Top Journal Star photos for April 2024
Zeman Elementary School first grade teacher Eileen Schmeichel is doused with water from a splash tower during the Zeman Color Run at Zeman Elementary School on Saturday.
Wakiya Dolezal, 9, of the Winnebago & Dakota Tribes performs a shawl dance during the Unite Intertribal Powwow on Saturday at Meier Commons.
A partial solar eclipse is seen over Lincoln, Monday at Hyde Observatory.
Sen. Jen Day of Omaha (left) is embraced by Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha after Day honored him for his service to the Legislature at the Capitol on Thursday.
Members of various public safety agencies from around the state gathered alongside Ross Bartlett's family and friends at St. Mark's United Methodist Church on Friday to remember the 54-year-old Ceresco police officer, who died last week after he was hit by a car while conducting a traffic stop near U.S. 77 and Little Salt Road in Lancaster County.
Westside's goalkeeper Maia Jaroch (right) slides in to take the ball away from Lincoln Pius X's Tatum Heimes (center) as she is guarded by Brianna Busher (17) during the game on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at Lincoln Pius X.
Engine seven crew members Eric Morgan (left) and Kirsten Bell practice advancing with a fire hose at Den Hartog Field on Tuesday.
Bryan Olesen (right) embraces his daughter Jadyn as they perform with her band AM/FM during a watch party for one of Bryan Olesen's appearance on "The Voice" on April 22 at the Bourbon Theatre. Jaydn Olesen is following in her father's footsteps by earning a spot on the 27th season of the NBC singing competition.
Trey Lamkins, a horticulture major at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, rubs his head after seeing his new look for the first time during the Shave for the Brave event at the Willa Cather Dining Complex on City Campus on Thursday. Twelve UNL students shaved their heads to raise funds to help find cures for children with cancer. Lamkins' mother passed away last August. "Though she's no longer with us, her spirit fuels my determination to make a difference in the lives of those still fighting," he wrote. Around $6,000 was raised ahead of the event at UNL, which has put on the event for the last seven years. The donations will go to the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, but the hair will be donated to the Matter of Trust, which uses the donated hair to clean up oil spills and make goods such as burlap sacks and stockings.
The Silver Hawks start to dogpile on Lincoln Southwest's Charley Kort (right) after she scored the game-winning goal Saturday in the final seconds of the second overtime against Gretna at UBT Stadium.
Sen. Julie Slama of Peru speaks on the floor carrying her son, Win La Grone, Thursday at the Capitol.
Newman Grove FFA members Kailey Patzel (back left), Allyx Forre (front left), Aubree Whitaker (back right) and Cora Patzel and Hayes Center FFA member Addison Richards (front right) work together to pack Mercy Meals on Thursday at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Thousands of high school FFA members, advisors and guests are in Lincoln this week for the 96th annual state convention. The meals FFA members prepared on Thursday, which include rice, dehydrated vegetables, soy and a flavored vitamin and mineral powder, will be delivered to children in need.
Lincoln Southeast's Davieian Williams competes in the boys triple jump event during the Harold Scott track meet on Thursday, April 18, 2024, at Beechner Athletic Complex.
Ainsley Pickel, 14 (from left), Owen Elder, 13, Junior Martinez, 14, and Yara Othman, 14, watch as guest judges Jacob Osborn, Tobi Scaggs and Kelly Phillips taste their pineapple-infused chicken dish during the Scott Chopped Competition on Thursday at Scott Middle School. The day before the competition, the class was split into teams and told four ingredients they would be required to use to make a meal. The ingredients were chicken, carrots, pineapple and ramen noodles.
Lincoln North Star students (from left), senior Ezekiel Menter, and juniors Brooke Adam, Kristi Chumber and Rachel Harre look at mock stock information as they participate in the Junior Achievement Stock Market Challenge on Wednesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena. More than 600 students from 27 high schools participated in the event.
Demolition began Monday on the Clyde Malone Community Center, 2032 U St. The 14,000-square-foot building, built in the 1980s, will be replaced at the same site with a new, three-story, 54,000-square-foot building. Completion is estimated in 2025. During construction, Malone’s programs will have temporary homes in partner organizations. The total cost of designing and building the new facility is $23 million. To date, Malone has received public and private commitments totaling just more than half of the $23 million goal.
Dr. Jeff Gold, the priority candidate for the University of Nebraska President position, speaks during a public forum on Monday at the City Campus Union.
Sen. Robert Clements of Elmwood (left) stands with Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha as Wayne asks him a question on his bill during floor debate at the Capitol on Thursday, the second-to-last day of the session.
Lincoln Southwest's Caden Ransom (center) celebrates his home run against Lincoln Pius X, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, at Sherman Field.
Good Life Community Development executive director Bill Radke (left) checks on grilled pineapples next to Cody Shafer in the kitchen at JTK Cuisine & Cocktails.
