Top Journal Star photos for March 2023
Christ Lincoln Schools fourth grader Hudson Parr (right) rides the metal pig statue named Petunia as Gov. Jim Pillen watches on Wednesday.
Millard North's Avril Smith (right) and Kayla Preston (back) fight for a rebound against Lincoln North Star's Aleviah Anderson (left) during a Class A girls state tournament first-round game Wednesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
A bank employee was taken by ambulance to a local hospital after a woman drove her car through a window of LincOne Federal Credit Union near 48th and Vine streets on Wednesday.
Lincoln Southwest head coach Tim Barada hugs Brinly Christensen as the final seconds of the fourth quarter come to a close in the Hawks' loss to Millard South in a Class A girls state basketball tournament first-round game Wednesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Malcolm celebrates after defeating Wahoo in a Class C-1 girls state basketball tournament first-round game Wednesday at the Devaney Sports Center.
Millard West's Maddie Wallor hits Lincoln High's Briauna Robinson in the face while she scores a basket during a Class A girls state basketball tournament first-round game Wednesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena
Elkhorn North's Britt Prince (2) walks onto court before facing Norris in a Class B girls state tournament first-round game Thursday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Centura (left) greets Cedar Catholic before a Class D-1 girls state tournament semifinal Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.
Elkhorn North's Sydney Stodden (left) and Mallory Hansen celebrate the win against York during a Class B girls state tournament semifinal game on Friday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Adams Central's Gracie Weichman (far right) embraces teammate Megyn Scott as the overtime draws to a close to win a Class C-1 girls state tournament semifinal game Friday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
North Bend Central's Kaitlyn Emanuel (23) and McKrae Muller (40) celebrate after defeating Adams Central in the Class C-1 girls state championship Saturday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Elkhorn North celebrates after defeating Omaha Skutt in the Class B girls championship game Saturday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Omaha Skutt's Molly Ladwig scores a layup over Waverly defenders in the first half during a Class B state girls basketball tournament first-round game at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Pender's Maya Dolliver (center) hugs Madalyn Dolliver as their team celebrates their win over Oakland-Craig in the the Class C-2 state girls basketball tournament championship game at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Oakland-Craig player huddle up for a pregame prayer before taking on Pender in the Class C-2 state girls basketball tournament championship game at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Millard South's Khloe Lemon (left) embraces Mya Babbitt (center) after defeating Lincoln High during the Class A state girls basketball tournament championship game at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Omaha Westside's Joshua Evans (10) and Rickey Loftin (1) holds up "W"s after defeating Lincoln East in a Class A state tournament first-round game on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Using an in camera double exposure, A cheerleader's pom-pom is used to frame Millard North's Neal Mosser as he blocks a layup attempt by Elkhorn South's Evan Werner in the first half during a Class A state tournament game Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Pinnacle Bank Arena
Paraeducator Neldy Fernandez (left) helps kindergarten student Roselie Horton pick a crayon color at Elliott Elementary School on Thursday. Fernandez also works with many other students as part of a program through Lincoln Literacy, including those with special needs.
Crete's Benjamin Ehlers (center) dives into the crowd after defeating Elkhorn during a Class B state tournament game Thursday, March 9, 2023, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Thomas James adjust the Native American regalia of his grandson, Bird James, in the hallway before players take the court during a Class D-2 state tournament game Thursday, March 9, 2023, at the Devaney Sports Center
Omaha Skutt's Jack Healey celebrates after making a game-ending block against Crete in the final seconds of the game, during a Class B state semifinal tournament game, Friday, March 10, 2023, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
SEM's Colt Schroeder (right) attempts to score three-points over Wynot's Dylan Heine (first right) in the second half during a Class D-2 state semifinal tournament game Friday, March 10, 2023, at the Devaney Sports Center.
