Humanities Desk | NET Radio

The stretch of 14th street between O and P streets is now Boehmer Street, after the former owner and talent promoter at Lincoln's Zoo Bar, Larry Boehmer.

Omaha's Heartland Pride event begins today. With recent scrutiny of D-E-I programs, as well as companies distancing themselves from Pride Month, Nebraska Public Media's Arthur Jones spoke to Heartland Pride's Vice President Samual Parnell about what this year will look like.

Congressman Don Bacon introduced legislation Thursday that would increase criminal penalties for anyone convicted of killing or conspiring to kill public safety officers. The so-called ‘Back the Blue Act' would also create mandatory minimums for assaulting a federally funded law enforcement officer, which could include a firefighter, chaplain, federal judge or rescue squad member. If a death occurs, there is a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years. Attempting to flee to avoid prosecution carries a minimum of 10 years.

The last fluent speaker for the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska died in 2006. An Oklahoma tribe helped organize the first digital Ponca dictionary, which is also available in physical copies.

Soda and energy drinks would no longer be eligible for purchase through the Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program in Nebraska under proposed regulations from the state's Department of Health and Human Services. At a hearing Tuesday, advocates said the restrictions could hurt grocery stores and stigmatize Nebraskans who use SNAP. “Implementing the SNAP restriction waiver will lead to fewer food retailers accepting SNAP, thereby causing a significant number of Nebraskan families, including those with children, veterans, people with disabilities and the elderly, to face even greater barriers when trying to put food on the table,” said Madison Castor with Nebraska Appleseed.

Nebraska lawmakers overcame a significant shortfall through the passage of this year's budget, but more fiscal trouble may be on the horizon. On the final day of this year's legislative session in June, Speaker John Arch made a prediction on the focus of the legislature's return in 2026. “I will predict that our biggest challenge next year will be our budget,” he said. “Once again, we sent a balanced budget to the governor, but we always face mid-biennium budget adjustments, and next year will be no different. And in fact, could be more challenging” So how did Nebraska get into this situation in the first place?

The nearly 6,000 mechanical amusement devices in Nebraska are now taxed at five percent of their net operating revenue, thanks to a law passed last April. These devices are found in gas stations, cafes and social halls and are used for contests of skill, unlike keno or bingo. Fraternal organizations are exempt from the tax.

Governor Jim Pillen has signed the commission's emergency regulations, which prohibit dispensaries from selling whole-plant cannabis and products that are vaped or smoked. The rules also cap the number of dispensaries at one in each of the state's 12 district court judicial districts. The emergency regulations will be in effect for the next 90 days, after which they can be amended or put into law.

In the month of May alone, the casino contributed more than one million dollars to the state's Property Tax Credit Cash Fund. Thanks in part to a new expansion in April, WarHorse has already generated more revenue at its south Omaha location in the first five months of 2025 than it did throughout all of last year. Across the state, revenues have grown steadily at other casinos in Lincoln, Grand Island, and Columbus with new locations on the horizon in other cities. Lance Morgan, the CEO of WarHorse Gaming, doesn't see the growth of the industry slowing down any time soon.

Lancaster County District Court Judge Susan Strong dismissed a lawsuit Thursday alleging that the state's medical cannabis program violates state and federal law. The case was brought by former State Sen. John Kuehn, who claimed laws allowing any form of marijuana are unconstitutional because the substance remains illegal at the federal level. Kuehn argued his status as a Nebraska taxpayer gives him the right to sue the state over its “illegal expenditure of taxpayer money.” Strong disagreed, saying that “the Court does not believe that the incidental burdens of implementing a law, like employee time and printing costs, is an ‘expenditure of public funds' sufficient to confer taxpayer standing under Nebraska law.”

The commission voted unanimously to approve emergency regulations on medical cannabis to meet its deadline of July 1st in the initiative approved by voters last November. The regulations allow only one dispensary in each of the state's 12 district court judicial districts and prohibit raw plant material or any product that is smoked or vaped. The regulations did not include details about who counts as a qualified patient to receive medical cannabis.

State Sen. John Cavanaugh kicked off his bid to become the next congressman for Nebraska's Second District Tuesday night. In a speech to several hundred supporters gathered at Omaha's Firefighters Union Hall, Cavanaugh vowed to stand up to President Donald Trump and work to protect Medicaid, social security and public lands.

Bur oak trees are some of the most common native Nebraska trees that shade many city parks and congregate in the state's eastern deciduous forests. They're hardy trees, known to withstand a range of stresses, including Nebraska's harshest weather. But they're dying en masse due to years of devastating drought.

Nebraska Congressman Don Bacon says he supports President Donald Trump's attack on Iran and believes the President does not intend to start a long-term war with the country. Monday afternoon, Bacon said people tend to overestimate Iran's capabilities but underestimate the country's intentions for the West. He said America's military is in a strong position to respond to retaliation.

