Top Journal Star photos and videos for August 2026
Seen from the interior of a car, raindrops on the front windshield reflect the Nebraska State Capitol on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, in downtown Lincoln. The city experienced its 10th wettest July on record, with 6.78 inches of rain, surpassing the normal by 3.53 inches
Lorenzo and Desarie Ball, co-owners of Capitol View Winery and Vineyards, stand in their vineyard Tuesday in Roca. The couple gave up their work in the corporate world to take over the winery south of Lincoln.
Carpet Land, including Fisher Irons (5), dogpiles with Bradyn Erickson (2, catcher) after defeating Creighton Prep to win the American Legion Class A state tournament Saturday at Den Hartog Field.
Carpet Land head coach Mychal Lanik celebrates with his 8-year-old son, Gehrig Lanik, after Carpet Land (Lincoln East) defeated Five Points Bank (Creighton Prep) 7-2 on Saturday at Den Hartog Field in Lincoln to win the American Legion baseball championship. Carpet Land swept the best-of-three series 2-0.
A sixth-grade Sixers’ player attempts a block as a T-Wolves player shoots inside the paint during the annual Railyard Rims 3-on-3 basketball tournament sponsored by YMCA of Lincoln, Downtown Lincoln Association and Scheels on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, at The Railyard in Lincoln.
Independent Senate candidate Dan Osborn waves to supporters as he is introduced during a campaign rally at Bourbon Theater on Monday in Lincoln.
Law enforcement officers on motorcycles lead a funeral procession for Crete Police Chief Gary Young as they arrive outside of Lincoln Memorial Cemetery on Monday.
Elsie Maranville ducks underneath her horse Katniss while her friend Saylor Bontrager, right, works to secure her saddle on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at the Sandhills Global Event Center.
Nebraska quarterback Anthony Colandrea hands back a signed ball to 4-year-old Lily Decker, from Lincoln, on Saturday during Nebraska football's fan day at the Hawks Championship Center.
Seen through the digital viewfinder of a Journal Star video camera Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule speaks on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026 during a press conference at the Hawks Championship Center in Lincoln.
Jasper Gonzalez plays in the water from a sprinkler during the city's first-ever hydrant party at Densmore Park on Monday. The city is hosting four hydrant parties this month. The next three are Friday at UPCO Park; Monday at Arnold Heights Park; and Aug. 21 at the Roberts Park. All parties are 4:30-6 p.m.
Jennifer Kramer hugs her son, Christian, as she drops him off for his first day of kindergarten at Humann Elementary School on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, in Lincoln.
Andrew La Grone, representing the Nebraska Republican Party, presents his case during a hearing at the Lancaster County Courthouse on on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, in Lincoln.
A long-exposure-pan photograph of a cyclist on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026, as they ride the Billy Wolff Trail at Holmes Lake Park in Lincoln.
Lead teacher Alex Deaney (left) watches as 1-year-old Daniel Obe (right) plays with a bubble machine on Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in a classroom located at the Bansal Family Home for Head Start in Lincoln.
Pius X head coach Michael Grindey greets players during warmups as the Thunderbolts hold football practice on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026, at Lincoln Pius X High School in Lincoln.
Lincoln High school players run through drills at Beechner Athletic Complex on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, in Lincoln.
Window washer Rogelio Perez repels from the roof of the Scott Engineering Center ahead of classes at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, in Lincoln.
Nebraska Wesleyan University baseball player Jaxson Volmer loads an incoming University of Nebraska-Lincoln freshman’s bags on Monday on the UNL campus. “It is a lot easier with volunteers helping,” NWU baseball player Drake Venema said. “I know as a freshman, I was scared and flustered by the experience. So this definitely would have helped me.” Athletes from Wesleyan were earning money for travel and equipment for their team's programs by helping with move-in.
A colorful umbrella is seen thought rain droplets on a windshield following a short storm on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, in Lincoln.
