Nebraska News Service - Audio Report

YMCAs across Nebraska have started a new esports league . The competitive gaming league encourages children to cultivate skills like teamwork, leadership, online safety and individual growth. Todd Johnson, executive director of YMCA youth sports in Lincoln, and Bailie Meissner, youth sports director at the Southwest YMCA in Omaha, discuss the new program. Full story: https://nebraskanewsservice.ne...

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States last year, UNL students Lizzy Lavin and Syrah Andrews found themselves with open schedules and a big idea.  Lavin, a junior English and Women’s and Gender Studies major from Lincoln and Andrews, a junior Secondary Math Education major from Omaha launched the “That’s What You Missed at the Women’s Center” podcast in 2021. In it, they discuss advocacy...

Valuing the vote is an eight-part series dedicated to the history of voting rights in America including the civil rights and women's suffrage movements. Mary Yaeger, associate director of Humanities Nebraska, and Dianne Bystrom, co-president of the League of Women Voters of Nebraska discuss voting rights and voter suppression.  Full story: https://nebraskanewsservice.net/multimedia/the-right-to-vo...

Hy-Vee employees and Lincoln residents can now receive the COVID-19 vaccine at local Hy-Vee pharmacies . Alyssa Logan, a service manager, and Blake Hudak, a customer service employee at the 70th and Pioneers Hy-Vee in Lincoln, discuss the process of getting the vaccine as Hy-Vee employees. Full Story: https://nebraskanewsservice.net/multimedia/covid-19-vaccine-shots-available-for-lincoln-hy-vee-em...

As a former student journalist, Sen. Adam Morfeld of Lincoln passionately advocated for the advancement of his bill, which creates the Student Protection Journalism Act. On March 18, after three days of heated legislative debate, LB88 advanced with a 28-15 vote. His bill would designate public high schools and post-secondary school publications as public forums not subject to article prior review....

D-Wayne is young Nebraska broadcaster who got his start through performative beatboxing. Now is the voice of several husker athletics programs as well as hosting his own morning show on 106.3 KFRX. D-Wayne speaks on the mentality that has help him through his career: aggressive improvement.  Special thanks to DeWayne Taylor and KFRX's former promotions director Lexi Trumbley. Full Story:

Home renovations have been rising since the start of COVID-19. As a result, lumber prices are at a record high. Homeowner Patrick Petersen changed his renovation plans from an addition to a large renovation. Chris Moroschak, an independent remodeling contractor, said he suspects lumber prices will stay high because people are still willing to pay the high prices and take advantage of low-interest...

Concerts and live events are back, bringing a sense of normalcy and fun. Adam Smith, Operations Manager and Program Director, at 93.1 The River and University of Nebraska Kearney student Micah Dostal discuss their experience attending the Parker McCollum concert at the Viaero Center March 12th. Full Story: https://nebraskanewsservice.net/multimedia/return-of-concerts-and-live-events-brings-normalc...

In-person dining has been limited in Lincoln and Lancaster County for a year. Local restaurants are still recovering from the decrease in capacity and sales. Don Mayhew, the owner of The Pasta Place in Lincoln, and Craig Zimmermann, Marketing Director of the Pillar restaurant group, talk about how their restaurants stayed afloat during the pandemic.  Full story: 

UNL's Spring 2021 graduation will be held in-person for the first time since December 2019.  The announcement was welcome news for many graduating seniors and their families. Tessa Weddle, a senior from Bellevue, and Brian Reetz, father of Bret Reetz from Lincoln share their excitement for the ceremony.

The 28th annual Nebraska Star Party will run from August 1st through the 6th. Participants can set up camp at Merritt Reservoir and stargaze during the summer's darkest week. The event features activities each day and stargazing every night.  Photo courtesy of John Johnson and the Nebraska Star Party Organization.

Nebraska State Patrol has a difficult job, patrolling hundreds of thousands of miles of roadway every day, including the heavily traveled Interstate I-80. The I-80 corridor is a 455-mile stretch running east to west across the Cornhusker state and crossing through 15 counties. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Nebraska cities and counties developed their own public health protocols, making policing th...

