Humanities Desk

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

Gov. Pillen signs medical cannabis emergency regulations

July 1, 2025 • 53 secs
Governor Jim Pillen has signed the commission’s emergency regulations, which prohibit dispensaries from selling whole-plant cannabis and products that are vaped or smoked. The rules also cap the number of dispensaries at one in each of the state’s 12 district court judicial districts. The emergency regulations will be in effect for the next 90 days, after which they can be amended or put into law.
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Nebraska casino revenue keeps growing, providing tax relief

July 1, 2025 • 5 mins
In the month of May alone, the casino contributed more than one million dollars to the state’s Property Tax Credit Cash Fund. Thanks in part to a new expansion in April, WarHorse has already generated more revenue at its south Omaha location in the first five months of 2025 than it did throughout all of last year. Across the state, revenues have grown steadily at other casinos in Lincoln, Grand Island, and Columbus with new locat...
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Judge dismisses lawsuit against Nebraska medical cannabis laws

June 26, 2025 • 1 min
Lancaster County District Court Judge Susan Strong dismissed a lawsuit Thursday alleging that the state’s medical cannabis program violates state and federal law. The case was brought by former State Sen. John Kuehn, who claimed laws allowing any form of marijuana are unconstitutional because the substance remains illegal at the federal level. Kuehn argued his status as a Nebraska taxpayer gives him the right to sue the state over ...
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Medical Cannabis Commission approves emergency regulations

June 26, 2025 • 1 min
The commission voted unanimously to approve emergency regulations on medical cannabis to meet its deadline of July 1st in the initiative approved by voters last November. The regulations allow only one dispensary in each of the state’s 12 district court judicial districts and prohibit raw plant material or any product that is smoked or vaped. The regulations did not include details about who counts as a qualified patient to receive...
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State Sen. John Cavanaugh launches campaign for Congress

June 26, 2025 • 1 min
State Sen. John Cavanaugh kicked off his bid to become the next congressman for Nebraska’s Second District Tuesday night. In a speech to several hundred supporters gathered at Omaha’s Firefighters Union Hall, Cavanaugh vowed to stand up to President Donald Trump and work to protect Medicaid, social security and public lands.
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Eastern Nebraska’s bur oak trees dying due to widespread drought

June 25, 2025 • 7 mins
Bur oak trees are some of the most common native Nebraska trees that shade many city parks and congregate in the state’s eastern deciduous forests. They’re hardy trees, known to withstand a range of stresses, including Nebraska’s harshest weather. But they’re dying en masse due to years of devastating drought.
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Bacon says he supports Trump decision to bomb Iran nuclear sites

June 23, 2025 • 58 secs
Nebraska Congressman Don Bacon says he supports President Donald Trump’s attack on Iran and believes the President does not intend to start a long-term war with the country. Monday afternoon, Bacon said people tend to overestimate Iran’s capabilities but underestimate the country’s intentions for the West. He said America’s military is in a strong position to respond to retaliation.
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Frank Lloyd Wright exhibit on display

June 22, 2025 • 5 mins
Frank Lloyd Wright is the most widely known architect in the world. The only structure he designed in Nebraska is the Sutton “Prairie School” house in McCook, built in 1905. David Wendell, of Holdrege, has a sizable collection of Wright artifacts on display for a “first of its kind” exhibit at Pioneer Village in Minden. Nebraska Public Media’s Dale Johnson caught up with Wendell at our studios in Lincoln.
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Norfolk celebrates Johnny Carson with comedy festival

June 19, 2025 • 4 mins
The Great American Comedy Festival, celebrating Johnny Carson's Legacy in Norfolk returned for its 16th year.
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Planned Parenthood postpones Nebraska event after MN attacks

