AGP Executive Report

Community & Culture: Nebraska’s first India Culture Week opened at Creighton University, featuring film, food, dance and a new India Corner in the library, with books on the country’s history, art and traditions. Health & Belonging: Refugee and immigrant families across Nebraska are losing Medicaid coverage under a new federal law; Omaha’s All People’s Pantry says demand is rising, with more than 200 families attending a recent food distribution. Campus Research: UNL graduate student Molly Nowak is tracking a rescue manikin down the Missouri River to study its movement and water flows, and says the project is academic research, not a cause for alarm. Schools: Stolley Park Elementary Principal Whitney Flower received a Lozier LIGHTS award; the school’s math achievement scores for grades 3–5 rose 25% over four years. In Omaha, middle-school students also got hands-on lessons about smoking and vaping from Nebraska Methodist College and the Boys and Girls Club of the Midlands.

Omaha Schools: Parents are pressing to remove electric-shock gloves from school officers’ equipment after reports they were used on students at least five times since 2022; Omaha Public Schools banned them, while Millard kept them. Culture: Nebraska’s first India Culture Week brought film, food, dance and an exhibit to Creighton University, along with the state’s first India Corner, a collection on Indian culture and history. Education: Stolley Park Elementary Principal Whitney Flower received a statewide award after the Grand Island school’s math achievement scores rose 25% over four years. On the Ballot: Nebraska voters will decide whether to put the state’s transgender student sports restriction in the constitution. Family & Community: Lincoln County’s child-care shortage is estimated to affect $289 million in business output, while Nebraska Game and Parks has scheduled November nature programs for young children and adults.

Lincoln Music: The MusicBox hosts “The Art of the Crossfade” on Oct. 24, bringing local and visiting hip-hop artists together for a night celebrating Nebraska’s music community and civic engagement. Youth Achievement: Nebraska 4-H earned a national championship in horticulture speaking; the state team also placed third in its division. School Ballot Measure: Nebraska voters will decide whether to add the state’s ban on transgender girls and women competing on female sports teams to the constitution. Music and Well-Being: UNL researchers are testing whether pairing music with breathing exercises can help autistic children practice emotional regulation. Black Voices in Comics: Omaha creator Basi Affia is growing Sensiil Studios, a Nebraska-based comic company drawing on African history and mythology to expand representation in sci-fi and fantasy.

Youth Achievement: Nebraska 4-H members earned third place as a team at the National Junior Horticulture Association convention, and Cozad’s Brooklyn Reiman won the national Speaking of Horticulture contest. Omaha Weekend: Events include a youth-homelessness fundraiser, a free Aksarben run, a group art show featuring 34 Nebraska artists and Lauritzen Gardens’ Wicked Plants exhibit. Nebraska Music: The Nebraska Country Music Foundation announced its 2026 Hall of Fame inductees and plans for a new chapter for the state’s music scene. Student Media: UNL journalism students took home nine national audio awards, including three Best of Show honors. Fall Fun: Eagle Hollow Scream Park near Lincoln offers three haunted houses and a haunted bus ride for Halloween thrill-seekers.

Culture & Events: UNL’s Mexican-American Student Association hosts its annual Halloween Baile Oct. 23, with dancing, student DJs and a costume contest at the Nebraska Union. Entry is $5. Families & Child Care: A new Lancaster County report estimates inadequate child care costs the local economy $288.8 million in business output each year. Families also face high prices: average care for one child is $15,392 annually. Schools & Community: Auburn’s school board approved a policy setting limits on option enrollment. Seventh graders also presented a project on protecting bees, while the district’s DOGS Academy afterschool program earned a state award for growth and improvement. Nebraska Heritage: Columbus’ Glur’s Tavern, which kept serving soft drinks through Prohibition, marks 150 years in 2026. The state’s oldest bar is known for its burgers, fried potatoes and historic woodwork. Campus Life: Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture student Gracie Thomas placed fourth overall in the Collegiate Novice All-Around at a recent ranch horse competition, while balancing classes and team duties.

