Vile texts messages from Young Republican group chat are exposed — with epithets, racism and Hitler praise the norm

Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our...

Southeast Nebraska speaks up: Letters to the editor for the week of Oct. 10, 2025

Here are recent Journal Star letters to the editor: Rethink program cuts The Sept. 28 article about UNL's proposed elimination of programs for budgetary reasons includes a student’s lament about the elimination of the graduate program in Community...

Fischer highlights Nebraska priorities in Senate-passed FY26 National Defense Authorization Act

Senator Deb Fischer, US Senator for Nebraska | Sen. Deb Fischer Official U.S. Senate headshotSenator Deb Fischer, US Senator for Nebraska | Sen. Deb Fischer Official U.S. Senate headshot U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a senior member of the...

Pagosa Mushroom Growers Using Controlled-Climate Farm to Grow Healthy Food

A Pagosa Springs-based small business that uses a controlled-climate container farm to grow culinary and functional mushrooms is now certified organic. Behind the Tooth & Gill Mushroom Co. brand is husband-and-wife team Aaron Carter and Lauren...

HuskerMax Predictions: Nebraska Football vs. Maryland

This Saturday's college football lineup is loaded with important matchups all across the country, and Nebraska-Maryland should fit right into that category. While this matchup doesn't have two ranked teams making up the headline, the result could...

Nebraska woman sues after breaking both her ankles at haunted house. She’s not alone

Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our...

Seth Alton Sample Obituary

Seth Alton Sample, 38, of Arthur, Nebraska, passed away unexpectedly on October 9, 2025, at the Ogallala Community Hospital. Seth was born on March 2, 1987, in Alliance, Nebraska. In 1991, he and his family moved to Arthur, Nebraska, where he grew...

Iowa State swim and dive prepares for Alumni and Nebraska

Friday: Alumni Meet Cyclone swim and dive kicked off a busy schedule in the month of October. On Oct. 3, the annual Cardinal and Gold exhibition served as a stepping stone for the team, as many returning swimmers dominated while other newcomers...

The Future is Bright for Nebraska’s Quarterback Room

Right now, the Nebraska Cornhuskers are enjoying the golden arm of 5-star quarterback Dylan Raiola, who’s slinging the ball around Memorial Stadium and breathing new life into Husker football. But as fans dream about what’s possible with Raiola...

Nebraska Sen. Submits Complaint Against Medical Cannabis Commission’s Emergency Regulations 

Nebraska state Sen. John Cavanaugh (D) last week submitted a formal complaint to the state Medical Cannabis Commission over the emergency regulations adopted by the commission and signed into law by Gov. Jim Pillen (R) last month. The complaint...

Broken Bow Library Invites Community to Explore New StoryWalk at Ribbon Cutting

The Broken Bow Public Library will officially open its latest program on Wednesday afternoon, October 15 at 4:30 PM. However, the opening will take place in a little different environment than a library book would normally be found in. On...

Here are the winning lottery numbers for Oct. 14, 2025

The Arizona Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Arizona offers Powerball, Mega Millions, The Pick, Triple Twist, Fantasy 5 and Pick 3 as well as Scratchers, Quick Draw and Fast Play. Lottery players have seen enormous...

Government shutdown impacting Nebraska seniors

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - With the government shutdown dragging on, circumstances are getting more dire for people on Medicare. It’s affecting their ability to access telehealth services. Ever since the pandemic, Medicare patients have had waivers to...

Nebraska AG files lawsuit against OPPD over North Omaha station plans

LINCOLN, Neb. (WOWT) - State Attorney General Mike Hilgers said Thursday that he’s filed a lawsuit against Omaha Public Power District over its plans to refuel and retire electric generation units at its North Omaha Station. “The purpose of the...

University of Nebraska-Lincoln faculty raise alarms about program cuts

Faculty at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln are raising alarms about a plan from top leadership to axe half a dozen academic programs. At a University of Nebraska system board of regents meeting on Friday, professors from programs on the...

Biofuels leaders: Iowa cedes its ethanol ‘crown’ to Nebraska with CO2 pipeline start

Farmers, ethanol industry employees and union members at the Iowa State Capitol May 2025 voice their support for the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline. (Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch) Iowa biofuels and corn experts congratulated...

The Film Room: Nebraska Edition

The Film Room: Nebraska Edition Well Spartan Nation, here we are. 3-2 through 5 games and a bye week. Certainly not where we wanted the MSU football program to be in year 2 under Head Coach Jonathan Smith, but alas, here we are. If nothing else,...

See how Nebraska turns ag research into reality with commercial-scale feedlots, precision farming

Nebraska agriculture is at a crossroads of technology, research, and hands-on production. From feedlot innovation to precision agriculture and crop research, University of Nebraska–Lincoln experts are helping producers make smarter, integrated and...

HUSKER WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Nebraska to Appear on TV 11 Times in 2025-26

LINCOLN–(NU Athletics Oct. 7)–The Nebraska women’s basketball team learned it will play in big environments early and often under the lights of television cameras during the 2025-26 season, when the Big Ten Conference announced its network TV...

Hiker rescued after being trapped on canyon bluff in western Nebraska

GERING, Neb. (KOLN) - A 22-year-old hiker who got stuck on a canyon bluff within the Cedar Canyon Wildlife Management Area south of Gering was rescued on Tuesday. Nebraska Game and Parks said the hiker had been attempting to hike down the side of...