Top Journal Star photos and videos for February 2026
Snow falls over the Nebraska State Capitol on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, at in Lincoln.
Lincoln North Star students lead a protest against ICE through the Lincoln Crossing shopping center on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, in Lincoln.
Nebraska fans throw shredded paper pamphlet into the air after the Huskers score their first points of the first half on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Lincoln North Star students hold flags and signs out the window of their vehicle as they cheer on their classmates on the sidewalk during a protest against ICE through the Lincoln Crossing shopping center on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, in Lincoln.
Lincoln North Star’s Ani Leu (15) hoists the HAC championship plaque after the Gators defeated Lincoln Southwest on Saturday at Lincoln High.
Nebraska's Sam Hoiberg (1) scores past Illinois' Jake Davis (15) during the second half on Sunday, February 1, 2026 at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Emma Henry, back left, watches as her son Kristopher, 4, and his sister Elizabeth, 5, launch a toy rocket into the air at Holmes Lake on Monday. “We are just enjoying the fake spring,” Henry said.
14-year-old bull rider Cooper Smith gets set in the chute with his bull rope during a bullriding/fighting camp hosted by Party Rock Rodeo on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, at Livestock Market Pavilion in the Sandhills Global Event Center in Lincoln. “I love it—the adrenaline rush,” Smith said of the sport. For a $400 tuition, students had an opportunity to spend February 5th through the 7th training bullfighting with Richard Wayne Ratley and bullriding with Cody Custer.
Lincoln High School students Damaris Lemus, from left, and Loh Ba Htoo take part in a walkout to protest against ICE on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, in Lincoln.
Omaha Skutt Catholic’s Lucas Heller (2) Will Eickman (22) and Kai Kohles (32) react on their way off the court after the win on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, at Norris Middle School in Firth. Norris fell to Omaha Skutt Catholic 55-52.
Interim UNL Chancellor Katherine Ankerson, center, collects her shovel for Tuesday's groundbreaking ceremony for the Lied Center for Performing Arts' $35 million expansion project.
Nebraska's Sam Hoiberg (1) scores a layup in front of Purdue's Fletcher Loyer (2) during the second half on Tuesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Grand Island's Kaleigh Kuusela (12) embraces Fremont's Macey Bates (22) after the NSAA Girls Team Bowling State Championship on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, at Sun Valley Lanes & Games in Lincoln. Grand Island beat out Fremont 3-1.
Scott Middle School seventh grader Hanshiya Vijay with her gold medal after winning the Lincoln Public Schools spelling bee Saturday at Culler Middle School.
Nebraska's Eliza Maupin (21) battles to the rim past Iowa’s Ava Heiden (5) during the first half on Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Cooper Hood, 8, her sister Loxley, 12, and Marie Kissinger Kruse stand next to a four foot tall valentines day heart outside of the Bartek’s home on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, in Lincoln.
A man walks his dogs along the Rock Island Trail as traffic navigates snow-covered roads on Nebraska Parkway on Friday. Thursday night's snowstorm shattered forecasters' expectations by dropping snow well into Friday morning, snarling traffic and cancelling classes.
Lincoln Southwest's Kenley Harris reacts after taking down Kearney’s Carsyn McBride during the Class A 115-pound state championship match Wednesday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
A pedestrian walks down K Street across from St. Mary's Catholic Church on a snowy Thursday afternoon.
Kearney's Braxton Robinson wrestles Creighton Prep's Kaleb Griffith during a Nebraska boys high school wrestling state tournament Class A 157 pound seminal round match at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026.
Congressman Mike Flood, left, shakes hands with Lancaster County Chief Deputy Ben Houchin during a reelection campaign stop at Tico's of Lincoln on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026.
An officer with the Lincoln Police Department ties crime scene tape to a nearby tree as they investigate a body found by a retention pond by at the intersection of north 50th and R street on Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, in Lincoln.
University of Nebraska-Lincoln freshmen Tony D’Agosto, from left, Matthew Leholm, Leo Scaletty and Austin Schmidt play a game of Spikeball on Tuesday outside the computer science building on City Campus. “It’s great to get outside and have fun with some of my friends after it being so cold recently,” D’Agosto said. Lincoln reached 71 degrees on Tuesday, shy of the record of 74 for Feb. 17 set in 2017. Wednesday is expected to be pleasant as well, with a high of 64 on tap. But a pattern shift will bring a cooldown — and chances for snow — on Thursday.
