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Omaha, Orlando and Anaheim are announced as host cities for the 2027 women's volleyball World Cup

Omaha, Orlando and Anaheim are announced as host cities for the 2027 women's volleyball World Cup

Three cities in the United States have been announced as sites for the 2027 women’s volleyball World Cup

Bellevue City Council Approves Additional Bonds, Increasing Water Park Funding to $110 Million

Bellevue City Council Approves Additional Bonds, Increasing Water Park Funding to $110 Million

The city of Bellevue, Nebraska, has increased the funding allocated for the Bellevue Bay indoor water park project to $110 million. This decision follows the Bellevue City Council's approval of additional bonds during a recent meeting. Previously, in 2024, the council had approved $60 million in bonds for the project. Harrison Johnson, Bellevue's director of economic and community development, attributed the need for further funding to inflation, stating that initial projections were based on pre-pandemic construction numbers. He noted that there has been considerable construction inflation since the project was first conceived, impacting costs for labor and materials, particularly concrete, which is tied to diesel and fuel prices. The Bellevue Bay water park is projected to open in 2027.

Senator Deb Fischer Advances Farm Bill, Secures Year-Round E15 Sale Provision

Senator Deb Fischer Advances Farm Bill, Secures Year-Round E15 Sale Provision

U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, successfully voted to advance the Farm Bill out of committee, with the legislation passing by a 12-11 vote. The bill includes several of Senator Fischer’s key priorities, most notably a provision allowing for the nationwide year-round sale of E15 gasoline. This provision, which Senator Fischer has championed for a decade, aims to remove the summertime restriction on E15 that has previously been extended through emergency waivers by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The legislation clarifies that consumers are not mandated to purchase E15, nor are gas stations required to install E15 pumps. Additionally, the Farm Bill incorporates other initiatives led or co-led by Senator Fischer, such as the PRECISE Act, PAL Act, LAST ACRE Act, Increasing Tribal Input on Nutrition Act, and the FENCE Act, alongside an amendment to prevent conservation program funds from benefiting foreign adversary companies.

Nebraska to Host Nation's Largest Single-Site Cattle Feedlot Amid Environmental and Community Concerns

Nebraska to Host Nation's Largest Single-Site Cattle Feedlot Amid Environmental and Community Concerns

Nebraska is set to become home to the largest single-site cattle feedlot in the United States, with Blackshirt Feeders, LP, planning to house 200,000 head of cattle in Dundy County. This development is part of a broader trend in the U.S. and globally towards industrial-scale animal confinement, often referred to as factory farming, where over 90% of animals consumed in the U.S. are raised in such conditions. The facility, which will cover nearly 700 acres, is projected to consume approximately 1.5 billion gallons of water annually and generate at least 4.4 billion pounds of manure. Local residents and environmental advocates have raised significant concerns regarding water usage, potential nitrate pollution, and the overall environmental impact. Despite local opposition and initial rejections, the Dundy County board ultimately approved the project, with Blackshirt Feeders subsequently expanding its proposed capacity. State regulators, including the EPA, have been criticized for a hands-off approach to regu...

Jon Kyl, influential conservative senator from Arizona, dead at 84

Jon Kyl, influential conservative senator from Arizona, dead at 84

Kyl served four terms in the House of Representatives, three terms in the Senate, and made a four-month Senate comeback after Sen. John McCain died.

Gretna Renews Policing Contract with Sarpy County Sheriff's Office for Three Years

Gretna Renews Policing Contract with Sarpy County Sheriff's Office for Three Years

The City of Gretna, Nebraska, has renewed its policing contract with the Sarpy County Sheriff's Office for an additional three years. This interlocal cooperation agreement, which extends through September 30, 2029, was approved during a recent city council meeting and will take effect on October 1st. Gretna has relied on the Sarpy County Sheriff's Office for policing services since disbanding its own police department in 1976. Sarpy County Sheriff Greg London stated that this arrangement has been successful for 50 years and offers significant cost savings for Gretna compared to establishing and operating its own police department, which he estimates would cost millions in startup expenses alone and would not provide the same range of secondary services.

Arizona Republic

Is Arizona actually happy? How it ranked in new study

Is Arizona actually happy? How it ranked in new study

A new report ranked U.S. states using metrics tied to emotional and physical well-being, work environment, financial security and community life.

California's Landmark Plastic Reduction Law Faces Dual Legal Challenges

California's Landmark Plastic Reduction Law Faces Dual Legal Challenges

California's Senate Bill 54 (SB 54), a significant law aimed at reducing single-use plastic waste, is currently facing two separate legal challenges. Enacted in 2022, SB 54 mandates reductions in plastic packaging and food service ware, alongside increased recycling and composting efforts. CalRecycle, the state agency responsible for overseeing recycling, characterizes SB 54 as the most substantial overhaul of California's plastics and packaging recycling policy in history. The law requires businesses to join a producer responsibility organization, submit complex data, pay eco-modulated fees, and meet aggressive recycling and source reduction benchmarks. The first lawsuit, filed by three environmental groups—the Natural Resources Defense Council, Californians Against Waste Foundation, and Oceana Inc.—alleges that CalRecycle's finalized regulations for SB 54 have weakened the law, creating loopholes that undermine its recycling and plastic reduction goals. They argue that the regulations include invalid exc...

Arizona Republic

A scammer could sell your property. Arizona has a tool to warn you

A scammer could sell your property. Arizona has a tool to warn you

The Arizona Department of Real Estate has launched a new alert system that contacts property owners if their homes or land are in escrow to sell.

Chad Baker-Mazara alleges Eric Musselman racist 'tirade,' unpaid NIL from USC in lawsuit

Chad Baker-Mazara alleges Eric Musselman racist 'tirade,' unpaid NIL from USC in lawsuit

Former Southern California men's basketball guard Chad Baker-Mazara has filed a lawsuit against his former team. Here's what to know.

Nebraska State Patrol Seizes $50 Million in Controlled Substances During Traffic Stop, Governor Pillen Praises Efforts

Nebraska State Patrol Seizes $50 Million in Controlled Substances During Traffic Stop, Governor Pillen Praises Efforts

The Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) recently confiscated approximately 20,000 pounds of controlled substances, valued at over $50 million, during a traffic stop on I-80 near Kozad. This significant drug bust, described by NSP Superintendent Col. Byran Waugh as the largest in the agency's history, involved 27 pallets of various controlled substances found in a semi-trailer. The discovery was made after a trooper detected the odor of marijuana during a motor vehicle inspection. Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen commended the NSP for their work, emphasizing the importance of removing such drugs from the streets to protect families and children. Attorney General Mike Hilgers also praised the NSP's vigilance and training, highlighting the collaboration with other state and federal agencies in combating drug trafficking. This incident is one of two successful traffic stops by the NSP within a ten-day period, with another leading to the recovery of alleged stolen professional speaker equipment valued at $250,000.

The Knoxville News-Sentinel

This is what Tennessee teachers love and hate about their jobs

This is what Tennessee teachers love and hate about their jobs

Nearly 6,000 educators were surveyed by the national K-12 news outlet last fall to understand how teachers are feeling. Here's what they said.