Humanities Desk | Net Radio

It’s been almost six decades since a military charter flight carrying 93 highly trained soldiers disappeared over the Pacific Ocean between Guam and the Philippines. Flying Tiger Line Flight 739 was never found, but the families of those aboard, including one from Nebraska, will get some closure Saturday in the form of a unique memorial in the woods of Maine.

Months after his dad, Investigator Mario Herrera, died in the line of duty, Carlos Herrera will be joining the Lincoln Police Department this June.The announcement came two days before the fallen officer’s birthday and a week before Law Enforcement Memorial Week.

After Chief Standing Bear’s landmark civil rights case to recognize American Indians as people, he gifted a ceremonial tomahawk to his attorney more than 140 years ago. Now, the tomahawk is in the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology at Harvard University. Nebraska lawmakers are joining an effort, drafting a resolution, to return the tomahawk to the Ponca Tribe.

The remnants of Spencer Dam have remain scattered in the river after the dam failed and broke apart more than two years ago – as many different locations across cross the state flooded following a massive winter storm. Ice rubble on the Niobrara River broke up the 93-year-old dam, and one man, Kenny Angel, died in the aftermath of the collapse.The dam’s owner – the Nebraska Public Power District – has now received funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to officially decommission the dam two years later.“Let’s make it clear: We do not plan to rebuild," said Mark Becker, a NPPD spokesperson.

It’s a unique hunt that many Nebraskans look forward to every year, and it doesn’t involve animals. Morel mushrooms are hollow and sponge-like and are also edible and highly coveted. Searching for the elusive mushrooms is like a treasure hunt along river bottoms in eastern Nebraska.

A 50-state survey among adults under 40 shows 1 in 10 of them don’t remember ever hearing the word “Holocaust,” where 6 millions Jews were killed in World War 2. Among them were Curt and Regina Schönwald whose son and grandsons lived in Lincoln. Lincoln High School is performing a play based on the family’s experience.

An iconic collection of classic cars in a small central Nebraska town is going up for auction starting Wednesday. They’re part of what was known as “Chevyland U.S.A”, a car museum just off Interstate 80 about 15 miles west of Kearney.

If you’ve recently gotten your COVID-19 vaccination and then get an e-mail or text asking you to take a survey afterward, beware, it could be a scam.The FBI is reporting scammers are posing as the big drug companies, Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson and sending out surveys to people who have had their vaccinations asking for follow-up information.

An Idaho-based artist is creating a public sculpture of the first Native American doctor in the U.S. Last week, the Nebraska Capitol Environs Commission approved the sculpture by Benjamin Victor to be placed at Centennial Mall and M Street in Lincoln this fall.

The shooting of eight people, including six Asians in Atlanta shocked Jueyezi “Rebecca” Reinhardt and the entire community at the Asian Community and Cultural Center. Reinhardt is the Cultural Program Coordinator for the cultural center and said local Asian organizations are coming together to support each other

This St. Patrick’s Day Irish bars and restaurants want guests to have fun but stay safe.

A Nebraska civil rights advisory committee is recommending all Nebraska high schools phase out the use of Native American mascots. The committee says it's time to move on from what it calls harmful and racist stereotypes that are no longer acceptable.

The father of a teenager from Blair, Nebraska who was shot and killed by police in Oklahoma last month says he hopes to spread his daughter’s message and turn a tragedy into something that will help others.

A career project was a finalist in Lincoln’s 2020 Google.org Impact Challenge. Organizers won $300,000 through two grants to help change immigrants and refugees’ lives statewide.The CareerLadder project connects skilled engineers, lawyers, nurses, accountants, and educators from abroad to similar careers in Nebraska

Dr. Robert Penn of Omaha's Methodist Hospital discusses treating Nebraska's first coronavirus patient, Terra Uhing, executive director at Three Rivers Public Health Department, recalls being informed her district may have had dozens of exposures to the virus, and Jerry Rinne of the Fremont YMCA talks about discovering events at his facility were at risk of being the first 'super spreader' event in the state

After opening 17 years ago, Bayard’s only grocery closes. The Western Nebraska city is coming together to find a solution to keep the town’s food options alive.

Syionna Conner is one of four black students in Roncalli Catholic High School’s senior class. She says she noticed the predominantly white high school in Omaha didn’t really do anything for Black History Month last year, and wanted to take action this month through announcements, games, and food.

In his first 100 days as president, President Joe Biden revoked the Trump administration’s travel ban on people from majority-Muslim countries and vowed to increase the number of refugees allowed in the US. Refugees and resettlement agencies in Nebraska are hopeful for the future.

Congressman Fortenberry Works To Esnure College-Owned Venues Like the Lied Center Get COVID Relief

Despite the pandemic and a stretch of very cold weather, Girl Scout cookie booths opened this weekend in Nebraska. Girl Scouts across the state aren’t slowing down as they continue a long tradition.