Top Journal Star photos for May 2023
Arwen Wiechman, third grade, spins around while learning ballet during the Everett Community Learning Center after-school program on Monday. Dancers from the American Ballet Theatre led the students in dance exercises in advance of the company's performances on Tuesday and Wednesday of "Giselle" at the Lied Center for Performing Arts.
Lincoln City Council candidate Tom Duden (right) embraces his wife Ronda Duden (center), along with his brother-in-law Rob Treptow at a Republican election night watch party Tuesday at Rosie's Downtown.
Adam Morefeld is hugged by Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird as she enters an election night party for Democrats on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, at the DelRay Ballroom in Lincoln.
Cars drive across a bridge along North 27th street, as a low water level measuring around 2.0 ft reveals the creek bed underneath, one year before on the same date the water level was measuring nearly 4 ft, on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 in Lincoln. Drought conditions have gotten so bad in Lancaster County that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has declared it a disaster area. This most recent announcement expands drought disaster designations to more than two-thirds of the state's counties. Last month, the department designated 55 counties as primary disaster areas.
An excavator works to clear debris from the area where a section of the Gold's Building once stood as redevelopment of the site continues on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, along 11th and N streets in Lincoln.
Lincoln fighter Andrew Huffman is stuck in the face by Kwajuan Mensah during their bout in Dynasty Combat Sport's Annual Spring Brawl on Saturday, May 6, 2023, at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln.
Bennington's Ethan Korth (from left) and Conestoga's Kaden Simmerman and Rowdy Watson compete for the ball during the Class B boys state soccer tournament, Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at Morrison Stadium in Omaha.
Lincoln Southeast's Angel Arellanes (right) and Papillion-La Vista South's Brodie Anderson (16) clash during the Class A boys state soccer tournament Monday in Omaha.
Kristin Syde carries her niece Margot Wyrick, 1, as she runs with her daughter Anna Syde, 6, during the Mayor's Run Saturday at the state Capitol.
Wahoo/BN/LL's players celebrate after defeating Waverly in the B-2 District final at Sam Crawford Field on Friday in Wahoo.
Lincoln Southwest players take turns kissing the A-2 District championship plaque after defeating Elkhorn South on Thursday at Seacrest Field.
Lincoln East JV's Reid Voog loses his grip on his golf club after driving the ball from the sixth hole tee box during the LPS Boys Golf Championship on Thursday, May 4, 2023, at Mahoney Golf Course in Lincoln.
Elkhorn South's Cole Eaton celebrates after scoring a triple in the sixth inning during the Class A boys state baseball tournament, Friday, May 12, 2023, at Werner Park in Papillion.
Lacey Eddy (right), Scottish Rite Educator of the Year, embraces kindergarten students, including Reina Schomaker (left), after she was honored at an announcement ceremony Friday at Hartley Elementary.
Creighton Prep's Thomas Pisasale (3) hits a back flip while being cheered on by Max Matthies (7) and Jack Johnson (11) after scoring the go-ahead goal against Lincoln Southwest during a Class A state semifinal match Friday in Omaha.
Omaha Duchesne's Sophie Owens (left) looks to pass to an open teammate during the Class B girls state soccer tournament, Thursday, May 11, 2023, at Morrison Stadium in Omaha.
Kloefkorn Elementary School students and teachers walk through nearby neighborhoods for the annual Kloefkornucopia Parade to honor the past year's students and the school's namesake on Monday, May 22, 2023.
Gov. Jim Pillen kisses newborn Gemma Pond of Lincoln at the signing ceremony of LB574 on Monday at the Capitol.
Brady's Dillion Miller (right) celebrates after finishing first in the class D 100 meter dash final on the fourth day of the 2023 State Track and Field championships on Saturday, May 20, 2023, at Burke Stadium in Omaha.
Lincoln Lutheran's Logan Lebo celebrates as he crosses the finish line during the class C boys 800 meter final on the fourth day of the 2023 State Track and Field championships on Saturday, May 20, 2023, at Burke Stadium in Omaha.
Lincoln East's Troy Peltz (2) celebrates with Landon Sandy (16) and others after his throw to home plate retired the potential game-winning run in the Class A championship game Friday at Tal Anderson Field.
D Mack and Billie Douglass of Lincoln console each other after senators passed a bill limiting gender-affirming care and abortion in Nebraska. Hundreds of protesters again gathered in the Rotunda on Friday for votes on the bill.
Lincoln Northeast's Laney Songster and Lincoln Pius X's Kate Campos leap over hurdles during the Class A girls 100-meter hurdles final at the state track and field meet Thursday at Burke Stadium in Omaha.
Blair's Myles Jackson reacts after he sets a record in the Class B boys 100 meter dash final at the state track and field meet Thursday at Burke Stadium in Omaha.
They Might Be Giant's trombonist Dan Levine, trumpet player Mark Pender and saxophonist Stan Harrison play together during a live performance on Sunday at the Bourbon Theatre in Lincoln.
Wayne's Laura Hasemann is photographed through a bush of flowers as she rounds the far corner of the track during the girls 4x800 meter relay on the first day of the 2023 State Track and Field championships on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, at Burke Stadium in Omaha.
Norfolk's Jackson Bos prepares to throw during shot put warmups on the first day of the 2023 state track and field championships on Wednesday at Burke Stadium in Omaha.
Omaha Skutt players celebrate against Norris during the Class B girls state soccer tournament, Monday, May 15, 2023, at Morrison Stadium in Omaha.
Wahoo's Conor Booth (14) is called out at third base after trying to steal against Elkhorn's Ryan Ellison (left) during a Class B state baseball game Saturday at Werner Park.
The ball sails just over Omaha Duchesne's Claire Niehaus, who is defended by Norris' Nicole Keetle (left) and Clare Macklin (right) in the second half of a Class B state semifinal Saturday in Omaha.
