This week Tom Stanton takes a look back at the role volunteer storm spotters played in keeping the community safe.

This past week the important work off Lincoln's 911 dispatchers was celebrated as Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird issued a proclamation marking National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. KLIN's Tom Stanton attended the event and talked with the people who are hidden heroes during emergencies.

This past week the Omaha Police identified the presence of a new drug that has made its way into the metro area. Carfentanil is a highly potent synthetic opioid that is 100 times more potent that fentanyl. This week Tom Stanton talks with the DEA's Emily Murray, about the concerns this drug poses to Nebraskans.

The Day Without Shoes Campaign is off and running for its 15th year. This week Tom Stanton talks with Barry Lockard with Cornhusker Bank and Pastor Tom Barber with People's City Mission about the effort to collect pairs of shoes for the homeless and families struggling to make ends meet and how Lincoln residents can help.

The high cost of food has made it difficult for volunteers to keep the dozens of Little Food Pantries across Lincoln stocked. This week Tom Stanton talks with Michael Reinmiller, who built the first LFP several years ago, about the struggles they are facing and the need for more volunteers to help them support needy families.

12 men and women in Lincoln are getting a behind the scenes look this spring at what it's like to be a law enforcement officer. This week Tom Stanton gives you an inside look at the combined LPD/LSO/Lancaster County Jail Citizens Academy with LPD Officer Jason Hellmuth.

March 17 marks the beginning of Poison Prevention Week. This week Tom Stanton talks with Jen Rohda with the Nebraska Poison Center about steps you can take at home to prevent poisonings and the hotline that's available in case you encounter an emergency.

The sounds of play ball will be heard for the first time next month as the Sandhills Global Youth Complex near 1st and Cornhusker officially opens. This week Tom Stanton gets a behind the scenes look at the $27 million facility from director Joe Fagler.

March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month and this week Tom Stanton talks with Mike Sciandra, Education and Outreach Coordinator at Choices Treatment Center in Lincoln, about help that is available for anyone who has a problem with gambling and the goals for this month long campaign.

Nebraska Medical Center set a record for organ transplants in 2024, benefiting recipients here in Nebraska and across the country. This week Tom Stanton talks with Chief of Transplantation Dr. Alan Langnas and the mother of an 11-year-old Texas girl about the importance of organ donation.