The top race in Tuesday’s primary elections in Nebraska is a heavily contested Republican primary for governor. It features Donald Trump-endorsed Charles Herbster, who has been accused of groping multiple women.
Polls show the race too close to call between Herbster, University of Nebraska Regent Jim Pillen, and State Senator Brett Lindstrom. Almost a quarter of voters were undecided. There are nine GOP candidates in all.
The winner of the Republican primary will face the winner of the Democratic primary. State Senator Carol Blood of Bellevue is expected to easily beat Roy Harris of Linwood. Also on the ballot is Libertarian candidate and Omaha-area teacher Scott Zimmerman.
Voters in Nebraska will also be nominating candidates to replace a former congressman, Republican Jeff Fortenberry. He was convicted in March on charges he lied to federal authorities about an illegal campaign contribution he received from a Nigerian billionaire.
State officials are investigating a police shooting in northeastern Nebraska that police said occurred as an officer was being dragged by a car he had pulled over.
The Nebraska State Patrol says in a news release that the shooting happened Sunday afternoon following reports of a disturbance in a Neligh convenience store parking lot.
The patrol says a Neligh officer was making contact with a woman involved in the disturbance when she drove off, dragging the officer. The officer then fired his gun, hitting the woman before he fell from the vehicle. The patrol said a witness was able to force the woman's vehicle off the road. Both the officer and woman were taken to hospitals and are expected to survive.
The murder trial opens today in Webster City for the man accused of killing an Iowa State Patrol trooper in a standoff last year.
Forty-two-year-old Michael Lang is accused of shooting Sgt. Jim Smith in Lang’s Grundy Center home in a confrontation on April 9, 2021. Lang, who himself was shot several times after police used an armored vehicle to breach his residence, is charged with murder, attempted murder, and assaulting a police officer.
Smith was a 27-year member of the Iowa State Patrol at the time of his death last year. The trial was moved to Hamilton County in January on a change of venue due to extensive media coverage and public interest in the case.
Radio Iowa reports jury selection will begin today followed by opening statements from attorneys. Several witnesses will take the stand during the trial that will likely continue into next week.
Federal investigators confirmed that the buildup of ice on the wings and other parts of the plane was a key factor in a 2019 crash that killed nine of 12 members of an Idaho family on board an overloaded small plane. The National Transportation Safety Board said in its report on the November 30, 2019 crash near Chamberlain, South Dakota, that the single-engine plane didn’t even have enough seats for all the passengers aboard, and two people were likely seated in the aisles when it crashed shortly after takeoff. The report said the plane was about 100 pounds overweight. The crash killed nine members of the Hansen family from Idaho Falls, Idaho.
Iowa’s weather pattern is making a big shift this week, from cold and rainy to hot and humid, raising familiar concerns about drought.
The National Weather Service tells Radio Iowasome forecasts show improving conditions across the Missouri River basin in the months ahead.
While Iowa’s high temperatures last week were mainly in the 40s, 50s, and 60s, we’ll see temperatures into the 90s this week.
Forecasters had expected the La Nina weather pattern to fade away in the past few months, but that hasn’t happened.
The U.S. Drought Monitor map issued for Iowa late last week showed three counties in northwest Iowa in severe drought. They are Woodbury, Plymouth, and Monona.
Farmers in South Dakota says there’s a reason for optimism as they head out to their fields to plant crops this spring. Commodity markets are up 62% over the 10-year average.
Following the late-April rainstorms, the May 5th U.S. Drought Monitor data shows 69% of the state remains in drought conditions.
The Sioux City Community School district announced plans for this year’s graduation ceremonies. More than 900 students will be honored, on Saturday, May 28th, including the first graduating class of the VIBE Academy, the district’s virtual school that opened in the fall of last year.
News release from the Sioux City Community School District:
Sioux City community high schools to hold May 28 graduation ceremonies
Sioux City, Iowa –Each Sioux City Community School District high school will hold a graduation ceremony on Saturday, May 28 at the Tyson Events Center.
Ceremonies will be held at the following times:
- North High School: 11 am
- West High School and VIBE Academy: 2:30 pm
- East High School: 6 pm
Doors will open to the public open hour before each ceremony. During each ceremony, a professional photographer will take a portrait photo of each graduate, which will be available for graduates and families to purchase.
All guests attending the graduation ceremonies will be required to pass through the Tyson Events Center metal detectors upon entry into the ceremonies. In accordance with Tyson Events Center guidelines, and out of respect to all graduates and guests, the following items are not permitted at graduation ceremonies:
- Silly string
- Cowbells
- Air horns
- Large bags / backpacks, coolers or boxes
- Bottles, cans, glass containers, liquid containers or other projectiles
- Any food product, coolers or backpacks
- Laser devices
- Projectiles
- Skates, skateboards, Heelies or scooters
- Strollers
- Alcohol or illegal drugs
- Tobacco of any kind
- Animals, other than service animals
- Signs/posters
- Any item or action deemed to challenge public safety
- No Weapons of any kind, including Lawful Concealable Firearms
- Any other item deemed unacceptable by Tyson Events Center Management or the Event Producer
This year, over 900 graduates will be recognized during the graduation ceremonies. The first graduating class of VIBE Academy will be recognized during this year’s ceremonies. The District’s virtual school opened its doors in the fall of 2021.
Names of all high school graduates will be released in the coming weeks.
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About Sioux City Community School District:
The Sioux City Community School District exists to educate students to believe in their talents and skills, achieve academic excellence, and succeed in reaching their potential. Students of the Sioux City Community School District experience boundless opportunities at every grade level; that is because SCCSD teachers guide every child to discover a love for learning. Serving over 14,500 students annually, the District ensures our students develop the critical-thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills needed to be successful now and into the future. For more information, visit siouxcityschools.org.