Lincoln Pius X’s Ava Markowski (40) flails the cut net after the NSAA Girls Basketball Class B3 District Final on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, at Lincoln Pius X High School in Lincoln. Lincoln Pius X beat Elkhorn North 53-43 to claim the title.
Luda Smyshliaiev, a Ukrainian immigrant from Kherson, bows her head in prayer with the crowd on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, at the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln. More than a hundred attended as members of Lincoln’s Ukrainian community gathered at the State Seal Fountain to share remarks, join in song and to pray for peace to mark four years of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. “I’m here to let there world know that it’s not just war—it’s a genocide,” Smyshliaiev said. “They want to erase us.”
Nebraska's Pryce Sandfort (21) goes for two under defense by Maryland’s Elijah Saunders (13) and George Turkson (11) on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026, at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln. Nebraska beat Maryland 74-61.
A group of Lincoln day care children are making senator trading cards to help them learn about the legislative process.
A Lincoln senator’s bill would remove the 16,000-seat cap at Pinnacle Bank Arena, potentially allowing more fans at Huskers games and major events.
While the letter from the Executive Board looked like a conclusion to the controversy, a resolution to the matter appeared uncertain late Thursday morning.
The move would jeopardize the home's status as a National Historic Landmark, an elite list of the most important historic places in America.
Jesse Salamanca, 28, allegedly stabbed a 50-year-old man he knew at least twice in the area of 26th and K streets Friday, police said.
Scott Middle School seventh grader Hanshiya Vijay won the 38th annual Lincoln Public Schools spelling bee in the 13th round on Valentine's Day.
Crews responded to a fire near North 20th and Superior streets on Saturday morning in Lincoln.
Lane restrictions are coming as a yearlong project to add three levels to the parking garage north of the County-City Building gets underway.
A 23-year-old from Lincoln was arrested after police say they slashed a 57-year-old man with a kitchen knife Sunday morning. The victim’s injuries were serious but not life-threatening.
The Nebraska Supreme Court has reversed a decision last summer in a legal spat between a local real estate company seeking $3.5 million against a former development partner.
The pursuit, which lasted over an hour, ended with the arrest of 42-year-old Juan Avant of Memphis, Tennessee.
Police are investigating after a body was found in a small pond near North 50th and R streets.
Lincoln Public Schools is hiring an LGBTQ+ student advocate, and the position has drawn criticism from state leaders. Others see it as a role that supports vulnerable students.
Walgreens says the fire May 30 at its 70th and O street location, store number 3182, caused more than $650,000 damage.
For one weekend, Friend and Ord will echo with Puccini. UNL opera students bring “La Bohème” to Friend and Ord for free 3 p.m. performances.
An Omaha man and Papillion woman spent the weekend in jail in Lincoln after allegedly picking up a package with a pound of methamphetamine inside.
A passerby drove the victim to Bryan West Hospital. The 43-year-old had been shot four times, injuring his left leg, abdomen and buttocks.
Two adults, four children and four pets were relocated.
It wasn't immediately clear if the man had had a medical episode on Tuesday morning.
"After a thorough market analysis, we have identified Lincoln as a top prospective location for a new facility," Jon Ingrum with Skate City Kansas wrote to Lincoln officials.
A Lincoln man is facing four felony charges after allegedly retrieving a rifle during a dispute and threatening a neighbor with it.
A 25-year-old Lincoln man stands accused of terroristic threats after allegedly threatening a couple with a gun outside the Olive Garden on Valentine's Day night.
The Friday panel will highlight five local Black leaders to share their expertise on civil rights history, political activism, higher education, youth engagement and student well-being.
Dubbed Redtail Heights, the proposed development northeast of 98th Street and Pine Lake Road would have 679 homes and 60,000 square feet of commercial space.
Lincoln Fire and Rescue crews fought a fire inside an apartment unit in north Lincoln on Wednesday evening. A discarded cigarette was later found to be the cause.
Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird and the company that makes city-specific Monopoly boards announced Thursday a Lincoln version of the classic family game will be on the shelves by October.
The woman told police that on Feb. 12, her cat got sick and died. Around the same time, her pit bull also got sick and stopped eating.
A judge had bound over criminal charges against a man accused of killing a 76-year-old man, who was found dead in his Lincoln home more than two years ago.
A Lincoln man went to jail Tuesday night after allegedly threatening to kill a 1-year-old child and making the girl's mother watch.
A 19-year-old Lincoln man went to jail early Friday after crashing head-on with an on-duty Lincoln police sergeant.
After less than a year on the job, president and CEO Todd Bingham is no longer with the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
"Sir, I can only describe your actions as that of a predator, and the prey was small, young girls," Lancaster County District Judge Darla Ideus told Jon Corbin.
Dave Wieting is challenging fellow party member Matt Schulte, who is wrapping up his first, four-year term and trying for another representing the southernmost of the county's five districts.
The Nebraska State Patrol arrested Ray Larson, a Norfolk police officer, on suspicion of driving under the influence Thursday. Norfolk Police Division placed Larson on administrative leave following his arrest.
Special Olympics Nebraska's annual Polar Plunge fundraiser brought 200 participants to the shore of Holmes Lake on Saturday to support athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
An ongoing partnership between Lincoln Littles, Lincoln Public Schools and the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department offers free quarterly safety training to child care providers across the city.
Wastewater was backing up in the sanitary sewer collection system and released into a portion of Salt Creek.
Lana Daws announced her candidacy for the District 5 seat on the Nebraska State Board of Education. District 5 includes rural parts of Lancaster County and south Lincoln.
Lincoln police say a teen sped off from officers twice, drove without headlights and flashed red and blue lights before being arrested at home.
Jennie Anderson, Lincoln East's associate principal, will begin her role as principal at Moore Middle School in July, Lincoln Public Schools announced on Monday.
Seward Public Schools will use a recently approved $25 million bond to build a new athletic complex and enhance security at its elementary school and high school.
City officials say the proposed alignment was "intentionally planned to minimize conflicts between trail users and vehicles" and the trail is "not expected to become a high-volume regional corridor."
A recent message to Park Middle School and Schoo Middle School families clarified that students who participate in repeated walkouts could be suspended from school.
The council approved the creation of a position to coordinate events at South Haymarket Park and a $1.4 million contract for a new fare collection system for StarTran.
Former Gov. Bob Kerrey resigned from Monolith’s board after Justice Department emails showed past contact with Jeffrey Epstein. Nebraska GOP leaders called for donations to be returned.
The award recognizes one LPS school for its commitment to improving student achievement, fostering community and building a sense of belonging. It comes with a $5,000 stipend.
Nebraska will take over environmental reviews for federally funded highway projects. Supporters say it could speed the Lincoln East Beltway. Critics warn of weaker oversight.
The Lincoln Board of Education approved a two-year teachers contract Tuesday, but Board President Bob Rauner voted no, citing concerns about rising health insurance costs.
For more than 40 days, Lincoln’s Auguste Auger has been fighting for a chance to win $5 million in Prime Video's “Beast Games.”
In adapting its manufacturing process for a liquid feedstock, Monolith said it will be able to produce more carbon black in a smaller footprint at its Olive Creek facility.
The Lincoln City Council voted to oppose a liquor license tied to a proposed pedal pub business near 10th and M streets after police raised compliance concerns.
Lincoln police used a Taser to arrest a 45-year-old man accused of domestic assault and assaulting officers at a southwest apartment. Two officers reported minor injuries.
To one side, what happened outside The Office was a "cold, callous, calculated double murder" caught on video. To the other, it was sudden, over just 2 minutes.
South Haymarket Park is scheduled to be finished by the end of the year and will include a skatepark and playground.
Lancaster County District Judge Susan Strong sentenced him Thursday to 28 to 33 years in prison.
The Lancaster County Sheriff's Office didn't start using cameras until after George Floyd's death, and Lincoln didn't allocate funds for cameras for all of its police patrol teams until 2021.