Child Care: A new Lancaster County report estimates inadequate child care costs the local economy nearly $289 million in business output and $264 million in lost labor income, with families earning under $100,000 more likely to struggle. Marching Bands: Nebraska’s state contest arrives Saturday, with 85 high school bands competing in Kearney, Lincoln and Omaha. Kearney expects 28 bands and thousands of spectators. Community Spotlight: Aunt Annie’s Flower Farm in Pauline has grown from owner Andrea Curlo’s search for peace into a Nebraska Bloom Trail destination, offering flowers, local goods and a place for visitors to unwind. Young Fossil Hunter: A 6-year-old Nebraska boy uncovered a rare, jellyfish-like fossil estimated to be 200 million years old—the first such find in the state in more than 55 years.

Youth Safety: A second federal lawsuit over alleged abuse at Kearney’s state-run youth center names 10 employees and accuses staff of failing to protect boys; an earlier state investigation found 37 boys had made abuse-related allegations. Education: EducationQuest awarded 77 Nebraska schools more than $54,000 for eighth-grade college visits, while UNMC partnered with Kearney schools to offer qualified students a path to reserved nursing-program seats. Food Access: Nebraska Appleseed estimates about 40,000 people lost SNAP benefits this year after federal rule changes and added state verification requirements, prompting food-access advocates to warn of growing hunger. Community: Omaha’s NAACP honored local leaders for service and civic engagement at its annual Freedom Fund program. Local Life: Hastings officials discussed draft rules for e-bikes and scooters after residents raised safety concerns, alongside a study of data centers’ impact on the city.

Community Service: Omaha NAACP honored local leaders under its “We the People” theme, raising support for education and housing and urging residents to stay civically engaged. Food Access: Nebraska Appleseed estimates about 40,000 people lost SNAP benefits this year after eligibility changes; food advocates say added paperwork requirements are making it harder for families to get help. Higher Education: UNO political science professor Carson Holloway was selected to lead the University of Iowa’s Center for Intellectual Freedom, amid a dispute over the center’s direction and its outgoing interim director’s allegations. Small-Business Tech: Meta trained more than 70 Omaha business owners to use an AI tool, as local entrepreneurs stressed the need for human review and safeguards for business information. Community Tradition: The Tri-City Food Fight returns Nov. 1, with Hastings Museum, Stuhr Museum and Kearney Archway collecting donations for local food pantries. Campus Life: NCTA couple Paige and Wyatt Meyers share a passion for stock-dog trials, building a hobby around their Border Collies and agricultural studies.

Lincoln Arts: UNL students can apply by Oct. 25 to collaborate with artist Pablo Helguera on “Shape Note Lyceum,” a project that will shape a 2027 Sheldon Museum of Art exhibition. History & Ideas: Historian Nathaniel Philbrick will discuss the American Revolution at a free Oct. 27 lecture at Lincoln’s Lied Center. Campus Life: UNL earned top marks for engaging students and staff in sustainability, while UNO students help preserve the university’s history through its archives and museum. Nebraska Finds: A 6-year-old boy’s discovery of a rare marine fossil has drawn attention to the state’s ancient past. Community: Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird nominated entrepreneur and former agriculture teacher Seth Derner to the local planning commission. Public Voices: No Kings rallies in Lincoln and Omaha brought demonstrators together to protest President Trump’s policies.

Ballot Watch: Nebraska’s Supreme Court cleared the “Fairness for Girls” initiative to remain on the ballot, allowing voters to decide on a proposed constitutional amendment covering sex-separate athletics. Culture & Memory: Hastings Museum is continuing consultations with Tribal Nations under federal rules for the care of Native American remains and cultural items. At UNO, student archivists help preserve university and Omaha-area history through rare collections. Civic Life: No Kings rallies in Lincoln and Omaha drew demonstrators opposing President Trump’s policies, bringing a nationwide day of protest to Nebraska communities.

Native Heritage: Hastings Museum is consulting Tribal Nations and descendants as it reviews Native American ancestors and cultural items in its collections, aiming to build relationships and guide decisions with the communities connected to them. Agricultural Education: Chambers native Claire Woeppel is wrapping up a year as a national FFA leader, reflecting on the shared enthusiasm she found among students from small rural chapters to larger programs. Community Volunteering: Lincoln’s monthly “Thrift & Sip” nights invite guests to help prepare St. Louise Gift & Thrift for sales, browse vintage finds and support Catholic Social Services. Literary Heritage: Red Cloud’s Willa Cather sites connect visitors with the Nebraska author’s life and fiction; 26 locations across town and nearby countryside are tied to her work. Public Life: No Kings rallies in Lincoln and Omaha brought demonstrators together to oppose Trump administration policies and encourage early voting.

