January 23, 2026 (Scottsbluff, Neb.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— Investigators with the Nebraska State Patrol have arrested a former Scotts Bluff County corrections officer after an investigation into a reported incident involving an inmate.

On Thursday, investigators arrested Christopher Schlosser, 55, of Scottsbluff, for one count of sexual abuse of an inmate. The arrest occurred at Schlosser’s home. The incident occurred on October 13, 2025. Schlosser resigned his position at the Scotts Bluff County Detention Center shortly thereafter, after being placed on administrative leave, pending investigation.

The incident was reported to the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office, which has worked with NSP during the investigation. The Scotts Bluff County Detention Center also assisted in this investigation. Schlosser was lodged at the Scotts Bluff County Detention Center.

Former Corrections Officer Arrested for Sexual Abuse of Inmate

The Hot Sheets: January 24, 2026

The Hot Sheets: January 23, 2026

The Hot Sheets: January 22, 2026

By Cindy Gonzalez | Nebraska Examiner

Mark and Robyn Jones hope to invest and build ‘world-class cattle operation’

LINCOLN — In what appears to be a record-high buy for a Nebraska ranch, a roughly 40,000-acre Sandhills property with a history of prominent owners has shifted hands to a self-made billionaire insurance couple with a vision to build a “world-class cattle operation.”

Sold for $56 million, Lincoln County’s Pawnee Springs Ranch on Tuesday became the latest investment for Mark and Robyn Jones of Westlake, Texas. The high school sweethearts with a growing family of six kids and 20 grandchildren said they were seeking to diversify their business ventures.

Among other key holdings is part ownership of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.goosehead.com/about/" target="_blank">Goosehead Insurance</a>, a public company the Joneses founded and grew, and a sprawling forested timberland ranch the pair bought a few years ago in Montana.&nbsp;

“What we wanted to do is have a sizable operation that focuses on actual agricultural production,” Mark Jones said in an interview days ago on his 64th birthday. “The Sandhills quickly jumped to the top of the list.”

Mark Johnson of Hall and Hall, which handles ag real estate in nine states, said Pawnee Springs Ranch “exemplifies the top qualities of a Nebraska Sandhills river ranch.”

Drawn by the property’s 2,500 mother cows, wildlife habitat, native range, river corridors and other ag benefits of the Ogallala Aquifer, Jones said the search led them to the Nebraska ranchland east of North Platte, whose name harkens to the area’s original Native American inhabitants.

Hall and Hall, an ag focused multi-state real estate company based in Valentine, represented both the buyer and seller in the private listing deal, with local agent Mark Johnson serving as listing broker.&nbsp;

When Hall and Hall represented owners of the Nebraska Metzger ranch last year, the asking price for that 55,136-acre property was $50 million, an amount brokers described then as possible state record for a ranch sale. Johnson said the Metzger family ultimately decided to keep the Cherry County multigenerational ranch and work through the family dynamics.

Publicly available documents show that the Gottsch Feeding Corp. sold Pawnee Springs Land and Cattle LLC Tuesday for $56 million.

“It’s the largest total dollar ranch sale we’ve been able to determine from any records we could find,” Johnson said.

Among past owners of the Pawnee Springs property, which dates back to 1918, are names that ring familiar to Nebraska business and social circles. A former Nebraska governor, Keith Neville, was a previous owner. Construction titan Peter Kiewit bought the operation in 1949. He once told the North Platte Telegraph that the ranch derived its name from the natural springs that flowed.

The family behind Gottsch Feeding Corp. started leasing in 1985 and eventually purchased the ranch. In a statement regarding Tuesday’s sale, the Gottsches said “with a heavy heart” it agreed to sell a ranch that has been part of their family for 41 years.

“With three generations being a part of the spring brandings, summer grass and fall/winter backgroundings, Pawnee has shaped many lives,” the Gottsches said, offering special thanks to the Boeshart family caretakers and to neighbors who pitched in to help during branding season. “Those memories will always be cherished.”

The Gottsch statement said its family business footprint spans Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri and Texas, and its commitment stretches seven decades of “bridging the gap between ranching, high-tech feedlot management and sustainable farming.”

Under the new ownership, Pawnee Springs for the most part will maintain current operations, said Ryan Langston, son-in-law to Jones and new CEO of the ranch. That includes raising calves from birth to weaning and returning them to grass as yearlings, as well as running ag pivots.

