Jenna Ebbers
@ebbersjenna.bsky.social
K-12 education reporter @journalstar.com | email me at jebbers@journalstar.com |
Days after Gov. Jim Pillen announced McCook as the site for a new ICE detention center last week, questions, fears & rumors continued to swirl around the rural town in southwestern Nebraska.
"Town's not for it," one man told me. @journalstar.com
journalstar.com/news/state-r...
"Town's not for it," one man told me. @journalstar.com
journalstar.com/news/state-r...
'It just came overnight' — Planned Nebraska ICE detention center raises fears in McCook
Days after the sudden announcement that a state prison in McCook would be transformed into an ICE detention center, the community in the small town is still searching for answers.
journalstar.com
August 25, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Days after Gov. Jim Pillen announced McCook as the site for a new ICE detention center last week, questions, fears & rumors continued to swirl around the rural town in southwestern Nebraska.
"Town's not for it," one man told me. @journalstar.com
journalstar.com/news/state-r...
"Town's not for it," one man told me. @journalstar.com
journalstar.com/news/state-r...
Reposted by Jenna Ebbers
Red Willow County Commissioner Charles Fritsche has received multiple phone calls from concerned constituents, worried it will bring “hardened criminals” close to the community.
“Town’s not for it,” he told the Journal Star.
From @ebbersjenna.bsky.social:
journalstar.com/news/state-r...
“Town’s not for it,” he told the Journal Star.
From @ebbersjenna.bsky.social:
journalstar.com/news/state-r...
'It just came overnight' — Planned Nebraska ICE detention center raises fears in McCook
Days after the sudden announcement that a state prison in McCook would be transformed into an ICE detention center, the community in the small town is still searching for answers.
journalstar.com
August 25, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Red Willow County Commissioner Charles Fritsche has received multiple phone calls from concerned constituents, worried it will bring “hardened criminals” close to the community.
“Town’s not for it,” he told the Journal Star.
From @ebbersjenna.bsky.social:
journalstar.com/news/state-r...
“Town’s not for it,” he told the Journal Star.
From @ebbersjenna.bsky.social:
journalstar.com/news/state-r...
Three bond issues. Nine new schools. A new district office. Countless renovations.
In over 25 years, the head of operations
@lps.org touched every building and facility districtwide. He battled cancer. Ran marathons.
Now, he's retiring. @journalstar.com
journalstar.com/news/local/e...
In over 25 years, the head of operations
@lps.org touched every building and facility districtwide. He battled cancer. Ran marathons.
Now, he's retiring. @journalstar.com
journalstar.com/news/local/e...
'A legend': Scott Wieskamp shaped Lincoln Public Schools' footprint for quarter-century
Scott Wieskamp, LPS' longtime director of operations, is preparing for retirement, leaving behind a mark in every school in the district.
journalstar.com
June 30, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Three bond issues. Nine new schools. A new district office. Countless renovations.
In over 25 years, the head of operations
@lps.org touched every building and facility districtwide. He battled cancer. Ran marathons.
Now, he's retiring. @journalstar.com
journalstar.com/news/local/e...
In over 25 years, the head of operations
@lps.org touched every building and facility districtwide. He battled cancer. Ran marathons.
Now, he's retiring. @journalstar.com
journalstar.com/news/local/e...
Nearly 50 years after his death, a Lincoln woman still remembers her dad as kind and goofy. A good singer and organist. A dedicated teacher.
But there's one thing that has since faded away: his voice. And she hopes to hear once it again. @journalstar.com
journalstar.com/news/local/e...
But there's one thing that has since faded away: his voice. And she hopes to hear once it again. @journalstar.com
journalstar.com/news/local/e...
50 years after her father died, a Lincoln woman is on a search to hear his voice
A Lincoln woman and her family is searching for any stories, memories or details of their father, Barry McDevitt, a Lincoln teacher who hosted TV programs for students.
journalstar.com
June 9, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Nearly 50 years after his death, a Lincoln woman still remembers her dad as kind and goofy. A good singer and organist. A dedicated teacher.
But there's one thing that has since faded away: his voice. And she hopes to hear once it again. @journalstar.com
journalstar.com/news/local/e...
But there's one thing that has since faded away: his voice. And she hopes to hear once it again. @journalstar.com
journalstar.com/news/local/e...
The school district charged more than $100,000 to its 14 credit cards on golf course memberships for admin, a class vacation in Florida, trips to the nail salon and dozens of gift cards worth nearly $5,000.
“This is beyond disturbing."
@journalstar.com
journalstar.com/news/local/e...
“This is beyond disturbing."