Lancaster County Election Commissioner Todd Wiltgen explains how election commission staff ensure gathered signatures are verified and processed at the Election Commission's office Friday.
Pedestrians navigate the sidewalks along downtown O street near Brothers on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026, in Lincoln.
Lincoln Food Market Program Manager Kristina Brandl, left, helps Nolan Lemna unload fresh produce at the Catholic Social Services food market on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026.
Fans in the front row, including Megan Gonzales (center, arms outstretched, from Thedford) react as the Turnpike Troubadours perform during The Boys From Oklahoma show on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026 at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. Following performances from opener(s) American Aquarium, Cody Jinks and Flatland Cavalry, headliners Cross Canadian Ragweed and Turnpike Troubadours performed to end the night. “It has been such a wild ride, the whole experience—It has been so immersive and so electric it’s been incredible,” she said.
Cody Canada sings on guitar with Cross Canadian Ragweed during The Boys From Oklahoma show on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026 at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. Following performances from opener(s) American Aquarium, Cody Jinks and Flatland Cavalry, headliners Cross Canadian Ragweed and Turnpike Troubadours performed to end the night.
The Turnpike Troubadours perform during The Boys From Oklahoma show on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026 at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. Following performances from opener(s) American Aquarium, Cody Jinks and Flatland Cavalry, headliners Cross Canadian Ragweed and Turnpike Troubadours performed to end the night.
Penmaking instructor and veteran Larry Wolterman turns pen blanks from a Bradford pear tree Friday at Nebraska Innovation Studio on the Nebraska Innovation Campus. “Everything outside of this pen disappears — it’s just me and the wood,” Wolterman said. The tree was one of three removed from Tavern on the Square in June.
A Chevrolet Traverse is trapped in floodwaters under the overpass on North 48th Street near Cornhusker Highway on Wednesday.
Lincoln Standing Bear student fans—including senior Braden Gorman (wearing orange)—greet their team after the win on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, as the Falcons and the Grizzlies face off for their mutual Class A debut at Seacrest Field in Lincoln. Lincoln Standing Bear beat Lincoln Northwest 42-6.
Columbus's Naomi Robertson (33) nearly collides with teammate Kyrstin Nickolite (29) as Nickolite catches a pop fly on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026, at Lincoln Standing Bear High School in Lincoln.
A 39-year-old Lincoln man went to prison this week for shooting at a teenage girl's home last year and a robbery at a Lincoln business nearly three months later.
The first thing signature reviewers do is identify a petition signer, and then they check their signature against the election commissioner's secure database of voter signatures.
Lincoln Transportation and Utilities announced portions of three road closures.
A friendship that began on the first day of first grade offers a reminder of what a new school year can bring.
Join community members and alumni at Park Middle School on Saturday to celebrate the school's 100th birthday.
Lincoln Police are investigating a stabbing early Sunday. Police spokesperson Erika Thomas said it happened at around 12:45 a.m. near the U-Stop at 110 W.
O Street.
A new bus driver with Lincoln Public Schools would earn $28.69 an hour under a proposed contract to be approved this month.
Technical support for the version of used by NU and the state colleges to manage budgets, procurement, human resources and other functions is being phased out.
On Sunday, the foundation announced a $1.6 million project to renovate its lobby and mezzanine space and convert existing indoor space to four more dedicated volleyball courts that can also be used for other purposes.
The Nebraska State Penitentiary saw two water line breaks late last week, prompting the state Department of Correctional Services to switch inmates to water bottles and portable toilets.
On May 22, 84-year-old Maxine Sundberg of Clarks was one of five people injured in a two-vehicle crash at North 48th and R streets in Lincoln.
An agreement between the city and LPS would add two police officers to the rotation of school resource officers. The SRO program would cost LPS about $901,000 for the year.
Lincoln police arrested a 37-year-old Lincoln man Monday night in connection to a stabbing early Sunday.
A lawsuit alleges a Lincoln driver’s negligence caused the death of a 25-year-old Crete man who was struck while crossing a street.
