News

Most of us power through the day without giving our eyes more than a passing thought. Screens blur, contacts dry out, a sudden flash or floater pops up - and we decide it’s “nothing,” promising to deal with it later. In a world where we’re juggling work, money, family, and a hundred micro-crises before lunch, it’s no surprise that eye symptoms end up on the long list of things we quietly ignore. But eyesight is one of the few things you can’t afford to treat casually - which is why understanding what people brush off, and why, matters.

Lincoln, NE – During the month of March, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services encourages Nebraska residents age 45 and older to get screened for colon cancer. Both men and women over the age of 45 are at increased risk, and regular preventive health screenings save lives.

There are no arrests to report for the week of 3 - 7, 2026. During the week officers responded to 39 calls for service, including: • 5 animal complaints • 2 fraud complaints • 3 traffic stops • 2 child abuse or neglect complaints • 3 disturbances • 1 theft • 1 assault.

National Poison Prevention Week(NPPW)isobservedeachyear during the third full week of March. This year it is March 15-21. This week is dedicated to raising awareness and educating the public about the dangers of poisoning and how to prevent it. The Nebraska Poison Center (NPC) joins the nation’s 52 other poison centers in promoting poison safety and prevention.

We have been quiet around the Bus Stop for several months, but that does not mean that the Open Plains Transit Team has been idle. The Operations Teams, Drivers, Depot Agents, and Administrative Specialists keep our frontline services rolling daily, while the Leadership Team, the Board of Directors and myself, concentrate on balanced budgets, fiscal responsibility, and advocacy for rural transportation services for individuals of all ability levels. As Director of Transportation, to the largest rural transportation system in our state based on land mass, sometimes I just must set the “spin” straight on some of the “talk” being shared. The latest includes Nebraska transit agencies raising fares and reducing services due to Federal transit funding reductions nationwide, making local funding updates necessary to support long term service sustainability of transit programs. This is just not true and needs to be said. The problem has not been with Federal apportionments to our state. The problem lies within our own state funding, and a greater funding burden is headed towards our most rural and frontier communities.

LINCOLN, NE – Governor Jim Pillen released the following statement after the Department of War announced that Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens of Bellevue was one of four U.S. Army Reserve soldiers killed in Kuwait on Sunday in an Iranian missile attack.

• March 11, Crossroads Assembly of God Church. • March 18, First Baptist Church.

Crossroads Assembly of God Church invites the community to a free Marriage Workshop for married couples, dating couples, and singles that want to be married someday. Friday, March 13, at 7:00 p.m.

I just wanted to reach out and let you all know about a program called Project Share Your Story. It is a project by the Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation to collect stories from Vietnam Era Veterans and share those stories.

The National Weather Service in North Platte presented Cherry County We are Storm Ready sign due to the ongoing work done by Emergency Manager Jessica Coyle. The presentation occurred live, during their meeting.