Food safety is more important than ever, and Nebraska law now requires that each food establishment have at least one certified Food Protection Manager on staff (Nebraska LB 245).

HAYS, Kan. (January 9, 2026) - Fort Hays State University recognized approximately 981 graduates during its fall 2025 commencement ceremonies Friday and Saturday, Dec. 12-13, at Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays.

Beaver City, NE –On Friday, Wes Wilmot filed the required paperwork with the Secretary of State’s office to appear on the ballot as candidate for the District 38 legislative seat.

I guess the best thing that can be said about the weather is that there have been nice days to enjoy. For sure, we haven’t gotten anything in the moisture department. I haven’t talked to anyone that wouldn’t welcome a good foot of snow.

KEARNEY – The University of Nebraska at Kearney announced students who earned a place on the dean’s list for the fall 2025 semester. Students who are on the dean’s list must have completed 12 credit hours or more of classes with a 3.5 grade-point average or better on a 4.0 scale.

The Garden Prairie Church will hold their annual Soup Supper on January 18th from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The Elwood Public Schools Board of Education met on Monday, January 12th, 2026. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m.

Many of us have been there before—near the top of a ladder, stretching just a little farther to finish the job. Maybe we are cleaning a gutter, hanging Christmas lights, or rescuing a cat from a tree. There is always the temptation to climb one rung higher to reach that final spot.

The start of a new year invites more than resolutions; it invites reflection. As I look back on 2025, I do so with an eye toward what effective governing should mean at a time when Americans are stretched by costs, uncertainty, and rapid change.

“We had put together budgets for the net four to five years, one set with the override passed and one with it not,” Drews said. “We’re going to use the tools provided and try to recover our financial situation with those.