News

Now is a great time for wildlife viewing — particularly the fluttering kind! During August, butterflies are plentiful as they seek out food sources among blooming prairie plants. Thousands of swallowtails, painted ladys, monarchs, and numerous other butterfly species can be spotted as they complete their life cycle in Nebraska’s native prairies.

Cindy Schell, Rick Joseph, and Gary Noteboom qualified to represent Nebraska at the USBC Senior Nationals Tournament held in Green Bay, WI, by winning the all events in their age group at the Nebraska USBC Senior Tournament.

Are you overwhelmed with piles of sensitive documents? The North Central Nebraska RC&D shredding events are here to help. Shredding old documents not only clears clutter but also protects your personal and confidential information. A truck from Security Shredding Services will be stopping in Valentine, Bassett, Stuart, Atkinson, and Ewing on Thursday, September 24.

ThelastpublicboatrampatLake McConaughy State Recreation Area closed August 15 due to low water levels. A mud hole at the end of Spillway Bay’s ramp is causing vehicles to become stuck, with some trucks sinking deep enough for water to enter the cabs.

Lee George Minford Major of Valentine was among 595 graduates who received degrees from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln during a combined graduate and undergraduate commencement ceremony August 15 at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Lincoln, NE – Nebraska has issued a health alert for Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs), also known as toxic blue-green algae, at Cub Creek Lake in Jefferson County. Kirkman’s Cove Lake in Richardson County has been removed from health alert after being on alert last week.

Indoor plants can benefit your health. Houseplants can help clean the air, reduce stress, boost your mood, and even help you focus. They add oxygen and can increase moisture in your home. When adding houseplants to your home, start with the right location. Think about how much light your plant needsand how much light it will actually receive. If you’re repotting, choose a potting soil that drains well and isn’t too heavy. Otherwise, you could end up overwatering your plant. In fact, more houseplants suffer or die from overwatering than from underwatering. So, give your plants the right light, the right soil, and don’t love them to death with too much water.

Lincoln, NE ~ August 12, 2026 — Each calf, like each human, begins as an embryo. But important questions remain about the complex factors that shape bovine fertility and development during the earliest stages of life. Bit by bit, Jennifer Wood and her Husker colleagues in the Department of Animal Science are unraveling those mysteries.

Lincoln, NE, August 17, 2026 — Veterinary toxicologists in the region are again seeing cases of cattle deaths associated with water hauled in tanks or equipment previously used for fertilizer. Recent cases submitted to the Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory have included substantial death losses.

LINCOLN, Neb. – Gov. Jim Pillen recently appointed Michael Bergen to serve as the District 3 director of the Nebraska Corn Board (NCB), which represents Hamilton, Merrick, Polk and York counties. Bergen, from Aurora, is replacing Brandon Hunnicutt, from Giltner, who has served on the board since 2014 and chose not to seek reappointment.