Top News Stories
Entertainment around town
A rundown of entertaining events in North Platte and Lincoln County, May 22-June 2:
Council debate: Charging fees for vacant properties

Debate on proposed city fees for vacant properties dominated the city council meeting Tuesday, where several citizens voiced their concerns.
Police raid suspected drug house, arrest four suspects
Four people have been arrested at a suspected drug house at 502 S. Cottonwood in North Platte, with two of them are charged with meth distribution.
Officials discuss failure of storm siren in Hershey
In a wild night for weather, severe thunderstorms, hail and a twister pounded the Sutherland-Hershey area on May 14, but the emergency warning siren in Hershey remained silent.
Music on the Bricks 11

About 200 music fans braved strong winds Friday for the opening night of Music on the Bricks, but around 1,000 turned out in the sunshine on Saturday during the 11th edition of the downtown festival.
Hard rain alleviates drought, a little
From 1-2 inches of welcome rain fell within an hour or so around 9 p.m. Sunday in much of west-central Nebraska, providing nourishment for grass pastures and a bit of relief from moderate-extreme drought conditions.
Community college prepares to buy Osgood school, property

Mid-Plains Community College has signed a purchase agreement to buy the former Osgood Elementary School building and its 4.83 acres of land for just under a half-million dollars.
City pushes for more activity at Pawnee hotel, trash comes out

Volumes of trash have been removed from North Platte’s Pawnee Hotel, which was left there by the occupants when the hotel closed as an assisted living residence in 2013.
State/Regional News
Gov. bans fake meat, restricts tech for kids
Gov. Jim Pillen signed bills Tuesday banning fake meat in the state, and also restricting technology from kids.
Gov. enacts new cryptocurrency requirements
Nebraska public power suppliers can impose requirements on cryptocurrency mining operations and data centers for the cost of infrastructure needed to serve them, under a bill sponsored by Sen. Mike Jacobson.
Measure to tax services, fund property tax relief falls to filibuster
A proposal to impose the 5.5% state sales and use tax on nearly two dozen currently exempt services stalled Tuesday because of a filibuster in the Nebraska legislature.
Scammers targeting seniors
“An 83-year-old Lincoln woman lost more than $14,000 in a text message scam known as ‘smishing,’ according to Lincoln Police.”
Class of 2025 graduates from Curtis Ag College
The Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis celebrated the graduation of the class of 2025, with 83 students receiving diplomas or certificates on May 8.
Soda, energy drinks to be eliminated as food stamp purchases
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has signed a first-in-the-nation waiver to amend the statutory definition of food for purchase for Nebraska’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
USDA Sec. Brooke Rollins announces small family farm policy
U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the administration's new Farmers First: Small Family Farms policy Monday in Nebraska.