Ashland-Greenwood head coach Jacob Mohs (right) smiles after leading the Bluejays to back-to-back state titles as Ty Carey (left) smiles after defeating Auburn in a Class C-1 state tournament championship game on Saturday, March 11, 2023, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Omaha Skutt Catholic celebrates and holds up ones with their fingers after defeating Platteview in the Class B state tournament championship game on Saturday, March 11, 2023, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Bellevue West celebrates their 64-41 win over Millard North's at the ceneter of the court following the Class A state championship on Saturday, March 11, 2023, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Piper Hayes, (pink) leads dancers through a short course called 'Time for Heelz,' as part of the American College Dance Association North-Central Conference on Tuesday at UNL's Temple Building. More than 330 people from 22 universities registered to attend the conference hosted by UNL. The conference included classes, feedback, presentations and meetings, along with the four adjudication concerts. The American College Dance Association supports dance in higher education through regional conferences like the one hosted by UNL.
Pius X senior and North Texas soccer commit Bree Korta poses for a portrait using multiple exposures to highlight one journey of her life at Pius with the "bolt" hand symbol to the start of her next journey at North Texas with the "eagle claw", taken at Pius X on Wednesday, March 15, 2023.
A car fire at 620 S 17th St. blazes on through a snow storm as Lincoln Fire and Rescue circle the vehicle to assess the best way to put out the flames on Thursday, March 16, 2023.
Delaney Gove of Ogallala, 13, (center) hides her face in embarrassment after family and friends, including Sgt. 1st Class Thomas Shirey (center right) and Capt. Rachell Rowley (right), singing her a birthday song during a send-off ceremony for Army National Guard's 1-134th Cavalry, Friday, March 17, 2023, at Atlas Readiness Center in Yutan. Shirey is one of the 13 Nebraska Army National Guard soldiers being deployed to Europe in the coming days.
Roman Asaro eats beer-soaked cereal during the annual Lucky Charms eating contest at Mckinney's Irish Pub as part of St. Patrick's Day celebrations on Friday, March 17, 2023.
A Bluejay hops along the branch of a pine tree on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, at Holmes Lake. Blustery conditions and overcast skies made for a drowsy Tuesday in Lincoln. Days ahead will see much of the same, with a chance of rain dotted throughout the week.
Opponents of LB371, a bill that would make it a crime for anyone under the age of 19 to attend drag shows, hold up signs in support of transgender rights during a rally at the Nebraska State Capitol on Friday, March 24, 2023.
Kansas' Chandler Prater (25) and Nebraska's Alexis Markowski (bottom center) scramble for the ball as it is picked up by Isabelle Bourne in the first half during a WNIT game Thursday at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kan.
Nebraska defensive lineman Nash Hutmacher (72) runs a drill during a March 23 practice at Hawks Championship Center.
Nebraska's Billie Andrews (left) tags out Iowa State's Milaysia Ochoa as she attempts to steal second base in the fifth inning on Wednesday at Bowlin Stadium.
Gene Sorensen (he/they) holds up a transgender pride flag in front of the capitol building during Trans Day of Visibility at the Nebraska State Capitol on Friday, March 31, 2023.
Michigan's Madi Ramey proudly wears a hat that resembles a cooked turkey after defeating Nebraska in a mercy rule win on Friday, March 31, 2023, at Bowlin Stadium.
Theater director Bob Henrichs (right) talks with sophomore Tyler Stover, who plays Lumiere, before a dress rehearsal of "Beauty and the Beast" at Lincoln Southwest High School.
Lincoln East's Grace Peterson (center) celebrates with her teammates after scoring a penalty kick against Lincoln Southwest in the 55th minute Thursday at Seacrest Field.
Christ Lincoln fourth graders Kylie Burger, Allie Borst and Lucy Klappenback (from left) reach through fencing to pet a sheep during the Ag Literacy Festival on Thursday, March 30, 2023, at the Lancaster Event Center in Lincoln.
257 fourth graders from 8 schools in the Lincoln area attended the Agricultural Literacy Festival at the Lancaster Event Center Fairgrounds.Students get an up-close and hands-on experience with several live animals including beef cattle, dairy cattle, sheep, swine and horses. They were taught about agricultural products, how they are produced, and how they are used.
Lincoln Southeast's Nate McCashland loses his footing after being slide tackled by Lincoln High's Tom Goe in the first half on Wednesday, March 29, 2023, at Beechner Field in Lincoln.
Nebraska's Brice Matthews (center) celebrates his three-run homerun as he heads back to the dugout in the seventh inning on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, at Haymarket Park.
