Humanities Desk | Net Radio

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.

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.

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.

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.

Community members in South Omaha planned to meet with police last night, but many weren’t permitted to enter the room.

Lincoln Public School board members expect to have an interim superintendent named in January. The board president shared the update at the district’s Board of Education meeting Tuesday night.

The first graduates of a new program are hoping to help revive childcare in Omaha.

Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen ceremonially signed legislation to aid Nebraska National Guard recruitment efforts Monday. He was joined by state senators Tom Brewer, Rita Sanders and Loren Lippincott. Adjutant general for the Nebraska National Guard, Craig Strong, thanked the legislature and encouraged them to continue to reach out to service members for new legislative ideas.

Former Nebraska regent and Omaha businessman Howard Hawks died at age 89 on Dec. 6. Hawks served 18 years as a board member for the University of Nebraska Board of Regents. He also co-founded one of the largest independent energy companies in the country, Tenaska.

A bust of Mahatma Gandhi was unveiled at the state capitol building Friday. It was given by the Consulate General of India in Seattle and will be located in Governor Jim Pillen’s hearing room. Pillen also declared December 6 as “A Day of Remembrance for Mahatma Gandhi” throughout the state of Nebraska.

The 76th annual Nebraska State Christmas tree lighting ceremony is Sunday and will be held at the capitol in Lincoln. The tree was donated by Pat and Terry Hastreiter. The couple said they heard about the search in the newspaper and thought to enter their four spruce trees for consideration.

Charles Hoffman, a spokesperson for the Air Force Global Strike Command, says the wing will allow the Air Force to improve nuclear communications, command and control. The 95th Wing is expected to add around 70 personnel to the base and be fully operational by January.

A wood building material can be used in high-rise structures, giving it the potential to replace materials that are bad for the climate, while also locking carbon into buildings for decades.

BMO employees and United Way of the Midlands volunteers assembled more than 200 homeless outreach kits for Giving Tuesday. New Visions Homeless Services will distribute the kits across the Omaha metro area. United Way of the Midlands spokesperson Carmen Steele says the process was rewarding and she is thankful for the work of the volunteers.

The Nebraska State Board of Canvassers met to certify the results of the 2024 general election Monday afternoon. Deputy Secretary of State for Elections Wayne Bena said nearly 70,000 ballots were hand counted after the election and only 7 had discrepancies between the hand count and machine count. Bena said the implementation of voter ID had a negligible effect on the election and fewer than 350 ballots were rejected due to the new requirement.

It’s been 79 years since the end of World War Two, where an estimated 15 million lives were lost. Some families got to bury their loved ones, but others were left with more questions than answers. A family in Syracuse recently had they're 80-year mystery answered and more.

It’s been 79 years since the end of World War Two, where an estimated 15 million lives were lost. Some families got to bury their loved ones, but others were left with more questions than answers. A family in Syracuse recently had they're 80-year mystery answered and more.

Nebraska students scored better in English Language Arts on the statewide assessment last school year compared to the previous school year. But third grade scores decreased, according to new state data.

The voter-approved ballot initiatives legalizing medical marijuana will stand following a legal challenge alleging they received false signatures. This will have a lasting effect on Nebraskans with criminal convictions, as well as quantity of police interactions according to Nicole D. Porter with The Sentencing Project.