Enjoy free access to JournalStar.com this weekend — here’s what to explore

Looking back at those stories, I found myself wondering how the people we interviewed a quarter-century ago view that day now. That question became the foundation for the stories we'll publish Sunday in print and online.

Readers will hear from local residents who played key roles in the response, endured loss and uncertainty, and witnessed firsthand how Lincoln came together during a national crisis.

I had the chance to tell the story of a father whose last-minute decision to switch flights saved his life and ultimately brought him to Lincoln. 

Rereading the stories from that day reminded me of the important work newspapers do and our incredible responsibility to record history. I'm proud of that work and the effort we make every day to inform our community.

I'm also happy that this weekend, beginning Friday through Labor Day, readers can enjoy free access to JournalStar.com. Our 9/11 reflection kicks off a week of coverage, including memories submitted by more than 50 readers who emailed and wrote to us.

It's a great time to see what local journalism has to offer.

Our newsroom is working every day to keep you informed about the stories that matter most. As part of that coverage:

* The Husker women are off to a rollicking start to the volleyball season and head to Chicago this weekend for a match against DePaul on Friday. In a Sunday night under-the-lights showcase, the rock stars of the sport face Missouri at Wrigley Field. Meanwhile, back at Memorial Stadium, Nebraska football hosts Ohio University on Saturday. We’ll have full coverage — previews, features, game stories, galleries and videos — to keep you completely up to date with Big Red.

* Late last month, Lincoln police provided an update on Regina Bos, the 40-year-old Lincoln mother who was reported missing on Oct. 17, 2000. While Bos is the subject of the department’s longest-standing missing-person case, another Lincoln man has been missing even longer. Michael Lee Watkins left the Capital City in early November 1998 for California. He was last seen two days before Christmas that year. This weekend, the Journal Star revisits the cases of several other missing people, including Anwesha Dey and Ann Marie Kelley, who vanished without a trace.

* The fall election season is underway. We'll continue providing in-depth coverage of local races, public policy debates and ballot issues, helping voters understand the choices they'll face in November.

Of course, that's only part of what you'll find here. JournalStar.com delivers breaking news, in-depth reporting on local issues, business coverage, arts and entertainment, opinion, obituaries, photo galleries and calendars packed with things to do around the region. You'll also find crosswords, Sudoku and other daily puzzles.

This free-access weekend is made possible through the support of John Henry's Plumbing, Heating and Air. Their sponsorship allows everyone in our community to experience the value of trusted local journalism.

I hope you'll take time this weekend to explore everything JournalStar.com has to offer. If you find our journalism valuable, I hope you'll consider becoming a subscriber after the Labor Day weekend. Your support makes this work possible.

Thank you for spending part of your holiday weekend with us. And thank you for reading.