Since the Safe Routes to School initiative launched in 2020, Lincoln has completed 33 safety improvement projects at public and private schools around the city.
Contractors working to repair water line breaks at the Nebraska State Penitentiary struck a gas line near a housing unit Monday night, prompting the evacuation of approximately 300 inmates.
Lincoln voters will decide Nov. 3 whether N4VB can use turnback tax revenue to help build a $17 million volleyball complex.
The Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after a 23-year-old Lincoln man died by suicide after fleeing from Lincoln police officers on Tuesday night.
Water has been restored at the Nebraska State Penitentiary, the state Department of Correctional Services said on Wednesday.
"It's ultimately, I think, a novel issue that this court is going to have to decide," Principal Deputy Solicitor General Zachary Pohlman said.
For three weekends, the Lincoln Community Playhouse will present the popular musical, “Dear Evan Hansen.”
A 27-year-old Arizona man was arrested near Lincoln after a trooper located approximately 70 pounds of methamphetamine in his truck.
The judge found that to succeed in a facial challenge they would have to show that no set of circumstances exists under which the act would be valid.
Last week, the a cappella quintet announced they will make a stop at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Nov. 12 during their “Christmas in the City Tour.”
The citizen-led ballot initiative would have required the city of Lincoln to hire at least 450 police officers, with two years to hit that threshold.
The 47-year-old Lincoln man was on parole and on electronic monitoring at the time of the crimes.
County attorney candidate Randy Ritnour is calling for an independent prosecutor to oversee charging decisions in the Good Government Lincoln petition investigation.
Aging Partners is warning seniors to be on the lookout for scammers.
Nebraska's Director of Medicaid and Long-Term Care Drew Gonshorowski has resigned from his role to pursue opportunities on the East Coast while being closer to family, Gov. Jim Pillen announced.
Lincoln is capping data center expansion to protect local water and energy supplies for future neighborhood and business growth.
A 41-year-old woman who was possibly abducted on Thursday afternoon was located at a north Lincoln motel.
A quick stop at a Lincoln convenience store paid off handsomely for a Nebraska Pick 5 player on Thursday.
On Saturday, local celebrities and first responders will play ball ahead of the Lincoln Saltdogs game.
Thousands of new and returning students will head back to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln beginning Sunday for Move-In 2026.
Lancaster County Court Judge Matt Acton dismissed the Amherst man's disturbing the peace charge Thursday, automatically sealing the case.
To access the improved signal, viewers are asked to rescan their televisions using the remote that was provided with their set, Nebraska Public Media said in a Thursday news release.
Two Lincoln families have filed what’s believed to be a first-of-its-kind-in-the-nation lawsuit accusing the state’s K-12 education system of violating their free-speech rights by only funding their children’s schooling if they accept “the government’s educational viewpoint.”
Cass County approved a 12-month moratorium on data center development this week, joining a slew of other Nebraska counties that have already hit pause.
Nebraska’s share of the settlement with NewRez amounts to more than $59,300, the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance announced in a Friday news release.
Nebraska missed its tax forecast for a fifth straight month. July’s miss was tiny — $400,000 — but the state’s budget problem is anything but.
A routine security check at the Hastings YRTC led to a staff member’s suspension and an investigation, HHS said Friday.
City leaders look to 1st Congressional District Rep. Mike Flood to secure federal funding to help replace Lincoln Police Department radio system and equipment nearing its "end of life."
NeighborWorks bought the property in the fall of 2023 and wants to build on it 18 affordable homes for first-time homebuyers and two additional homes.
A Lincoln man has pleaded no contest to motor vehicle homicide in connection to a crash last November that killed an Omaha woman crossing North 48th Street on foot.
Lancaster County District Judge Darla Ideus, who was assigned to hear both of the cases, set a joint hearing Wednesday and issued temporary injunctions set to expire Aug. 20.
From a Hickman mansion to a huge home with an indoor pool and private pond access, here are the five Lincoln-area homes that had the highest sale prices in July.