Frank Lloyd Wright is the most widely known architect in the world. The only structure he designed in Nebraska is the Sutton “Prairie School” house in McCook, built in 1905. David Wendell, of Holdrege, has a sizable collection of Wright artifacts on display for a “first of its kind” exhibit at Pioneer Village in Minden. Nebraska Public Media's Dale Johnson caught up with Wendell at our studios in Lincoln.

The Great American Comedy Festival, celebrating Johnny Carson's Legacy in Norfolk returned for its 16th year.

Planned Parenthood Advocates' annual state gathering in Sarpy County was postponed out of an abundance of caution for staff, supporters and community, according to the group's website. State Sen. Ashlei Spivey, an abortion rights advocate in the Nebraska Legislature, was scheduled to be the event's keynote speaker. She says the news coming out of Minnesota this week was terrifying.

A gasoline blend with 15 percent ethanol offers a cheaper option at the pump and a steady market for Nebraska's corn producers. For some members of Nebraska's federal delegation, allowing its sale year-round is a legislative priority, while others say ethanol expansion comes with negative environmental and economic impacts.

Nebraska's Secretary of State Bob Evnen announced today/Friday that he is running for his third term in office. The Republican was first elected in 2018 and oversaw the implementation of the state's voter ID law. He said that under his leadership, no state has had more secure or accurate elections than Nebraska.

The Omaha Arts Fair is making its debut this weekend. This is following the Omaha Arts Festival stopping after 50 years of operation last year.

State Auditor Mike Foley has issued audit letters to eight local government units in the past six weeks highlighting alleged financial malpractice. The offenses include a Nemaha County commissioner using a county gas pump to fill his personal vehicle, a Custer County employee who recorded work hours while at her children's school events and Pleasanton village employees who used their 11% rebates from village expenses at Menards for personal purchases. Foley says he didn't remember there being so many cases during his previous term as auditor between 2007 and 2015.

The Nebraska chapter of the nation's oldest Latino advocacy group is closing its doors for now.

A proposal banning certain forms of hemp and so-called synthetic cannabis was passed over Friday before a vote could be taken. The bill's sponsor, Sen. Kathleen Kauth, made the decision after it appeared there would not be the votes necessary to overcome a filibuster attempt. Progressives filed motions to stop an amendment clarifying that the bill wouldn't supersede the medical marijuana initiatives Nebraskans passed in November from being added to the bill. Sen. Ben Hansen, who voted for the bill on the first two rounds, said without the amendment, he couldn't support it moving forward.

A bill restricting some consumable hemp products in Nebraska advanced to the final round of debate in the Legislature Tuesday Afternoon. Under a bill from Sen. Kathleen Kauth, LB316, some consumable hemp products would be reclassified as marijuana, which is currently illegal for recreational use in the state. To remain legal, THC – the chemical responsible for making a user high – must make up less than 0.3% of the processed hemp product's total weight with a limit of 10 total milligrams of THC per package.

The Legislature's General Affairs Committee heard testimony from Lorelle Mueting and Dr. Monica Oldenburg, who were both selected by the governor from a pool of applicants. Mueting serves as a prevention program director at Heartland Family Service, while Oldenburg is an anesthesiologist who previously practiced in Colorado. Both have a history of opposition to medical marijuana legalization.

This Mental Health Awareness month, the Lincoln Police Department is celebrating a successful start to its co-responder program -- a team-up with mental health professionals that could decrease the use of jails and emergency medical services. Lincoln announced plans for the co-responder program in September, with a partnership between LPD and CenterPointe, a mental health and substance abuse care clinic that conducts street outreach and crisis response. It began in early March.

State senators considered a package of education bills Wednesday afternoon. By the end of the day's debate, only the underlying bill, LB306, remained. The legislation initially contained six different bills after an amendment, AM1335, from the Legislature's Education Committee combined them. The section of the bill from Sen. Loren Lippincott, originally LB550, which would excuse students from public schools to attend religion classes, was among the most controversial. It would require school districts to adopt policies allowing students to miss up to one class period per week for an off-site course in religious instruction.

A house near the intersection of Center Street and 35th Street, sits a house that, unknown to many, was built for a very specific purpose: to create magic. With the recent purchase of the house by the Omaha Magical Society, plans have been laid to preserve and unearth the rich history of the Abbott house.

A house near the intersection of Center Street and 35th Street, sits a house that, unknown to many, was built for a very specific purpose: to create magic. With the recent purchase of the house by the Omaha Magical Society, plans have been laid to preserve and unearth the rich history of the Abbott house.

Medical marijuana will not be regulated by the Nebraska Legislature this year after a bill failed to overcome a filibuster Tuesday evening. Nebraska voters overwhelmingly approved two ballot initiatives legalizing and regulating medical marijuana last fall. However, the drug remains inaccessible in the state. The Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission is tasked with drafting regulations and the group is unlikely to begin licensing dispensaries until October at the earliest.