Hannah Friedman (from left), Grace Choul and Arsenii Khokhuila color in Kristine Fry's preschool class at Arnold Elementary School on Monday.
Nebraska's Mya Felder (right) and head coach Rhonda Revelle (left) smile after Felder hit a home run against Purdue in the third inning at Bowlin Stadium on Sunday, March 26, 2023.
Nebraska's Corbin Hawkins (39) throws a strike against Illinois in the seventh inning at Haymarket Park on Saturday, March 25, 2023.
The University of Nebraska Foundation applied to change the will of a deceased donor in order to bring the terms of the Esther Freshman Scholarship in line with the law.
A former Nebraska corrections employee who gave birth in December now faces a felony charge after DNA testing confirmed that an inmate is likely the father of the baby boy.
Depending on your generation, it may have taken a long time to break yourself of calling a refrigerator the “ice box.”
A plan to remake South Omaha's historic Plaza de la Raza and nearby areas drew support Monday, with State Sen. Tony Vargas saying he will "fight like hell" for $25 million in state money.
A proposed board resolution would put a $41 million bond issue before voters to build a central elementary school next to the current junior/senior high school.
Two people died in an early morning house fire in Omaha Saturday, according to the Omaha Fire Department.
Two people were injured in a shooting Saturday morning in Omaha while driving.
A year after it launched, nearly 700 people have downloaded a Nebraska app designed to help young people cope with mental health issues and prevent youth suicide.
Disney’s “Aladdin” will play an eight-show engagement at the Lied Center for Performing Arts from Oct. 3-8.
The mission of Queerarchy is to design unique items "as powerful symbols that inspire happiness so the queer community can live their lives freely without fear or shame."
Teresa Forst attends all kinds of events in Lincoln, but she doesn't always attend under that name. Instead, she's Shades the Clown.
The annual prairie grass burning season has begun in Kansas and Oklahoma, which could mean irritating smoke rolling north into Nebraska.
The Nebraska State Patrol on Monday identified a 31-year-old Michigan man as the victim of last week's fatal shooting near Hartington.
An Illinois man was arrested near Pawnee City after state troopers found multiple guns and drugs in his car, according to the Nebraska State Patrol.
The former corrections employee was charged last week with sexual abuse of an inmate after she allegedly had a relationship with an inmate and gave birth to his child.
Douglas County Board members are raising concerns about large amounts of waste from a recent Kansas oil pipeline spill being dumped in the county's Pheasant Point Landfill in rural Bennington.
Authorities in Seward County seized 44 pounds of meth, 9,000 fentanyl pills and a stolen firearm during a traffic stop on eastbound I-80 on Saturday.
Three former police officers have filed claims with the city, alleging the police chief made false comments to news outlets regarding why they were fired.
The Grand Island Police Department said Friday that a 16-year-old Grand Island teen was arrested and booked at the Hall County Jail Thursday evening.
The World Health Organization didn't recommend remdesivir for patients hospitalized with COVID-19 until late 2022.
Omaha pet Howie the rainbow crab knows sign language, how to walk on a leash and give a great high five. His talents have led to nearly 600,000 social media followers.
Lincoln residents 68-year-old Anne Koehler, 12-year-old Nolan Palmer and 40-year-old mother Lindsey Palmer climbed to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro last month.
The Douglas County Sheriff's Office and the Omaha Police Department are investigating the death of a 39-year-old Omaha man as a homicide.
A 45-year-old Lincoln man was killed in a two-vehicle crash in southwest Omaha Friday afternoon.
The state auditor is calling for GPS tracking of state vehicles used by a Nebraska DOT employee after the employee logged more than 1,355 hours of overtime in two years.
The Columbus Public Schools Board of Education on March 9 approved calling a special election in May for voters to decide on a $53.5 million facilities bond referendum.
How much should parents be able to direct what schools teach their children? Nebraska lawmakers moved forward with one set of new rules, although a more controversial proposal remains alive.
Police have ruled the death of 20-year-old Rico Katami an accidental overdose after an autopsy. His body was found along Burlington Avenue during January.
Nebraska and South Carolina currently are the only states that do not use vending machines to process lottery ticket sales.
A 20-year-old Louisiana man charged with second-degree murder allegedly told witnesses that the man he shot had spoken ill of his mother.