@journalstar.com
journalstar.com/news/local/e...
Report: Nebraska school district spent over $100K on golf memberships, trips, gift cards
Throughout a 13-month span, the Isanti Community School district allegedly spent thousands of taxpayer dollars on gift cards, golf memberships for admins and a senior class trip to Florida.
journalstar.com
May 28, 2025 at 9:18 PM
The school district charged more than $100,000 to its 14 credit cards on golf course memberships for admin, a class vacation in Florida, trips to the nail salon and dozens of gift cards worth nearly $5,000.
“This is beyond disturbing."
@journalstar.com
journalstar.com/news/local/e...
“This is beyond disturbing."
@journalstar.com
journalstar.com/news/local/e...
Reposted by Jenna Ebbers
Cuts at the USDA include $340,000 for Nebraska schools -- including several public and private schools in Lincoln -- to buy fresh produce from local farmers.
From @ebbersjenna.bsky.social:
journalstar.com/news/local/e...
From @ebbersjenna.bsky.social:
journalstar.com/news/local/e...
LPS, other Nebraska schools to lose funding for local produce after USDA cuts
The USDA's funding cut will also impact child care centers throughout the state who planned to join the program thanks to an expansion plan approved last year.
journalstar.com
March 12, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Cuts at the USDA include $340,000 for Nebraska schools -- including several public and private schools in Lincoln -- to buy fresh produce from local farmers.
From @ebbersjenna.bsky.social:
journalstar.com/news/local/e...
From @ebbersjenna.bsky.social:
journalstar.com/news/local/e...
The @journalstar.com is hiring a breaking news reporter! The Journal Star is a great place to work with a collaborative, tight-knit newsroom. Come work with us!!
us242.dayforcehcm.com/CandidatePor...
us242.dayforcehcm.com/CandidatePor...
Job opportunity at Lee Enterprises - Breaking News Reporter-Lincoln, NE
us242.dayforcehcm.com
March 17, 2025 at 5:09 PM
The @journalstar.com is hiring a breaking news reporter! The Journal Star is a great place to work with a collaborative, tight-knit newsroom. Come work with us!!
us242.dayforcehcm.com/CandidatePor...
us242.dayforcehcm.com/CandidatePor...
A teacher and priest at Lincoln Pius X is being investigated for sexual misconduct with students after self-reporting to his therapist. More w/ @journalstar.com
journalstar.com/news/local/c...
journalstar.com/news/local/c...
Priest who taught at Lincoln Pius X High School under investigation for sexual misconduct
The Diocese of Lincoln placed the Rev. Joseph Bernardo, a long-time Pius X teacher, on administrative leave after he reported sexual misconduct to a counselor, the diocese said.
journalstar.com
March 11, 2025 at 9:53 PM
A teacher and priest at Lincoln Pius X is being investigated for sexual misconduct with students after self-reporting to his therapist. More w/ @journalstar.com
journalstar.com/news/local/c...
journalstar.com/news/local/c...
Reposted by Jenna Ebbers
Chief Deputy Ben Houchin said an autopsy will be done, but he is confident Goodrich's death was not the result of a homicide.
Lancaster County Sheriff's Office: Homicide not suspected in Tyler Goodrich case
Chief Deputy Ben Houchin said an autopsy will be done, but he is confident Goodrich's death was not the result of a homicide.
journalstar.com
March 10, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Chief Deputy Ben Houchin said an autopsy will be done, but he is confident Goodrich's death was not the result of a homicide.
Reposted by Jenna Ebbers
Nearly eight years ago, a Lincoln child care center employee had to act fast when a strange man entered the building. Now, she's helping other centers implement standard security protocol.
Child care centers across Lincoln work to implement standard security protocol
Nearly eight years ago, a Lincoln child care center employee had to act fast when a strange man entered the building. Now, she's helping other centers implement standard security protocol.
journalstar.com
February 24, 2025 at 1:05 AM
Nearly eight years ago, a Lincoln child care center employee had to act fast when a strange man entered the building. Now, she's helping other centers implement standard security protocol.
Reposted by Jenna Ebbers
After the Department of Government Efficiency cut funding to a UNL program aimed at improving teacher recruitment and retention, 16 teaching students have lost full-ride scholarships to the university.
DOGE funding cut causes UNL teaching students to lose scholarships
After the Department of Government Efficiency cut funding to a UNL program aimed at improving teacher recruitment and retention, 16 teaching students have lost full-ride scholarships to the university.
journalstar.com
February 24, 2025 at 12:02 PM
After the Department of Government Efficiency cut funding to a UNL program aimed at improving teacher recruitment and retention, 16 teaching students have lost full-ride scholarships to the university.