Youth Online Safety: Grand Island police are urging parents to stay involved and remind teens that online gaming and long chats don’t prove someone is trustworthy; undercover investigations have led to charges involving suspected predators. Inclusive Halloween: Omaha’s Education Rights Counsel hosted a free sensory-friendly haunted house at UNO, giving children who can be overwhelmed by noise or touch a more comfortable way to join Halloween fun. Civic Life: No Kings rallies in Lincoln and Omaha drew demonstrators urging early voting, with participants citing issues including women’s rights, health care and immigration. Youth & Agriculture: Nebraska FFA’s Ignite conference in Kearney introduced seventh- through ninth-graders to agriculture, leadership and career paths, including students with no farm background. Family Discovery: A 6-year-old Nebraska boy found a rare fossil at Schramm Park, renewing interest in the state’s prehistoric past.

Community & Activism: No Kings rallies in Lincoln and Omaha drew Nebraskans opposed to President Trump’s policies; Lincoln protesters cited women’s rights, health care and immigration among their concerns. Inclusive Halloween: Omaha’s Education Rights Counsel hosted a free, sensory-friendly haunted house at UNO, creating a Halloween option for children who can be overwhelmed by noise or touch. Youth & Agriculture: Nebraska FFA’s Ignite conference in Kearney introduced seventh- through ninth-graders to leadership, agriculture and career paths, including students with no farm background. Arts & Culture: Omaha’s comedy scene is growing, while a new exhibition celebrates Latino culture; in Lincoln, volunteer “Thrift & Sip” nights mix secondhand shopping with service. Campus Design: UNL’s expanded Architecture Hall pairs historic spaces with a mass-timber pavilion, studios and gathering areas for students.

Civic Life: No Kings rallies drew a few hundred demonstrators to the Nebraska Capitol on Saturday, with additional protests in Omaha and elsewhere in the state. Attendees cited women’s rights, health care, immigration and the Iran war among their concerns. Ballot Watch: Lincoln organizer Eric Underwood plans 15 separate petitions for Nebraska’s 2028 ballot, including proposals on property taxes, teacher pay and a seasonal fuel-tax break. He says he’ll release their wording after the Nov. 3 election. Youth & Agriculture: Nebraska FFA’s Ignite conference in Kearney introduced seventh- through ninth-graders to agriculture, leadership and the organization, helping young people explore a path they may not have encountered at home. Campus Design: UNL’s expanded Architecture Hall pairs historic buildings with a four-story mass-timber addition, adding studios and shared spaces for students and community events. Community & Culture: Lincoln’s monthly Thrift & Sip nights bring volunteers together to prepare St. Louise Gift & Thrift for sales, with proceeds supporting Catholic Social Services. An Omaha art exhibition is also celebrating Latino culture.

Nebraska Nights Out: Pawnee City native Larry the Cable Guy is bringing a $10,000 bull-riding challenge to Lincoln’s Pinnacle Bank Arena tonight, alongside a Professional Bull Riding event. Thrifting With a Purpose: Lincoln’s St. Louise Gift & Thrift invites volunteers to its Nov. 2 and Nov. 30 “Thrift & Sip” nights, pairing shop prep and vintage browsing with support for local social services. Arts & Culture: Omaha’s Latino culture art exhibition and a thriving comedy scene put local creativity in the spotlight. Music & Faith: Musicians gathered at Lincoln’s Cathedral of the Risen Christ to reflect on the role of prayer in music at Mass. On the Ballot: Nebraska held a public hearing on proposals to allow regulated online sports betting, with the initiatives set for voters this November.

Weekend Outings: Nebraska native Larry the Cable Guy brings a $10,000 bull-riding challenge to Pinnacle Bank Arena tonight, Oct. 17. Thrift & Community: Lincoln’s monthly “Thrift & Sip” invites volunteers to sort vintage finds and shop at St. Louise Gift & Thrift; the next evenings are Nov. 2 and 30, with proceeds supporting Catholic Social Services. Young Creators: Kearney High senior Chloe Rohwer is one of four semifinalists in a Nebraska student short-film competition exploring technology and mental wellness. Arts & Culture: Omaha’s Latino culture is celebrated in a new art exhibition, while Lincoln’s S.T.A.G.E. Theatre plans an evening of local art and an original play on Nov. 7. Education: Omaha’s Archbishop’s Dinner for Education raised nearly $1.1 million for student scholarships, a record total.