The Nebraska Board of Education will interview the finalists March 30 before making its pick the next day.
Facing a shrinking pool of priests, declining Mass attendance and population shifts from rural to urban areas, the Archdiocese of Omaha plans to group its parishes into families.
A 19-year-old man was killed in a single-vehicle crash early Tuesday just west of Ralston High School.
Officials said waste from a Kansas oil pipeline spill don't pose an environmental threat near a landfill outside Omaha.
A 61-year-old Omaha man died Monday from injuries he received last week when his vehicle collided with a school bus.
A former janitor at Otte Middle School in Blair was sentenced Tuesday to eight years in prison for sending a sexually explicit photo to a student.
Floor action in the Nebraska Legislature returned to a more steady pace Thursday as lawmakers reached an agreement that could mean the end of a three-week long filibuster.
Can an employee sue their employer in civil court for a workplace injury? A judge will decide in a lawsuit brought against Catholic Charities of Omaha by an employee after an active-shooter drill.
Council Bluffs police are searching for 56-year-old Patrick Weber of Kearney, Nebraska, who was reported missing after traveling to Iowa last month.
The father of a 7-year-old boy who died in 2022 filed a claim against the city alleging first responders were negligent for not treating his son's seizure as an emergency.
K.O. Toys & Arcade and The Country Wagon have been asked to leave Conestoga Mall by new owners. The stores will close by the end of March.
Rep. Mike Flood, a member of the House Financial Services Committee, praises early federal government action in response to the failure of Silicon Valley Bank in California.
In a sport he took up just three years ago and began to flourish in three months ago, junior Eli Etherton has already won a national championship.
A $27.9 million school bond issue in Wayne passed by 30 votes.
A former Omaha police officer is now pleading guilty to producing and possessing child pornography, but denies that he transported the material.
The care Rebecca Anderson and her family received from her neurosurgeon after she suffered a serious head injury steered her to medicine.
Kandice Johnson is accused of having sex with a child who is between the ages of 12-15. Court records also allege Johnson attempted to make sexual contact with a student.
On Wednesday, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin appointed Lisa Coons, a finalist for the Nebraska Commissioner of Education opening, as the state's superintendent of public instruction.
William H. White and Sarah A. White were sentenced in federal court Tuesday after failing to pay more than $420,000 in employment taxes to the IRS.
A day after the Legislature advanced a bill banning some gender-affirming care for minors, opponents of the bill made good on their promise to slow the session to a crawl.
Located in Cherry County in the north central part of the state, the Valentine area is loaded with recreational opportunities.
A Mayday was called when a fire captain was separated from a hose line. The department said crews quickly located the captain and helped him out of the building.
According to a statement by ACLU of Nebraska, “The lawsuit argues that school officials’ decision to shutter the newspaper violated plaintiffs’ First Amendment free speech rights on three counts."
The State Board of Education selected Brian Maher for Nebraska's next education commissioner, but some board members objected to the validity of the search process.
While some senators raised concerns, the majority said the new office would be able to quickly distribute an estimated $400 million to expand access to broadband across Nebraska.
The rally comes as the Nebraska Legislature is considering multiple bills that would impact Nebraska's transgender community.
The three-month study will help evaluate a potential remediation method for the estimated 99,000 tons of contaminated wet distiller's grains and sludge currently stockpiled at AltEn.
The 2.5% is less than the 3% NU sought but more than the 2% that was proposed by both Gov. Jim Pillen and the Appropriations Committee earlier this year.
“It felt like all the work we had done was gone and destroyed,” said Carol Larvick, an emeritus University of Nebraska Extension educator who helped develop the orchard.
State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of the Omaha area introduced LB298 to ensure that schools track whether they are adequately serving students with dyslexia.
A 48-year-old man who died last week in a one vehicle crash in southwest Nebraska has been identified.
The biofuel plant that turned pesticide-treated seeds into ethanol allegedly failed to pay a Lincoln warehouse hundreds of thousands of dollars in rent and utilities.
USA Today named the Omaha Zoo as the nation's best in its annual 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.
Its final inspection on Sept. 27, 1948, made North Platte one of Union Pacific's key centers and culminated William M. Jeffers’ influence on U.P.’s course in his hometown.
