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The Nebraska State Patrol had another busy year. Nebraska Public Media’s Dale Johnson recently asked Patrol Superintendent, Colonel John Bolduc to characterize 2024.

A new law giving people more control over their personal information online took effect in Nebraska Wednesday. The Nebraska Data Privacy Act allows consumers to access, correct or delete the data companies collect about them. It also enables Nebraskans to opt out of their data being sold to other companies or third parties. Consumers can download a universal opt out mechanism on their web browser, which automatically sends a signal to every website that they don’t want their data being sold.

Minden, Nebraska has been known as the Christmas City ever since Santa Claus himself made the declaration in 1923. The Kearney County Courthouse’s bright red and green lights can be seen from miles away and the community’s annual Light of the World Pageant brings visitors from across the region. “People really gasp when they see those lights," said Jack Hultquist, a longtime Minden resident. Now, the community is looking for ways to keep its traditions going for the next 100 years.

Keegan Smutz and his bridge maintenance crew help cut, deliver and decorate the Durham’s annual Christmas tree. Smutz has helped bring Christmas to Omaha for 10 years now.

Ridership on Amtrak in Nebraska has doubled in the past two years. According to data from the passenger rail carrier, ticket sales broke records nationwide in Fiscal Year 2024. The California Zephyr, the cross-country line serving Nebraska, makes makes one eastbound and one westbound stop at five stations. It’s a historic route traveling between Chicago and the San Francisco area. According to Amtrak’s annual report released this month, over 350,000 people used that line. That’s an increase of a 6.9 percent over the previous year.

Governor Jim Pillen announced the winners of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development grants Friday. Each of the grants were worth two hundred thousand dollars. The Southeast Nebraska Development District received funds to inventory the region’s water and wastewater infrastructure. The SPARK Developer Academy in Omaha and Central Nebraska Development District each won grants aimed at solving the affordable housing crisis. The grants are part of the 6 Regions, One Nebraska initiative, which launched earlier this year. The initiative was created to fund economic development projects in each of the state’s six community college districts.

As the 2024 Nebraska Teacher of the Year, Scott Phillips traveled the state and country sharing his experiences as an educator. But those events are winding down as his time in the role comes to a close.

Nebraska faces a projected budget shortfall, which has senators downplaying expections for the upcoming legislative session.

A volunteer snow removal program in Lincoln is heading into its thirteenth winter season. The Snow Angels program connects volunteers with older adults and individuals with disabilities who are unable to clear their own sidewalks and driveways. Lincoln City Ordinance requires people to clear snow and ice from sidewalks by 9 a.m. the day after a snowstorm. Anyone interested in volunteering can sign up on the Lincoln City website.

Howard Hawks was more than a businessman and community leader. One woman shares his personal impact on her life.

One of the first “big picture” challenges facing Nebraska Public Media’s new general manager and CEO is a possibility the Trump administration will defund public media. In a recent conversation with Stacey Decker, Nebraska Public Media's Dale Johnson asked how seriously corporate executives are taking Trump’s threats.

Through reporting in Iowa, Nebraska and other states, The Midwest Newsroom has found a pattern of rural school districts relying on nonprofit organizations and community members to provide support and services where federal funding fails to meet needs.

Nebraska and Penn State are competing in the NCAA Volleyball Final Four Thursday night. The Huskers are looking to flip the script against the Nittany Lions.

The U.S. Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 Wednesday. The bill includes a pay raise for military members and allocates additional funds for projects at Offutt Air Force Base. The legislation also bans using defense funds on gender-affirming care for children of service members. Nebraska Senators Pete Ricketts and Deb Fischer voted in favor of the bill, which now goes to President Joe Biden’s desk.

Gov. Jim Pillen discussed his proposal to ban the sale of lab-produced meat in Nebraska grocery stores.

Nebraska’s five electoral votes were officially cast this/Tuesday afternoon at the state capitol. Republican electors cast four votes for President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance, while Democrat Peg Lippert, who represented Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, cast her ballot for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. Nebraska was one of two states, along with Maine, to split its electoral votes between two candidates in 2024.

The December holidays have wrapped up, which means those Christmas trees have done their jobs. Here’s what one organization is doing to make sure the retired evergreens go to the right place.

Many Midwest states and outdoor organizations are now trying to reach groups that haven’t historically participated in hunting — including women. But while women make up about a third of new hunters, many face barriers to break into and continue with the sport.

Nebraska Department of Education officials encourage school districts to employ what’s called the inclusion method for students with disabilities. In theory, it would address teacher shortages and benefit students in the long run. But this method works only when all the supports are there.

Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers filed a lawsuit Monday against Change Healthcare due to a data breach in February that impacted more than 500,000 Nebraskans. The state alleges the healthcare company violated Nebraska’s consumer protection and data security laws because of its weak security measures and delay in notifying customers about the breach. Nebraska is the first state to take action against the Tennessee-based company, but Hilgers says he expects other states to follow suit.