Stories from Friday, October 3, 2025

McCOOK, Neb. - It has been two weeks since the September 16 hailstorm pounded McCook, and while much of the initial cleanup is complete, the full cost of the event remains unsettled. Shingles and windshields have been replaced, but the city is still hosting a steady stream of out-of-town roofers, dent-repair specialists, and contractors. For many residents, the growing collection of business cards, door hangers, and flyers serves as a daily reminder of the storm’s lasting impact...

LINCOLN, Neb. - Governor Jim Pillen has signed an executive order opting Nebraska into the School Choice program created under President Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill, signed into law this summer. Pillen made the announcement at St. Teresa Catholic School in Lincoln, surrounded by students, staff, parents, and members of Nebraska’s congressional delegation. He expressed enthusiasm about expanding scholarship opportunities to more Nebraska students through the new federal initiative...

STURGIS, S.D. – A nationally recognized emergency medicine physician and professor has lauded the efforts of a Sturgis EMS crew for their skill, professionalism, and teamwork during a complex and dangerous rescue during this year’s Sturgis Motorcycle Rally...

We live in interesting times. In August, Governor Jim Pillen chose to install an ICE facility in our community without consultation or courtesy, but prior to that, his administration was relatively trouble free and on track for reelection. Pillen’s most consequential stumble to that time came with his botched handling of line-item vetoes in the state budget in May. ...

Just past the quarter pole of this college football season shows Gazette potato R.B. Headley on pace for 1,000 correct picks: 267 right, 81 wrong through five weekends. However, his percentage (76.7) has been slipping after virtually every higher ranked team fell in last weekend’s marquee contests (Penn State to Oregon, Georgia to Alabama, LSU to Ole Miss, etc.)...

CURTIS, Neb. — The Arapahoe Warriors reached 10 wins this season with two strong victories in Thursday’s Medicine Valley Triangular. The Raiders (10-8) topped Med Valley 25-15, 25-12 with junior Clara Hilker serving four aces and clobbering eight kills...

McCOOK, Neb. — McCook has scored some memorable softball wins over Hastings St. Cecilia, but the top-ranked Hawkettes were allowing no repeats at McCook’s Jaycees Complex Thursday night. Audrey Rossow allowed only two Bison hits, struck out 10 and her teammates needed just four innings to finish a 10-0 win...

GOTHENBURG, Neb. — McCook senior Emma Cappel earned second place and classmate Brecken Gale took 20th in the tough Gothenburg Invitational at Wildhorse Golf Course on Thursday. Comments from Bison coach Tom Sughroue. “I felt we ran very well on a warm day and a difficult course,” he remarked. Emma finished 2nd and Brecken finished 20th. Wasn’t their fastest races of the season but with the difficulty of the course and weather I felt they ran very well.”...