Randall Ritnour, who has lived in Lancaster County for the last 15 years, said he has more than three decades of experience in criminal law, public service and litigation.
Norris, south of Lincoln, is set to ask voters to approve a $34.8 million bond issue. Waverly is proposing a $64 million one.
Lincoln Northwest and Standing Bear, Lincoln's two newest high schools, could both be over their intended 1,000-student capacity next school year.
A few dozen protesters gathered on O Street to oppose the U.S. government's attacks on Iran.
An Omaha man was arrested after being accused of possessing pot and doing doughnuts in a car with three juveniles inside in east Lincoln.
Several Lancaster County incumbents will face challengers from within their own parties after Monday’s filing deadline. Here’s who’s running.
One of this year's Thank You Teacher award winners helped an Irving Middle School student come out of his shell and realize his passion for science.
A 55-year-old Lincoln man has pleaded no contest to manslaughter for shooting a man to death in his apartment in 2024.
While camera footage -- whether police body-cam footage, cruiser cameras and other private security footage -- is playing a bigger role in criminal trials, Johnson's trial still stands out.
A Lincoln man has been charged with felony criminal mischief for allegedly breaking stained glass windows and doors at two downtown Lincoln churches on Saturday night.
The Lancaster County Board on Tuesday voted unanimously to approve a neighborhood's petition to move from the Bennet Rural Fire Protection District to the Southeast Rural Fire Protection District.
While the challenges brought Auguste to Las Vegas, North Carolina, Fiji and Saudi Arabia, his family back in Lincoln simply knew he was away at “Summer Camp.”
"Undoing source of income protections would have dire consequences for our clients and for countless Lincolnites," Nebraska Appleseed attorney Kasey Ogle said in a press release.
If you ask Bob Rook how TADA Productions got its start, he’d tell you it was an accident 25 years ago.
The goal of the program is diverting people experiencing mental health crises from emergency protective custody, hospitalization and jail.
Since 2019, the city has invested more than $360 million in transportation infrastructure, improving or constructing 193 lane miles of arterial streets and 162 lane miles of residential streets.
A 66-year-old Lincoln man has been charged with abuse of a vulnerable adult for allegedly bilking an elderly relative with dementia out of more than $250,000.
A 16-year-old was charged after allegedly shooting an AR-style rifle at a vehicle in north Lincoln last month.
A Lincoln teen charged in a 2024 fatal stabbing will be tried as an adult after the state’s high court upheld a lower court ruling.
A 47-year-old Lincoln man was arrested after investigators allegedly found more than 15 pounds of methamphetamine and 7 pounds of marijuana.
Police found multiple fired casings in a parking lot in Woods Park Thursday evening. No one was injured, according to the Lincoln Police Department.
DISH subscribers in Nebraska could lose several local NBC affiliates if a renewal deal isn’t reached by 6 p.m. Tuesday.
Two former executives from St. Francis Ministries, which in 2021 lost its contract to oversee child welfare services in Nebraska, have entered pleas to wire fraud and money laundering charges.
Ryan Greenwood, 36, would face a minimum of 20 years in prison and up to life if he's convicted of child abuse resulting in death, as charged.
The dogs, named Mark and Poe, were believed to have been malnourished for an extended amount of time and dead in cages for more than a day or two.
After toddlers were seen choking and using vaping devices, Nebraska lawmakers are considering a bill to require child safety features on electronic smoking devices.
Andy Aquin and Yocelin Serrano Bahena are charged with sexual abuse of an inmate or parolee in separate investigations. Neither works for the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services now.
After 40 days of challenges, a Lincoln man is one of six finalists competing for $5 million on MrBeast’s “Beast Games.” The season finale streams Wednesday on Prime Video.
The Nebraska Supreme Court has taken up a novel issue in an otherwise moot appeal where a Lincoln couple sought to overturn a neighbor's harassment protection orders against them.
A California woman was arrested Sunday in north Lincoln after deputies allegedly found around 48 pounds of methamphetamine in her trunk.
Two brothers who once served in Iraq together were killed in an early morning house fire on South 11th Street. Neighbors remember their kindness and steady presence.
A Lancaster County jury found Christopher Johnson guilty of two counts of first-degree murder in a 2024 shooting outside The Office.