Sonic is rebuilding, a new pizza place emerges and a local favorite is coming to York. Here’s a roundup of Lincoln business news this week.
While advocates raise concerns about Nebraska's unregulated school seclusion rooms, many others argue they are essential safety tools that help escalated students calm down without injury.
After the expansion, Monolith is expected to grow its employee ranks to 150 people, and Hallam residents will be prioritized, the company said.
Thousands of new and returning students will head back to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln beginning Sunday for Move-In 2026.
Westbound lanes of Old Cheney Road between South 27th Street and the Knolls remain closed Monday while Lincoln Transportation and Utilities crews repair a water main.
"Put very simply, the Republican Party is not another name for the America First Party. The America First Party is not another name for the Republican Party," Jason Grams said.
The Gathering Place currently provides free, hot and nutritious meals seven days per week from 5-6 p.m. to anyone who needs a meal — no questions asked.
Organizers behind petitions to legalize online sports betting are confident they have enough valid signatures to make the ballot despite Lancaster County's top election official saying some are potentially fraudulent.
Two closely watched budget measures failed 4-3 Monday, leaving Meadowlane Pool and a low-income tax assistance program without proposed city funding.
Zachariah Pierson was arrested on suspicion of first-degree assault and use of a deadly weapon.
Nolan Lemna is using a grant from the Nebraska Environmental Trust to support local farmers and food pantries.
A Lincoln judge Tuesday ordered the suspect in the killing of a couple and their unborn child to be moved to the Lincoln Regional Center.
Most of Lincoln Public Schools' open positions are for paraeducators and transportation workers, and district employees say strong hiring this spring left the district with no teacher vacancies.
After thousands of signatures submitted to amend Lincoln’s city charter were flagged for potential fraud, Good Government Lincoln is confident it will have the signatures needed to make the ballot.
Joseph Pate threw baggies of blue pills as he fled law enforcement going over 110 mph down I-80. They found 8,600 pills in the roadway, shoulder and median.
The Lancaster County Attorney’s Office charged the 13-year-old Lincoln boy with two counts of robbery and use of a deadly weapon.
Tristen Geier-Pickering was last seen in the area of 14th and South streets around 1:30 p.m. Spokesperson Erika Thomas said police have concerns for his personal safety.
Lancaster County Chief Deputy Sheriff Ben Houchin on Wednesday announced his office's petition fraud investigation has expanded to the Fairness for Girls and Respect Nebraska Voters petitions.
Lancaster County’s stagnant wages and high prices have made its homes the least affordable in the state.
Project funding includes low-income housing tax credits from the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority, private investment and $850,000 in tax-increment financing that the City Council is set to formally approve Monday.
Good Government Lincoln turned in more than 27,000 additional signatures Wednesday as its three charter amendments face a tight timeline to reach the November ballot.
Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen announced Tuesday the appointment of 17 members to a newly created task force to study the environmental impacts of data centers.
UNMC cut the ribbon on a new urgent care dental clinic at its East Campus location and announced its plans to offer extended hours and slots beginning this fall.
The U.S. Board on Geographic Names, which is responsible for designating the names of geographic features, approved an application to name the stream for the naturalist.
As the Trump administration works to eliminate regulations for Head Start programs across the country, some Lincoln advocates worry that the move will harm the city's poorest children and families.
The city is able to launch a climate project microgrant program thanks to a $50,000 grant from former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's philanthropic organization.
A 55-year-old bicyclist remains in critical condition following a Wednesday night collision with a car in south Lincoln, police say.
"Forgiving is the right thing to do. But I can't find it in my heart to forgive anyone that had anything to do with his murder," Terrell Jones' aunt said.
Bible did not change. Politics did.
Sen. Jana Hughes of Seward said the idea for the monument came after Cameron and his caretaker moved away.
Lincoln business leaders discussed AI use at a panel hosted by the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday.
A look at events in the Lincoln community.