Fifth graders wave to the camera during the LPS day baseball game on, Monday, May 22, 2023, in Lincoln.
Lincoln Southeast's Gavin Gerch hits a ball at the 18th hole during the Class A state golf tournament Wednesday at Norfolk Country Club.
Rebecca Rager greets her grandfather Alfred Zieg (from left) during a celebration before his birthday on Wednesday, in the Gramercy dining room on Saturday, May 27, 2023, at The Residence at Gramercy in Lincoln. 'It has been a life for sure," Alfred Zieg said during the celebration. "And on Wednesday I get to start all over again, right?"
Muggs, a 6 year-old chocolate lab soars through the air chasing after a toy as he dives from the dock to the water following his dive on Saturday, May 27, 2023, at Paws 4 Fun in Lincoln. The diving event is part of the North America Diving Dogs (NADD) competition. Five judges rate each dog on the distance they jump to where their tail breaks the waters surface.
Rider Sheila Ross shoots balloon targets on her horse, “Two ID Jet Mack” with a time of 15.828 seconds for the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association Championship at Lancaster Event Center on Friday. The event continues until Sunday.
At the urging of advocates, Gov. Jim Pillen agreed to make a one-time stabilization payment for developmental disability service providers for pay raises and staff hirings this year.
The diocese said it was backing out because of a policy change that requires nonprofits to affirm they do not discriminate based on sexual orientation.
One of Nebraska's most high-profile Democrats has left the party.
"The parties are not the future," Sen. Megan Hunt said.
This year, the board’s five members have appeared together at hearings twice as often as they did in 2021, according to a Flatwater Free Press analysis.
An 18-year-old Omaha man was sentenced on Wednesday to 45 to 65 years in prison for his role in the 2021 double homicide of Jia'Quan Williams and Ja'Vondre' McIntosh.
Federal money from the Airport Improvement Program will help resurface a runway at Scottsbluff and a taxiway at North Platte.
After being shot by police in Lincoln on Monday, Chace Abney, 35, died of his injuries on Saturday.
Hunter Palmer, who was committed to play football at Midland University, died Friday at a hospital in West Point.
A $129.9 million bond issue easily passed in the Papillion-La Vista school district, while a $121 million bond issue won handily in the Omaha Westside district.
An Omaha woman accused of killing a security guard during a weekend altercation was denied bail Tuesday.
Columbus Public Schools officials say community engagement will continue after a $53.5 million facilities bond referendum failed during a special election Tuesday.
The opening of the Columbus Fieldhouse at the beginning of 2024 will be a game changer for the community, according to the facility’s director, Rob Marshall.
A train collided with the metal pieces Tuesday night and rocked back and forth, nearly derailing, according to the sheriff's office.
On average, Nebraskans who qualified for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program had $59,000 in debt canceled, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
A coyote grabbed a small dog from a backyard in East Lincoln earlier this week and killed it, a good reminder that coyote activity increases this time of year.
An annual nationwide motorcycle tour honoring veterans of the U.S. armed forces will start and end in Papillion.
The face of HIV and AIDS is changing in Nebraska, as is life for Nebraskans living with the disease.
May is Nebraska Bird Month and Saturday is National Migratory Bird Day. With its many wetlands, the state is a great place to watch birds.
An Omaha man learned a hard lesson when his middle finger was severed while trying to remove an obstruction from underneath a lawn mower.
Mark Gietzen, a prominent anti-abortion activist and president of the Kansas Republican Assembly, died Tuesday when his plane crashed in Holt County.
“We know the people support this,” said Crista Eggers. “We are going to execute and put that into motion to have safe and regulated medical cannabis in Nebraska.”
When Russia’s war threatened their existence, two brothers and their families fled their homeland. They could only dream of one day reuniting with their parents in America — until they did.
A village in Jefferson County is unable to conduct business after four board members resigned their positions in less than three weeks.
Alexander Hernandez, who stabbed to death a 4-month-old baby with at least 20 blows in January 2021, was ruled a danger to himself and society during a court hearing.
Senators who have voted to block a bill to ban or limit gender-affirming care for transgender youths receive a weekly box lunch as a thank you.
NU President Ted Carter said the university plans to change its health, pharmacy and dental insurance carriers in 2024 pending approval of the Board of Regents.
The confirmation hearing for Nebraska's incoming chief medical officer centered primarily around the official's role in a new law restricting access to gender-affirming care for transgender youth.
The $2.8 million demolition project, which is expected to take approximately two months, will create a green space on the corner of 50th Street and Madison Avenue later this year.
The lawsuit argues the Legislature violated the Nebraska State Constitution's single-subject provision when it passed LB574 earlier this month.
Regents did not discuss the proposed amendment to their bylaws at a special meeting on Wednesday. The board will take it up for consideration at the June 22 meeting.
Nebraska lawmakers restored money to the state's watchdog agency but upheld Gov. Jim Pillen's other budget vetoes Wednesday.
Big Boy will stop in towns across Nebraska on the way to the college baseball championships in Omaha.
A joint effort by the Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals staff and the Nebraska racing community brought the thrill of the race to patients on Tuesday afternoon.
Jon Breese, a lifelong pilot, was able to get back in the sky on Tuesday thanks to his Omaha retirement community. Breese had been grounded since having a stroke.
Brad Anderson suffered from loneliness and helplessness – feelings so endangering Americans that the U.S. Surgeon General recently warned of an epidemic of loneliness and isolation.
Nebraska gas stations will soon be required to offer fuel blended with up to 15% ethanol.
A Nebraska lawmaker has introduced an amendment to a controversial transgender health care bill that would ease the bill's current restrictions and ban abortions at 12 weeks past gestation.
