Stories from Tuesday, December 16, 2025

LINCOLN, Neb. - Nebraska State Board of Education President Elizabeth Tegtmeier said misappropriated funds distributed through the state’s school aid formula were the primary topic of discussion at the board’s December meeting, according to a statement released following the session. The funding in question involves TEEOSA, the Tax Equity and Educational Opportunities Support Act, Nebraska’s long-standing and often controversial formula for allocating state aid to public schools...

McCOOK, Neb. - No McCook property tax or sales tax dollars will be used to purchase the long-stalled St. Catherine’s Hospital property, City Manager Nate Schneider told council members. The second portion of Monday’s meeting of the McCook City Council was, in fact, a meeting of the council acting as the McCook Community Development Agency (CDA), and the proposal before the agency would allow the city to temporarily take title to the property in order to facilitate a private redevelopment project.. ...

McCOOK, Neb. - Monday night’s epic meeting of the McCook City Council was, in fact, a series of meetings contending with matters ranging from establishing blighted property status to regulating the use of public spaces. With Mayor Taylor and Council members present to consider, the discussion included development matters, redevelopment studies, policy updates and routine business. ...

Fred H. Gleason, 75, of Kearney, died December 9, 2025, at C.H.I. Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. Funeral services will be 10:30 am, December 22, 2025, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Kearney. Private family burial will take place at a later date. ...

Gayle Lewis Kircher was born October 27, 1929 to Albert and Ola (Elms) Kircher on the family farm in rural Red Willow County, Nebraska. He lived a life characterized by dedication, hard work, and a deep connection to his faith and family. Gayle graduated from Red Willow High School in 1947. ...

Here we go again. A single shooter, then a father and son using personal guns to kill and/or injure crowds of people: Brown University in Rhode Island and the Hanukkah (or Chanukah) celebration in Australia. As usual, our liberal media is quick to attempt to pin the blame on inadequate gun laws. A minor detail is that Australia already has those gun laws which only restricts innocents from using a personal weapon to defend themselves in a mass shooting situation...

Here we go again. A single shooter, then a father and son using personal guns to kill and/or injure crowds of people: Brown University in Rhode Island and the Hanukkah (or Chanukah) celebration in Australia. As usual, our liberal media is quick to attempt to pin the blame on inadequate gun laws. A minor detail is that Australia already has those gun laws which only restricts innocents from using a personal weapon to defend themselves in a mass shooting situation...

The Cato Institute’s Adam Michel offered some timely holiday reading this week, turning his attention to the 15-cent fee tucked into the cost of every live Christmas tree sold in the United States. The USDA calls it a “checkoff program,” the same label used for beef, pork, and other commodity promotions...

Diana Kay Underwood was born on January 14, 1952 in Bird City, KS to James “Jim and Yvonne “Vonnie” (Purvis) Underwood. She was the first-born grandchild on both sides, a title she held dear. She loved growing up with a large extended family and had many fond memories of her childhood. During any gathering she could be found sitting around with the adults or taking care of all her younger cousins. Even when she wasn’t yet old enough to drive, she was sent to the swimming pool, driving a car filled with younger cousins in St. Francis, KS! From the very beginning she loved babies and children of all ages – a love that grew throughout her life. After the family moved to McCook, she was finally old enough to babysit and she had several special families whose children she cared for.