Kevin Matthews, a Bellevue East sophomore (from left), Brooklyn Freeman, a Omaha Westview sophomore, and Royalty Aguer, a Papillion La Vista South senior, try to keep their cup stack together while participating in a team-building activity during the Greater Than One District Equity Collaboration Summit at the Don Clifton Professional Learning Center on Wednesday.
On April 9, the Lincoln Police Department responded to a reported shooting an apartment in the 1100 block of G Street at about noon.
Bartender Ashley Novak pours a mixed drink at Deb's Place on Saturday in Lincoln. Deb's Place, formerly Cliff's Martini Lounge, offers more than 30 signature martinis.
Eighth-graders (from left) Treyvious Buettner, Ethan Poulsen, Eli Norval and Yousif Kadhim look up at the solar eclipse on Monday at Mickle Middle School.
Nebraska head coach Will Bolt looks on during the Ohio State game on April 6 at Haymarket Park.
Nebraska's Rhett Stokes (left) outs Ohio State's Henry Kaczmar on Friday, April 5, 2024, at Haymarket Park.
Trey Coley Lusk as Barbie Esther (center) and the rest of the cast rehearse a musical performance for the Barbie Megillah Purim Spiel on Thursday, April 4, 2024, at South Street Temple. Purim takes place annually on the 14th day of the Hebrew month Adar. This year, Purim was observed on March 23 and 24. The holiday surrounds Queen Esther, a Hebrew woman who saved the Jewish people from a royal official named Haman. Every year, Jewish communities around the world read the Megillah of Esther, a scroll detailing the story of Esther’s heroics. South Street Temple will be presenting Barbie Megillah directed by Zoë Watch and written by Jaime Marx. The performance will combine the story of Esther with themes from the 2023 hit film Barbie.
Kaleb Garr takes a bite out of his breakfast Runza on Wednesday. The Runzas weren't being sold. Instead, customers were asked to give a donation that would go toward Runza's Feed the Need charity event.
Lincoln Fire and Rescue personnel remove a person following a standoff at the Casey's near the airport on Tuesday.
Lincoln Southwest’s theater director Austyn McKee sits for a portrait on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, at Lincoln Southwest.
Nebraska's Bella Bacon (right) scores at home plate next to Kansas' Lyric Moore on Tuesday at Bowlin Stadium.
Lincoln North Star's Jameson Lantz is tagged out by Lincoln Southwest's Landon Sandy at home plate Tuesday at Den Hartog Field.
U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy answers questions at Bryan Medical Center East Campus on Tuesday.
Weightlifting students jog around the weight room on Tuesday at Waverly High School. The current weight room is located on top of the locker rooms in a space that was originally designed as a wrestling practice area. “In order for the program to grow, we need more space,” said Anthony Harms, the strength and conditioning coach at Waverly High School.
A jury awarded a Red Cloud couple nearly $11.5 million in damages at the end of a civil trial over the husband's injuries in a crash involving an overloaded semitrailer.
Nebraska volleyball player Harper Murray was cited for DUI early Friday morning, according to the Lincoln Police Department.
Nebraska Public Power District’s chief nuclear officer made a base salary of $646,000 in 2023, but after a bonus nearly equal to that amount his total compensation was $1.3 million.
A 49-year-old Lincoln man was arrested after threatening a tow truck driver with a gun as he was attempting to repossess his vehicle, according to the Lincoln Police Department.
Livestock groups who helped write the bill say it will be good for Nebraska agriculture, but it has also attracted an array of opponents, including some Gage County residents.
A veterinarian and her attorney will receive more than $113,000 from the proceeds from an auction of 37 horses that had been removed from her property due to malnourishment.
Sen. Deb Fischer said she recommended Susan Bazis to the White House "because of her undeniable skill, expertise and integrity.”
The program responsible for training attorneys versed in laws around space, technology, and armed conflicts is changing its name to the Nebraska Space, Cyber and National Security Law Program.
At trial, jurors found Terry Svejda and his company hadn't misrepresented or omitted material facts or acted with disregard for the truth in connection with a commodity futures contract.
Nebraska child care providers who received thousands of dollars in COVID-19-related stimulus funds will ultimately have to return up to a quarter of that money during tax time.
Less than a week after he was reprimanded for his sexualized comments targeting colleagues, Sen. Steve Halloran said his rebuking was evidence of "cancel culture" in Nebraska's Legislature.
The Lancaster County Sheriff's Office confirmed that a 24-year-old Lincoln man who was hit by a semi Saturday on Interstate 80 has died from his injuries.
A 17-year-old Omaha girl was cited for vehicular homicide related to a January crash left an 87-year-old Lincoln man dead.
A Lincoln woman was charged after her 2-year-old son fell through a second-floor window in February, causing a skull fracture, according to court documents.