Reposted by Jenna Ebbers
This has been a difficult few days for the @journalstar.com team. Our editor, Dave Bundy, died Sunday after a long battle against bile duct cancer. He was 57. journalstar.com/news/local/d...
Dave Bundy, Lincoln Journal Star editor, tackled cancer twice with grace, grit
Dave Bundy battled a rare bile duct cancer, called cholangiocarcinoma, which has a five-year survival rate of under 20%, but he survived more than eight years. He died Sunday.
journalstar.com
February 24, 2025 at 2:43 PM
This has been a difficult few days for the @journalstar.com team. Our editor, Dave Bundy, died Sunday after a long battle against bile duct cancer. He was 57. journalstar.com/news/local/d...
For a UNL student, who was diagnosed with autism as a child, an 'essential' law has provided crucial disability protections for him throughout his education.
Now, a lawsuit joined by Nebraska threatens to take that away. More w/ @journalstar.com
journalstar.com/news/local/e...
Now, a lawsuit joined by Nebraska threatens to take that away. More w/ @journalstar.com
journalstar.com/news/local/e...
'Incredibly disappointing' — Families worry after Nebraska joins suit against disability protections
Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers is one of 17 Republican attorneys general across the country to join the lawsuit, which states that a long-held law mandating disability protections is unconstit...
journalstar.com
February 17, 2025 at 6:00 PM
For a UNL student, who was diagnosed with autism as a child, an 'essential' law has provided crucial disability protections for him throughout his education.
Now, a lawsuit joined by Nebraska threatens to take that away. More w/ @journalstar.com
journalstar.com/news/local/e...
Now, a lawsuit joined by Nebraska threatens to take that away. More w/ @journalstar.com
journalstar.com/news/local/e...
Reposted by Jenna Ebbers
Nebraska AG Mike Hilgers joined a federal lawsuit seeking to overturn Section 504, which requires schools make accommodations for students with disabilities.
@ebbersjenna.bsky.social reports on the growing concern among affected Nebraskans:
journalstar.com/news/local/e...
@ebbersjenna.bsky.social reports on the growing concern among affected Nebraskans:
journalstar.com/news/local/e...
'Incredibly disappointing' — Families worry after Nebraska joins suit against disability protections
Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers is one of 17 Republican attorneys general across the country to join the lawsuit, which states that a long-held law mandating disability protections is unconstit...
journalstar.com
February 16, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Nebraska AG Mike Hilgers joined a federal lawsuit seeking to overturn Section 504, which requires schools make accommodations for students with disabilities.
@ebbersjenna.bsky.social reports on the growing concern among affected Nebraskans:
journalstar.com/news/local/e...
@ebbersjenna.bsky.social reports on the growing concern among affected Nebraskans:
journalstar.com/news/local/e...
Reposted by Jenna Ebbers
A thread of recent airport news #LNK:
Hangars are meant for planes, but that isn't always what happens. The airport is cracking down on hangar misuse, but that worried some renters building planes.
Here are those worries and some interesting projects.
journalstar.com/news/local/b...
Hangars are meant for planes, but that isn't always what happens. The airport is cracking down on hangar misuse, but that worried some renters building planes.
Here are those worries and some interesting projects.
journalstar.com/news/local/b...
Lincoln Airport’s plan to limit hangar misuse worries some renters
The airport is limiting airplane construction lasting more than two years. Renters worry this could result in evictions. Officials said they would work with tenants while removing inactive tenants.
journalstar.com
January 27, 2025 at 3:31 PM
A thread of recent airport news #LNK:
Hangars are meant for planes, but that isn't always what happens. The airport is cracking down on hangar misuse, but that worried some renters building planes.
Here are those worries and some interesting projects.
journalstar.com/news/local/b...
Hangars are meant for planes, but that isn't always what happens. The airport is cracking down on hangar misuse, but that worried some renters building planes.
Here are those worries and some interesting projects.
journalstar.com/news/local/b...
Reposted by Jenna Ebbers
When Dr. Krabbenhoft was 12 he fell out a tree, breaking his back.
Now he helps people with similar injuries and connects with them because of his experience.
journalstar.com/news/local/b...
Now he helps people with similar injuries and connects with them because of his experience.
journalstar.com/news/local/b...
Lincoln doctor’s own experience helps him aid spinal injury patients
Dr. Paul Krabbenhoft, who suffered a spinal cord injury himself, tries to be open with Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals patients about his injury while helping them recover from their injuries.
journalstar.com
January 27, 2025 at 5:02 PM
When Dr. Krabbenhoft was 12 he fell out a tree, breaking his back.