Nebraska's all-Republican federal delegation slammed President Trump's decision to exempt 300,000 metric tons of imported ground beef from tariffs for three months in an effort to lower prices.
Opal needed a canine companion. Taco needed a home. Nebraska No Kill brought them together — and their foster decided they both belonged.
"There is still more work to do, but today’s settlement brings the state one step closer to ridding itself of these dangerous and harmful products," Attorney General Mike Hilgers said.
After Waverly voters rejected a $64 million bond in May, School District 145 is looking at potentially spending millions on projects related to HVAC repairs and safety vestibules.
The Nebraska Secretary of State's office announced Friday two petitions to legalize online sports betting in the state have met the signature thresholds required to appear on the November ballot.
Das Haus, near 17th and O streets, will reopen next Thursday.
U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer said Senate Agriculture Committee Democrats shouldn't be playing hardball on the 2026 Farm Bill with time running out to get the bill passed before Sept. 30.
Election Commissioner Todd Wiltgen had a plan for this petition verification season, but suspected fraud derailed it.
A new bar is coming to downtown, healthy drinks being made and a way to customize your business. Here’s a roundup of Lincoln business news this week.
From guitars to bowls to pens, woodworkers in Lincoln have found plenty of uses for the felled trees from the Tavern on the Square's courtyard.
Lincoln’s third annual overdose awareness event will offer Narcan training and a candlelight vigil Thursday at the CenterPointe WellBeing Garden.
An audit found providers billing for more than 24 hours a day and for more hours than participants were authorized to receive.
"Nebraska has made national headlines for all the shenanigans that are going on its elections this season," Nebraska Solicitor General Cody Barnett said.
A Lincoln Police Department captain was suspended after allegedly leaving her 2-year-old child in a van over the weekend.
Lincoln’s City Council term limits petition has enough valid signatures, but another hurdle remains before it can appear on the Nov. 3 ballot.
Lincoln’s new two-year budget keeps the property tax rate unchanged while increasing spending and adding 89 city employees.
The art is planned at North 48th Street's intersections with Madison, Saint Paul and Baldwin avenues — four colorful crosswalks per intersection, 12 in total.
The objection alleges that the Respect Nebraska Voters petition violates Nebraska’s constitution, which requires ballot measures to be limited to a single subject.
The Lincoln Arts Council has come a long way in the last two years on the backs of just two people: Executive director Robert Goldberg and associate director Amanda Hein.
Police are investigating a reported arson after a man entered a woman’s apartment in the Highlands and set her blanket on fire over the weekend.
Investigators are currently working to determine her cause of death, and her name is being withheld until family members are notified.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has delivered more than 135,000 books to Lincoln children. The local nonprofit behind the program says her legacy will continue.
Though the school district plans to lower its tax levy by a cent, LPS will still have to participate in the annual pink postcard hearing with valuations increasing.
Google’s Lincoln data center could bring up to 202 megawatts of solar energy into the regional power pool under a new 20-year agreement with LES.
Taylor Bradley will remain at the Lincoln Regional Center after a judge found she remains dangerous to herself or others.
Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen announced he is sticking with Lt. Gov. Joe Kelly as his running mate for his gubernatorial reelection bid.
If you are holding the winning ticket, you have 180 days to claim your winnings.
A 28-year-old Lincoln man remains in life-threatening condition after a collision in southeast Lincoln on Saturday afternoon.
LFR was called to the fire at 2229 S. Eighth St. just before 10:50 a.m.
A petition to align Lincoln elections with state and federal elections has enough valid signatures to qualify for the ballot.
Meta has agreed to implement a sweeping set of safety features designed to protect children on Instagram and Facebook.
The city of Lincoln is expected to provide some clarity Thursday on whether it's going to skirt typical procedure to allow Good Government Lincoln's petitions on the November ballot.
Soon after the Wednesday afternoon decision, Secretary of State Bob Evnen's office said the America First Party and the Working People Party both had been certified.
