Humanities Desk | Net Radio

The Nebraska Public Power District agreed to pay $2.5 Million to the family of Kenny Angel. He died when Spencer Dam on the Niobrara River collapsed and flooded the family's property in March 2019. In their lawsuit, filed in Holt County District Court, the family blamed his death on the negligence of NPPD and the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources in failing to maintain the 93-year-old structure and failing to warn the public about the risk the dam posed the community.

In 2017, University of Nebraska Lincoln Political Science Professor Kevin Smith co-authored a study that asked a random sample of 800 people whether politics was a significant stressor in their lives. Categories covered physical health, mental health, regretted behavior, and social and lifestyle costs. For about 40% of respondents, the answer was yes. Last year, Smith issued the survey again to a different group of people, two weeks before and two weeks after the 2020 election, to see how things have changed. And he found, for the most part, people are as stressed out as ever about politics. Professor Smith joins me now to talk more about the study.

Nebraska hospitals are feeling the brunt of omicron right now, and the situation may look grim even after the state’s peak. "We're still in for a long haul here in terms of caring for Nebraskans in our hospitals," said Jeremy Nordquist, the president of the Nebraska Hospital Association. COVID hospitalizations tend to lag behind the cases. Whenever cases start to slow down, hospitals will remain busier in the weeks after.

Irvin Joseph Brown, 89, doesn’t have any known relatives or family. He was deployed in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and the Philippines. Later in life, he worked as a postman for 15 years before retiring in 1987.

100-year Questions Still Simmer Around Proposed Perkins Co. Canal

The 7-day average of 4,400 has never been higher at any point of the pandemic as omicron continues it’s spread. According to CDC data, cases are up 108% in the last two weeks. As the latest variant arrived in Nebraska later than more populous areas of the country, it will take longer for Nebraska to reach its peak level of spread.

The Grand Theatre in Downtown Lincoln will run two shows in theatres reserved for people who have been vaccinated. Showing a vaccination card and a photo I.D. will be required to enter.

The new report by state epidemiologist Matt Donahue and his team also concluded that boosted Nebraskans were 46 times less likely to be hospitalized compared to those unvaccinated. Those fully vaccinated – without a booster – were 11 times less likely to find themselves in a packed medical center.

Anthony's Steakhouse in Omaha is closing its doors, marking another tally for the steakhouses in the city that have shuttered.

The latest COVID data shows a slight dip in Nebraska cases and hospitalizations, but that doesn’t mean Nebraska has seen its peak quite yet. As of last Friday, the statewide 7-day average still stands at nearly 3,400 cases per day, according to the CDC. That’s down from a high of nearly 4,000 a day earlier.The state’s dashboard shows that, over the weekend, hospitalizations dropped by 32, to just above 640. And, across the state, hospital capacity remains between 20 and 30% free.

Small towns far from big cities rely upon federal grants to help them, but numerous definitions of what the government considers rural make that complicated.

The Bigfoot Crossroads of America Museum and Research Center in Hastings will be featured in the U.S. Library of Congress Archives.

Nationwide, COVID-19 disproportionately affected communities of color — in part because the U.S. relies on immigrant workers in food and agriculture.

Richard Charles Carson was 92 years old when he passed away on December 19th in Studio City, California. Carson was born the youngest of three children in Clarinda, Iowa in 1929. Later, his family settled in Norfolk, Nebraska where he graduated high school in 1947. Drew DeCamp is a registrar at the Elkhorn Valley Museum in Norfolk which features galleries of the Carson family. DeCamp said Dick Carson had a laid back personality, much like his older brother Johnny.

Methodist Hospital in Omaha reports nearly 180 healthcare workers out sick, which includes more than 50 nurses. Elective surgeries are being postponed or canceled currently at Methodist. Todd Consbruck is the president and CEO at Avera St. Anthony's Hospital in the northern Nebraska town of O’Neill. Consbruck says nurses and doctors in O’Neill are growing weary emotionally and physically due to pressure from the omicron variant.

Over one month ago, Lyons, Nebraska had brown tap water with high levels of iron and manganese. In the process of replacing filter beds at its treatment plant, a temporary filter system was put in place. That filter broke down and Lyons was forced to issue a boil water order. Now, Lyons is running water through its new filters at the treatment plant and the water passed a partial test by the state.

Douglas County's first Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer started working this week.

Omaha’s January 6th Vigil will be located at the College of Saint Mary’s fieldhouse and online. The event will start with a speech from the college’s president Maryanne Stevens, then a prayer and three songs to be performed by the Omaha Justice Choir. There will be three additional speakers after the music, each from Black Votes Matter, Civic Nebraska, and the Women’s Fund of Omaha.

The Nebraska Legislature began its 2022 session with proposals on abortion, guns, and other topics.

Thunder Valley Development Corporation Director Tatewin Means says transitional and supportive housing could serve 800-1,000 people at a time.