Broadcast radio faced a challenge when the world shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic. Concerts, contests, and many other events were postponed forcing radio to find unique, creative ways to connect and build rapport with their audience. Maria Hansen, Promotions Director at Broadcast House in Lincoln and Eugene Bichelmeier, Program Director at Hits 106 in Kearney discuss how their radio stations...

Sen. Terry McKinney of Omaha introduced a bill to the Nebraska Legislature that would raise the minimum wage by $1 dollar each year until 2032. McKinney said raising the minimum wage to $20 is essential to protect Nebraskan workers. Senators heard testimony on the bill Monday, March 8. Supporters said the bill would help keep Nebraskan workers from leaving the state for better pay. Those opposed t...

The 2021 University of Nebraska-Lincoln Winter Lecture Series concluded its four-part series “Pandemics Old and New” on March 7. Dr. Sharon Stoolman, a pediatric medical physician at Children’s Hospital in Omaha, presented “Sorting Through Racial Disparities in COVID-19”.  Stoolman discussed how racism, past and present, has affected minorities during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Full Story: https://ne...

Special thanks to: Leslie Reed, the spokesperson for UNL's commencement committee & Lyrica Baxter, a graduating UNL senior.

Diamond Distribution, the sole comic distributor for Marvel, DC and Darkhorse closed for nearly six weeks beginning in the spring of 2020, which meant a lack of new releases. ICv2, a comic book trade publication showed a loss of 29% in national sales revenue from January 2020 into the summer. Nationally, retailers were struggling to make money without new releases. John Doan, owner of Trade-A-Tape...

Spring temperatures have arrived in Nebraska, but record-setting cold in February means big electric bills in March. Arctic cold temperatures reached record lows on Feb. 13, 15, and 16, increasing electricity usage and cost to Nebraska customers. Grant Otten, media relations specialist with the Nebraska Public Power District and Bruce Kutler, owner of Bruce Kutler Electric discusses saving on elec...

The 2021 University of Nebraska-Lincoln four-part Winter Lecture Series on pandemics old and new continued on Feb. 28 with the third presentation in the series. In “Zoonosis of SARS-CoV,” Prof. Peter Angeletti discussed the nature of viruses and transmission between animals and humans. Angeletti, associate professor in the Nebraska Center for Virology in the School of Biological Sciences, also spo...

The Nebraska Passport Program begins May 1 and will feature 70 locations. Madison Johnson, a Nebraska Passport coordinator, said each stop fits into one of ten categories. 2021 Passport stop categories Visual Treats Parking Spots Aroma Therapy Now Hear This Growth Opportunities Grub & Cuisine Shoptimum Values Childish Things Branching Out Time Travel Last year, the program included places like...

The Perry Photo Challenge is a competition designed to put students’ photojournalism skills to the test. Participants like Tristan Powell, a 2019 finalist, are given a small window of time to capture and edit their photo essay before handing it over to a panel of judges. The UNL College of Journalism and Mass Communications is preparing for its Philip Perry Photojournalism Challenge. This year’s c...

  While many workplaces have changed drastically during the COVID-19 pandemic, officers at both the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Police Department and the Lincoln Police Department's are faced with challenges despite having a duty to serve and protect. Officers risk their own health for the safety of the public by tending to those who might be COVID positive, to provide protection to the City of...

Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha introduced LB 183, known as the Sexual Emergency Care Act. The bill would require all hospitals and emergency rooms in Nebraska to inform survivors of sexual assault about emergency contraception. Supporters and opponents testified during a Health and Human Services Committee hearing on Friday, Feb. 19. Full Story: https://nebraskanewsservice.net/multimedia/nebraska-legisl...

When COVID-19 hit the U.S. last March, the restaurant industry was hit hard. Due to the pandemic, many businesses shut down or paused their operations, while Tony Bailey and others decided to open up their own business, Cocky's Chicken & Brew. With COVID-19 still impacting restaurants today, Cocky's has decided to shift its business model for a bigger profit. 

Special thank you to Tyler Jordahl and Tessa Weddle.