Residential buildings and the kitchen at the Nebraska women's prison were without hot water for five days after an aging boiler suddenly broke.
The Nebraska Legislature voted Wednesday to reinstate income taxes on federal retirees, with lawmakers saying they made a mistake when they eliminated those taxes last year.
A scaled-back version of Gov. Jim Pillen's property tax plan moved forward Wednesday in the Nebraska Legislature but would fall far short of the governor's goal of cutting property taxes 40%.
Police said alcohol use contributed to the crash.
An Omaha prisoner convicted in the 1967 slayings of two service station attendants has died.
The "first-of-its-kind" deal establishes protections for landowners living along the Trailblazer Pipeline route and ensures they receive royalty checks each year.
Club Omaha owner Shane Harrington said the sign is the culmination of months of frustration after trying to reach deals with local advertising agencies to promote a free car giveaway.
Ross Bartlett was performing a routine traffic stop near U.S. 77 and Little Salt Road when a truck struck his cruiser from behind, Nebraska State Patrol Maj. Jeff Wilcynski said.
A substitute teacher with Omaha Public Schools was arrested Saturday after she was found in the backseat of her SUV with a 17-year-old.
Three Douglas County Sheriff's Office deputies sustained minor injuries last week while arresting an Omaha man wanted for felony theft and failure to appear for a drug test.
Nebraska State Patrol troopers have issued more speeding citations for drivers traveling at 90 mph to 100 mph in the first 100 days of 2024 than any year in the past decade.
Nebraska's casinos had a record haul in March, with the Lincoln and Grand Island operations posting their best months ever.
A dog was found with duct tape covering his head and holding his legs together shortly before the dumpster was emptied. Now he is back recovering with his family.
With a final vote on the plan set for Thursday, they have launched a barrage of advertisements in newspapers, digital media, radio and television.
Wartime bomb production and a Cold War missile site fouled the groundwater near Mead. The federal government wants defense contractors to foot a clean-up bill of more than $125 million.
The 68-year-old told officers that he had woken up from a bad dream and believed someone was breaking into his home.
Omaha police are searching for a mother who is accused in a Douglas County warrant with causing the death of her 10-month-old son.
Nebraska has kept $15.7 million in child support payments that could have gone to some of the neediest families. A bill would direct more of that money to those families.
Gov. Jim Pillen suggested the new felon voting rights law may not be constitutional. The measure's sponsor said: "I'm not worried."
Gov. Jim Pillen came up empty-handed Thursday in his quest to reduce property taxes by even half of his 40% goal, but he told lawmakers they'll be called back to continue working on the issue.
A 36-year-old Fremont man who was last seen Tuesday was found dead Friday morning.
Lotto America, which begins in the state May 19, costs $1 per ticket and will have a jackpot that starts at $2 million and grows each time it is not won.
The Nebraska Supreme Court was split 4-3 on the decision in Christine Thiele's case. The majority reversed a Workers' Compensation Court ruling, sending her case back to that court.
The Nebraska State Patrol arrested two people early Saturday following a pursuit that ended in a southwest Omaha home's attic.
A semi was parked on the shoulder of I-80. Another semi hauling a a piece of agriculture equipment struck the parked semi, causing the equipment to hit an oncoming semi.
The Sarpy County Sheriff's Office arrested 10 people in connection with a loud house party allegedly featuring drugs, alcohol and guns.
Nebraska's Attorney General targeted another THC retailer in a consumer protection lawsuit filed Monday, broadly accusing Midwest Smoke Shop stores of selling vapes and edibles to children.
Three Lincoln women have been arrested after an investigation into improper contact with multiple inmates while they worked for the Nebraska Department of Corrections, according to the Nebraska State Patrol.
The bill would have allowed state courts to order public schools to pay punitive damages as a result of civil lawsuits — a move that state law prevents.
The girl told police she had participated in hundreds of sex acts with around 30 men for money since she was 13 or 14 at the encouragement of her mother.
The University of Nebraska Board of Regents finalized the hiring of Dr. Jeff Gold as the system's ninth president on Friday.
An Omaha woman wanted in connection with the thefts of historical plaques from Omaha's Central High School was arrested Saturday and booked into the Douglas County Jail.
Gov. Jim Pillen on Monday backed off an earlier vow to call "as many sessions as it takes" to get the job done.
Staff at the Omaha hospital, an affidavit said, told police the child's injuries were the result of "severe shaking and/or slamming."
The funds budgeted for those positions will be reallocated to other priorities of the state or be used to lower property tax payments for Nebraskans, the governor said.
Chuck Love said he never pursued an inappropriate relationship with former Husker women's basketball player Ashley Scoggin, but admitted to meeting with her alone in a vehicle.
Ross Bartlett was performing a routine traffic stop near U.S. 77 and Little Salt Road when a truck struck his cruiser from behind, Nebraska State Patrol Maj. Jeff Wilcynski said.
