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.

The People’s City Mission is bursting at the seams as hundreds of homeless people seek shelter during this extreme cold spell. This week Tom Stanton talks to Pastor Tom Barber, CEO of the mission, about the challenges they face in housing and feeding so many men, women and children.

Husker Nation will be coming together for UNL's annual day of giving 24-hour online giving event to raise money for critical causes and needs that touch every corner of the university. This week Tom Stanton talks with NU Foundation Communications Director Connie White about "Glow Big Red."

This past week city officials celebrated the grand opening of the new Fire Station 8 at 17th and Van Dorn. This week Tom Stanton talks with LFR representatives and a community leader about the importance of this new 16,000 square foot facility.

The man who was known as "Mr. Baseball" died last week from cancer at the age of 90. This week Tom Stanton talks with former Husker Radio Network broadcaster Lane Grindel about the loss of Bob Uecker. The two were radio broadcast partners with Milwaukee Brewers for the past nine years.

The Food Bank of Lincoln recently received nearly $250,000 from Hy-Vee through the 100 Million Meals for Feeding America campaign. This week Tom Stanton Talks with the Food Bank's Jason Pauling about how the money will be used to feed hungry families in southeast Nebraska.

The death of former President Jimmy Carter has helped put the spotlight on his passion for humanitarian work, including decades of service with Habitat for Humanity. This week Tom Stanton talks with Shay Homeyer, executive director for the Lincoln Chapter about the legacy President Carter leaves behind and local efforts to carry on his mission.

This week Tom Stanton takes a look back at a holiday program that brought a lot of joy to 50 randomly selected needy families in Lincoln. Tom talks with representatives from Lincoln Police and the Clyde Malone Center about their fourth annual Random Acts of Kindness Campaign.

This past week Christmas came early to Bryan Health's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Santa Claus stopped by to visit families who will be spending their holidays in the hospital and Tom Stanton went along and spoke to Jolly Old Saint Nicholas.

The plunging temperatures present a dangerous situation for those who are homeless in Lincoln. This week Tom Stanton talks to Savannah Heflin with the Centerpointe Street Outreach Team about efforts to keep homeless individuals safe during the extreme cold.

It has been a record breaking year at the Lincoln Bike Kitchen. This week KLIN's Tom Stanton talks with executive director Shari Shanks about the non-profit's work to collect old bicycles, make repairs and then donate them to adults and children in need in the community. 

The Lincoln Salvation Army's Tree of Lights campaign is off and running. The goal is to raise $650,000 by December 24th. This week Tom Stanton talks with Captain Kelsey Moreno about how your red kettle and online donations help neighbors in need.

For 56 years the Lincoln Arts Council has sponsored a number of programs in the community, but due to financial challenges the decision was made to suspect operations at the end of October. This week Tom Stanton talks with Board member Robert Goldberg about those challenges and efforts to reorganize the Arts Council.

Thanksgiving is just days away and the recent presidential election may cause some tensions among families at the Thanksgiving dinner table. This week Tom Stanton talks with Dr. Stacy Waldron, a licensed psychologist at Bryan Health about how to keep the peace as we fill our plates.

Lincoln Police recently announced an expansion of the their Automated License Plate Reader Program. This week Police Chief Michon Morrow talks about the results of a seven month pilot program and plans to equip every cruiser in the city with the new technology. 

A Lincoln soup kitchen has been breaking records in the past year as more people come to them for food. This week Tom Stanton talks with Lisa Janssen, program administrator for Community Action's Gathering Place, about their efforts to feed needy people and a special fundraising effort that’s underway.