Now he helps people with similar injuries and connects with them because of his experience.
journalstar.com/news/local/b...
Now he helps people with similar injuries and connects with them because of his experience.
journalstar.com/news/local/b...
A man was arrested this afternoon after attempting to break into McPhee Elementary with a bike. Staff immediately called the police and placed students into a lockdown. More w/ @journalstar.com
journalstar.com/news/local/c...
journalstar.com/news/local/c...
Man arrested after attempting to break into McPhee Elementary
Students at McPhee Elementary were placed into lockdown Wednesday afternoon after an unknown man attempted to break into the school.
journalstar.com
January 22, 2025 at 9:19 PM
A man was arrested this afternoon after attempting to break into McPhee Elementary with a bike. Staff immediately called the police and placed students into a lockdown. More w/ @journalstar.com
journalstar.com/news/local/c...
journalstar.com/news/local/c...
Reposted by Jenna Ebbers
We've seen tariffs and trade wars before. Here's what a second round of tariffs could look like for the Nebraska farm industry.
journalstar.com/news/local/b...
journalstar.com/news/local/b...
Trump's promised tariffs on Mexico, Canada, China loom over Nebraska farmers
Trump didn't immediately impose tariffs, but he proposed tariffs on products from Canada and Mexico and China, which could cause retaliation, affecting Nebraska’s agricultural industry.
journalstar.com
January 22, 2025 at 3:24 PM
We've seen tariffs and trade wars before. Here's what a second round of tariffs could look like for the Nebraska farm industry.
journalstar.com/news/local/b...
journalstar.com/news/local/b...
Reposted by Jenna Ebbers
The Rules Committee advanced two small, noncontroversial changes to the permanent rules on Tuesday, steering clear of measures that could have caused early fireworks this session.
journalstar.com/news/state-r...
journalstar.com/news/state-r...
January 21, 2025 at 9:26 PM
The Rules Committee advanced two small, noncontroversial changes to the permanent rules on Tuesday, steering clear of measures that could have caused early fireworks this session.
journalstar.com/news/state-r...
journalstar.com/news/state-r...
Reposted by Jenna Ebbers
Construction in the area could start as soon as 2028.
Right now the project is in a design phase and awaiting environmental checks. #LNK
Right now the project is in a design phase and awaiting environmental checks. #LNK
The project focuses on railroad crossings at North 33rd and Adams streets and aims to reduce collisions. The $66.7 million grant completes the funding needed for the project.
Lincoln celebrates largest federal grant yet for railroad crossing project
The project focuses on railroad crossings at North 33rd and Adams streets and aims to reduce collisions. The $66.7 million grant completes the funding needed for the project.
journalstar.com
January 15, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Construction in the area could start as soon as 2028.
Right now the project is in a design phase and awaiting environmental checks. #LNK
Right now the project is in a design phase and awaiting environmental checks. #LNK
The Lincoln Board of Ed has officially named John Skretta,
@lps.org's chief lobbyist, as the long term interim superintendent: "It's such a privilege to be able to step into this role." more w/ @journalstar.com
t.co/5yia2gJ057
@lps.org's chief lobbyist, as the long term interim superintendent: "It's such a privilege to be able to step into this role." more w/ @journalstar.com
t.co/5yia2gJ057
https://journalstar.com/news/local/education/lincoln-school-board-approves-chief-lobbyist-skretta-as-lps-interim-superintendent/article_092ef34c-d2a1-11ef-8165-932cad113635.html#tracking-source=home-t...
t.co
January 15, 2025 at 5:33 PM
The Lincoln Board of Ed has officially named John Skretta,
@lps.org's chief lobbyist, as the long term interim superintendent: "It's such a privilege to be able to step into this role." more w/ @journalstar.com
t.co/5yia2gJ057
@lps.org's chief lobbyist, as the long term interim superintendent: "It's such a privilege to be able to step into this role." more w/ @journalstar.com
t.co/5yia2gJ057
Reposted by Jenna Ebbers
Big box stores vs. local retailers is a a classic standoff. With another large store coming to town here's how this looks for liquor stores:
journalstar.com/news/local/b...
journalstar.com/news/local/b...
Independent Lincoln liquor stores worried about more big-box competition
Many of Lincoln's local liquor stores are bracing from more big box competition in the form of national chain Total Wine & More.
journalstar.com
January 12, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Big box stores vs. local retailers is a a classic standoff. With another large store coming to town here's how this looks for liquor stores:
journalstar.com/news/local/b...
journalstar.com/news/local/b...