June 17, 2025 • 54 secs
Planned Parenthood Advocates’ annual state gathering in Sarpy County was postponed out of an abundance of caution for staff, supporters and community, according to the group’s website. State Sen. Ashlei Spivey, an abortion rights advocate in the Nebraska Legislature, was scheduled to be the event’s keynote speaker. She says the news coming out of Minnesota this week was terrifying.
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Corn producers seek to expand biofuels market through E15

June 16, 2025 • 5 mins
A gasoline blend with 15 percent ethanol offers a cheaper option at the pump and a steady market for Nebraska’s corn producers. For some members of Nebraska’s federal delegation, allowing its sale year-round is a legislative priority, while others say ethanol expansion comes with negative environmental and economic impacts.
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Sec. of State Bob Evnen launches reelection campaign

June 6, 2025 • 1 min
Nebraska’s Secretary of State Bob Evnen announced today/Friday that he is running for his third term in office. The Republican was first elected in 2018 and oversaw the implementation of the state’s voter ID law. He said that under his leadership, no state has had more secure or accurate elections than Nebraska.
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Omaha Arts Fair aims to carry on legacy of Omaha Arts Festival

June 5, 2025 • 57 secs
The Omaha Arts Fair is making its debut this weekend. This is following the Omaha Arts Festival stopping after 50 years of operation last year.
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State auditor highlights 'disturbing uptick' in alleged fraud

June 3, 2025 • 1 min
State Auditor Mike Foley has issued audit letters to eight local government units in the past six weeks highlighting alleged financial malpractice. The offenses include a Nemaha County commissioner using a county gas pump to fill his personal vehicle, a Custer County employee who recorded work hours while at her children’s school events and Pleasanton village employees who used their 11% rebates from village expenses at Menards for...
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NE LULAC is closing its doors for now

June 3, 2025 • 1 min
The Nebraska chapter of the nation’s oldest Latino advocacy group is closing its doors for now.
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Effort to ban some hemp products like Delta 8 falls short

May 30, 2025 • 1 min
A proposal banning certain forms of hemp and so-called synthetic cannabis was passed over Friday before a vote could be taken. The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Kathleen Kauth, made the decision after it appeared there would not be the votes necessary to overcome a filibuster attempt. Progressives filed motions to stop an amendment clarifying that the bill wouldn’t supersede the medical marijuana initiatives Nebraskans passed in November fr...
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Legislature advances bill banning some consumable hemp products

May 27, 2025 • 1 min
A bill restricting some consumable hemp products in Nebraska advanced to the final round of debate in the Legislature Tuesday Afternoon. Under a bill from Sen. Kathleen Kauth, LB316, some consumable hemp products would be reclassified as marijuana, which is currently illegal for recreational use in the state. To remain legal, THC – the chemical responsible for making a user high – must make up less than 0.3% of the processed hemp...
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Senators question appointments for Medical Cannabis Commission

May 22, 2025 • 1 min
The Legislature’s General Affairs Committee heard testimony from Lorelle Mueting and Dr. Monica Oldenburg, who were both selected by the governor from a pool of applicants. Mueting serves as a prevention program director at Heartland Family Service, while Oldenburg is an anesthesiologist who previously practiced in Colorado. Both have a history of opposition to medical marijuana legalization.
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LPD and counselors care for people in crisis, one call at a time

May 22, 2025 • 1 min
This Mental Health Awareness month, the Lincoln Police Department is celebrating a successful start to its co-responder program -- a team-up with mental health professionals that could decrease the use of jails and emergency medical services. Lincoln announced plans for the co-responder program in September, with a partnership between LPD and CenterPointe, a mental health and substance abuse care clinic that conducts street outr...
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Bill allowing students to attend off site religion classes fails

May 22, 2025 • 1 min
State senators considered a package of education bills Wednesday afternoon. By the end of the day’s debate, only the underlying bill, LB306, remained. The legislation initially contained six different bills after an amendment, AM1335, from the Legislature’s Education Committee combined them. The section of the bill from Sen. Loren Lippincott, originally LB550, which would excuse students from public schools to attend religion clas...
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