"He sexually assaulted a child, and he traumatized her. The truth is he is dangerous," the prosecutor said.
The America First Party will announce its statewide candidates within the next several days after the Nebraska Supreme Court affirmed a lower court's ruling, allowing the party to be certified.
A 27-year-old woman died after a camper caught fire in southwest Lincoln on Wednesday morning, according to police.
Around 8:30 a.m. Thursday, the Lincoln Police Department received a report about a body found in a field near the area of First and M streets.
Lancaster County could join a growing list of Nebraska counties considering a moratorium on data center construction.
A middle school student was found in possession of a handgun on Thursday at York Public Schools, police say.
A five-year $10 million federal grant awarded to the Nebraska Children and Families Foundation will expand an existing early literacy program to rural communities across the state.
A 24-year-old Omaha man was arrested near Seward after allegedly stealing a delivery van, according to the Nebraska State Patrol.
DAME, near Nebraska Wesleyan University, will be shutting down Sept. 26, it announced in a Thursday Facebook post.
"Just as I helped the community, I also know that I didn't help the community in other ways, and I'm sorry for that," Kenneth Ruben Jr. said.
A Lincoln man caught trying to get nude photos from a 14-year-old girl while awaiting sentencing for similar conduct has been sentenced to more than 20 years in federal prison.
Lincoln City Attorney Yohance Christie said Thursday that Good Government Lincoln's election-related petitions will go on the May 2027 ballot.
A 36-year-old Lincoln man on parole has been charged with burglary for allegedly breaking into a bar in Kramer and stealing an ATM in June.
On Friday, Capt. Ben Miller said Amber Spencer had been taken to a hospital with severe burns, from which she later died.
The Lincoln Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Unit shared more information on Friday regarding the 67-year-old man who was found dead in a field in west Lincoln.
The speech will highlight areas of progress and achievement across NU's campuses in Lincoln, Omaha, and Kearney and offer insights on the challenges and opportunities facing the university system.
A petition to let people living outside but near Lincoln vote in city elections has enough valid signatures to qualify for the ballot.
A 25-year-old Lincoln man has been cited for allegedly driving under the influence and crashing into a house Friday morning, police say.
"In sum, under the plain language of Nebraska State Statute 32-623, a political party has the discretion to fill a vacancy after a candidate declines their nomination," the judge ruled.
The Northeast Senior Center will be closed Monday and Tuesday after a car hit the building.
The Nebraska secretary of state office announced Friday a petition aimed at restricting transgender participation in youth sports has met the signature threshold required to appear on the November ballot.
Just after 11:15 a.m. Friday, officers with the Lincoln Police Department were sent to the area of Seventh and G streets regarding a man with a knife.
Garner Industries has been court ordered to pay more than $300,000 in a lawsuit over repairs to the roof in 2021 damaged in a storm.
A Nebraska Supreme Court justice ordered Lincoln officials to certify three charter amendments or explain by 9 p.m. Monday why they shouldn’t.
Craving a McRib? You can basically have the same thing at Memorial Stadium this fall.
Author Chet Hardin spent more than 100 hours interviewing Aubrey Trail and Bailey Boswell. His new book explores their world and the murder of Sydney Loofe.
Lancaster County Court Judge Matt Acton sentenced Toshihiko Asahi, 59, to 90 days jail starting Sept. 3 and a $1,000 fine.
"To put it bluntly, this is just one of the worst crimes a person can commit," the prosecutor said. "And Mr. Koder did it on multiple occasions."
As the Trump administration works to eliminate regulations for Head Start programs across the country, some Lincoln advocates worry that the move will harm the city's poorest children and families.
District Judge Matthew Mellor said: "This was a very violent, deliberate act."
On Tuesday, HHS said Alvarez & Marshal Public Sector Services will review the interRAI assessment used to allocate resources to those enrolled in home- and community-based services
The Nebraska State Patrol is taking the Huskers game day ball on a tour across the state to promote safe driving ahead of the season opener against Ohio.
