Humanities Desk
A special collection of Signature Stories that looks at life and culture in Nebraska through history, literature, religion, and art. This feed is updated continuously.
Episodes
November 20, 2025 • 1 min
The Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations provides more than 1,200 income-eligible Nebraskans with food as a fulfillment of the United States Government’s trust responsibility. But last year, supply chain disruptions led to months-long food shortages. Victoria Kitcheyan, a Winnebago tribal council member, says the U.S. Department of Agriculture – which administers the program – did not communicate with the tribe.
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November 18, 2025 • 45 secs
Mark Cohen, a karate instructor in Ogallala, announced his candidacy as an independent. On his campaign website, he says he will fight for policies to make billionaires pay their fair share in taxes and work to fund rural healthcare. Cohen is the third candidate to announce a run against 10-term incumbent Republican Adrian Smith. David Huebner, a former U.S. Border Patrol Agent from North Platte is the only other Republican candida...
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November 10, 2025 • 1 min
Dozens of active-duty and veteran Marines gathered in the basement of the governor’s mansion to celebrate the military branch’s 250th birthday, complete with birthday cake cut by a sword. Nebraska Department of Veterans’ Affairs Director John Hilgert said it symbolizes the Marines’ role as a band of warriors committed to carrying the sword so the nation may live in peace. Pillen said he’s heard appreciation for the U.S. military wh...
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November 10, 2025 • 53 secs
The professors and students who take part in the trip aren’t allowed to reveal exactly what they found, but whatever they did collect is transferred to the Defense P-O-W/M-I-A Accounting Agency lab at Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue, where a group of scientists there work on identifying missing service members. Belcher says these missions teach students about the importance of having a name and identity, and that there’s an uns...
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November 7, 2025 • 1 min
Former President Joe Biden is scheduled to speak in Omaha Friday evening as part of the Nebraska Democratic Party’s annual Ben Nelson Gala. Biden’s speech will mark a rare public appearance for the 46th president, who has largely stayed out of the spotlight during his post-presidency. Nebraska Democratic Party Chair Jane Kleeb said she was able to get Biden to come to Omaha due to his special connection to the state party. Kleeb ...
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November 5, 2025 • 48 secs
School bonds had a relatively successful night overall, with voters in the Wausa, Logan View, Sterling and Minden School Districts approving tax increases to construct new school buildings and improve athletic facilities. In the Ashland-Greenwood School District, voters approved an override of the district’s property tax levy. However, in Columbus and Stanton, voters rejected bonds aimed at funding construction for new buildings.
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November 4, 2025 • 1 min
Despite tariff concerns and low grain prices, Nebraska ag producers are on track for a good year overall. Net farm income in the state is projected to reach around 8.4 billion dollars, up from just under 6 billion dollars last year. Increased livestock receipts and government payments represent the bulk of the additional income, which were enough to offset lower crop receipts and production expenses.
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November 3, 2025 • 5 mins
Each year, the Star City Hearse Club does their Halloween Hearse Tour. They are becoming a Halloween staple, but they want to do more.
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October 30, 2025 • 1 min
Next year will be a time of belt-tightening in the state capitol. That’s the sentiment from fiscal committee leadership ahead of the 60-day session that begins in January. Changes from the One, Big Beautiful Bill Act are estimated to cost the state more than $200 million in revenue over the next two years. That, combined with lower-than-expected state tax revenues over the summer, means the Legislature will likely make additional c...
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October 29, 2025 • 58 secs
Republicans have tried to pass a continuing resolution to keep the government funded at previous levels through late November, but it’s failed 13 times to receive the 60 votes needed in the Senate to pass. Democrats say they want to negotiate an extension of tax credits for people who receive health insurance through the Affordable Care Act. Speaking with the press Wednesday, Ricketts said that won’t happen until after the governme...
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October 28, 2025 • 53 secs
Gov. Jim Pillen is in Isreal this week to promote Nebraska trade and U.S. defense technology. The governor attended a swearing in ceremony for new troops in the Israeli army and visited the Nova Festival Memorial, which commemorates the victims of the Oct. 7 attacks. Pillen said he met with people in western Galilee who have endured thousands of warnings to take shelter over the last 18 months, but said the recent ceasefire negot...
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October 28, 2025 • 5 mins
Not as many younger people are joining clubs like Rotary and Sertoma. A group of neighbors in the southeastern Nebraska town of Crete want to change that in their community, by bringing together people — young and old. Former state senator Laura Ebke helped found the group Crete Connect just a few days after the shooting death of political activist Charlie Kirk. Ebke spoke with Nebraska Public Media's Jackie Ourada about the commun...
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October 27, 2025 • 1 min
Several weeks after Nebraska awarded its first medical cannabis cultivation licenses, the Omaha Tribe Cannabis Commission voted to award the tribe itself with vertical licensure. That allows the tribe to participate in all parts of the cannabis process, including the cultivation, manufacturing and sale of cannabis.
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October 27, 2025 • 5 mins
The Nebraska Storytelling Festival held its fourth annual event last Thursday in Lincoln. Ten Nebraskans got up on stage and told a story from their lives; all centered around the theme of “Lost and Found.”
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October 24, 2025 • 1 min
The Nebraska Investment Finance Authority estimates that around two-thirds of households are unable to afford Nebraska’s median home price, due in part to a shortage of around 120 thousand housing units in the state. For people with disabilities, the number of available units is much smaller. Omaha area resident Kathy Hoell said the availability of safe and accessible housing is "almost nonexistent."
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October 24, 2025 • 1 min
Calvert Elementary third graders successfully campaigned to make the honeybee Nebraska’s state insect, and a bill was signed by the governor in 1975. Auburn Creative District Director Leslie Clark says she invited Willey to continue that theme, inspired by his message of connection to the community.
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October 23, 2025 • 1 min
According to the USDA, The national herd is at a 75-year low, as the country has lost more than 150,000 cattle operations since 2017. At the same time, demand has grown by around 9% in the past decade, leading to record high beef prices. The new plan would streamline grazing permits and begin enforcing compliance of products with a “Made in the USA” label.
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October 23, 2025 • 5 mins
Barr Middle School and Walnut Middle School met on the gridiron on Oct. 16, exactly 100 years from the first time the rivals faced off. People from both sides of the matchup reflect on what the game means to the community and how it’s changed through the years.
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October 23, 2025 • 1 min
Nebraska Lottery Sales were down by more than 36 million dollars in fiscal year 2025 compared with the previous fiscal year. In 2004, Nebraska voters approved a constitutional amendment requiring that lottery proceeds are distributed among the Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund, the Nebraska State Fair Board, legislatively directed education programs and the Compulsive Gamblers Assistance Fund.
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October 17, 2025 • 1 min
On Oct. 17th, 2000, Gina Bos was last seen leaving a pub in downtown Lincoln. She has been missing ever since. Her sister, Jannel Rap, advocated for the day to be turned into a state holiday. The Unicameral passed legislation last year to make that happen. Law enforcement officers and family members read off names of missing persons in Nebraska, including some who haven’t been seen since the 1970s.
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