Currently, Nebraska law prohibits anyone with three or more drug-related felony charges or any drug distribution charge from accessing federal SNAP benefits. A bill from Sen. Victor Rountree would have removed those restrictions, as long as the beneficiaries had completed their sentences and participated in a substance abuse treatment program. The bill passed last week, but Gov. Jim Pillen vetoed it, leading to a vote to override Monday.

Lincoln is now home to more than 300 thousand people after gaining an estimated 38 hundred new residents between July 1st of 2023 and 2024. Omaha also gained around 2500 residents over that time, reversing several years of flat or negative growth. Among the ten largest cities in the state, none are growing as fast proportionally as Columbus, however. While many smaller cities across the state have struggled to keep up with the demand for housing, Columbus mayor Jim Bulkley says his city is expected to have 600 new housing units completed within the next two years.

Gov. Jim Pillen announced Friday he intends to provide administrative support and resources to the Medical Cannabis Commission. “With support from the Policy Research Office, the Department of Administrative Services, and other agencies, as necessary, the Medical Cannabis Commission is fully enabled to meet and carry out its responsibilities under the Patient Protection Act and the Regulation Act to meet its milestone dates of July 1 and October 1,” a press release from the Governor's Office said. The commission was created upon the passage of Initiative 438 by Nebraska voters in November 2024.

Hamilton's advanced load in arrived at the Orpheum Theater on Sunday, May 4th, while the show did its final performance in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Four days later, the show will begin for Nebraskans in Omaha. How does this happen? How does a crew of 70 move a whole stage production over 12 hours, and have it ready to run again within four days?

A bill from Sen. Victor Rountree would have allowed all individuals convicted of felonies to become eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program after completing their sentences. Currently, Nebraska allows those with two or fewer felonies for drug use and possession to receive benefits, but those with drug distribution felonies remain banned. Rountree's bill would have made around 1,000 new Nebraskans eligible. It passed the final round of debate Wednesday with 32 votes but was vetoed by Pillen soon afterward. Rountree said he wasn't surprised.

Sen. Kathleen Kauth's Stand with Women Act, LB89, made it through the second round of debate in the Nebraska Legislature Wednesday evening, but not before an amendment stripped it of a key provision. Sen. Kathleen Kauth's Stand with Women Act, LB89, made it through the second round of debate in the Nebraska Legislature Wednesday evening, but not before an amendment stripped it of a key provision. Sen. Merv Riepe was one of 33 senators to vote for the bill on the first round of debate, but he said he would only advance it further if changes were made. Those changes included removing a requirement for students at K-12 schools and universities to use bathrooms and locker rooms corresponding to their biological sex.

A proposal to reduce inheritance taxes and raise county fees came up two votes short of overcoming a filibuster attempt in the Nebraska Legislature Tuesday evening. Sen. Rob Clements' priority bill, LB468, as amended on the second round of debate, would have reduced the total amount of inheritance taxes Nebraska counties collect by around 24%, Clements said. Nebraska is one of five states with inheritance taxes and eliminating them altogether has been a longtime goal for Clements.

American Mariachi sets the stage for the Omaha Community Playhouse's first play consisting of an entirely Latino cast. The show made both local and national history by being the first rendition at a community playhouse.

Nebraska's horsemen are off to the races at Legacy Downs in Lincoln this Friday, the racetrack's first day of its live meet. They will host around 90 races in the next five weeks, helping keep Nebraskan horse owners, jockeys and caretakers in the state while generating more betting revenue.

This weekend marks the 105th year of the Cinco de Mayo celebration in South Omaha. Its growth for over a century has had both a community and economic impact on the area.

Lawmakers began their second day debating how best to make up for a significant shortfall in the state budget. In recent years, the state has been flush with cash, thanks to post-pandemic revenue growth and an influx of federal dollars, but this year's budgeting process has looked a little different. Sen. Myron Dorn, a member of the Legislature's Appropriations Committee serving his seventh year in the Unicameral, said most of the body lacks the institutional knowledge and experience that would be valuable.

State auditor Mike Foley says Nebraska is spending too much on leasing commercial office space. In a letter he sent to the Legislature's Performance Audit Committee Monday, Foley highlighted the 37% increase in the amount the state paid for commercially leased space over the last five years. He said the state should consider buying or building new properties to save money long term, since the cost per square foot is significantly cheaper at state-owned buildings.

Law professors at the University of Nebraska sent a letter to Nebraska's congressional delegation this week, citing concerns over what they say is the Trump administration's lack of respect for the rule of law. The letter reads in part, “We are concerned that the rule of law is in peril, and we urge you to be vigilant in its defense.” The letter cites the administration's revocation of student visas, the lack of due process for immigrants prior to deportation and the failure to comply with federal court rulings as evidence of its disregard for judicial authority.