Three cowboys who now live and work on the ranch will stay, Langston said, and a new manager is to be hired to replace the current one who he said is moving on with the Gottsches.

“We are making a long-term commitment to the area,” Langston said. “We intend to hire local talent where possible, partner with our neighbors and make meaningful contributions to the local community.”

Known also for philanthropy, the Joneses in 2021 donated $101 million to the Montana State University nursing program — the home state of the scenic Flathead Ridge Ranch they bought that year. The couple&nbsp;<a href="https://www.montana.edu/news/21412/a-day-of-new-beginnings-msu-nursing-college-receives-101-million-gift-from-founders-of-goosehead-insurance" target="_blank">told the university</a>&nbsp;news service their intention was to help address one of the most defining challenges of the time: access to health care, particularly for residents of rural and remote areas.

The university at the time called it the largest ever donation to a college of nursing and the largest private gift in the state’s history.

Regarding the Nebraska purchase, Jones told the Examiner he and his wife hope it is the first of more acquisitions in the region. He said they were eager to invest in and build a “large-scale, truly world-class beef production operation … that in its most fundamental form is converting grass to protein.”&nbsp;

He sees the family’s focus being in Nebraska, Kansas, Wyoming and Montana. The Pawnee Springs operation, he said, “will be a platform we can build onto.”

As a commercial enterprise, the Nebraska tract differs from the Jones’ 125,000-acre alpine ranch in Montana, which they refer to as a&nbsp;<a href="https://flatheadbeacon.com/2021/02/08/texas-power-couple-acquires-125800-acres-of-timberland-west-of-kalispell/" target="_blank">“family legacy investment.</a>” Jones said he and his wife have tried to continue that property’s historical use by keeping the vast majority open to public recreation.

There, he said, “our objective is really to&nbsp;<a href="https://flatheadbeacon.com/2021/06/09/meet-the-joneses/" target="_blank">conserve the land</a>. It’s been fairly heavily logged … So we’re very focused on nursing the forest back to optimal health.”&nbsp;

The Joneses are not planning to live in Nebraska, but hope to be “active participants” in the local community.

Said Jones: “You should expect us to have a very real and ongoing presence and engagement with the community.”

The couple’s fortune is built upon a relationship that started as teens in Alberta, Canada. Married young and with their first few kids, Jones said he enrolled in college in the mid-1980s. In 1989, the family moved to Boston so he could attend Harvard Business School.

“Robyn was pregnant at that time with our fifth daughter. I believe that we still hold the record for the greatest number of kids for any Harvard Business School student,” Jones said with a chuckle.

He worked several years at Bain global management consulting firm. Robyn went from stay-at-home mom to work that led her to establish the insurance company the couple continued to grow together, after her husband made a job switch.

“When I told my partners (at Bain) I was leaving, they all laughed,” Jones recalled. “They thought, ‘This Jones has lost his mind.’ But you know, we’re very comfortable with people laughing at us.”

The Joneses remain chair and vice chair of Goosehead, a large national insurance broker that connects people with various home, auto, flood and other insurance carriers. Forbes estimates the couple’s combined net worth at $2 billion, and included Robyn on a 2025 list of America’s richest “self-made” women entrepreneurs, noting a net worth for her of $1.2 billion.

An appealing part of the Nebraska ranch purchase, said Jones, whose early jobs included laying pipe and driving a truck, was the opportunity to have their grandkids work there.&nbsp;

“We want our grandkids to learn and see the value of hard work,” he said.

He said his dealings with the sellers reflected an integrity he equates to the ranching operation.

“These are the kind of people we love to do business with,” he said.

Nebraska Sandhills ranch draws record sale price, shifts to Texas insurance billionaire couple

The Hot Sheets: January 21, 2026

The Hot Sheets: January 20, 2026

LINCOLN, Neb. — Fifteen people were killed in traffic crashes on Nebraska roadways during December 2025, according to data released by the Nebraska Department of Transportation.

The fatalities occurred in 15 separate crashes statewide. NDOT reports that four of the nine vehicle occupants killed were not wearing seatbelts, while four were using seatbelts. Seatbelt use for one occupant was listed as unknown.

Ten of the fatalities occurred in rural locations, as defined by the Federal Highway Administration as areas with a population of fewer than 5,000. One fatal crash occurred on the interstate, while seven took place on other highways and seven occurred on local roads.

Pedestrians accounted for four of the December fatalities. One fatality involved a bicyclist, one involved an occupant of a motorized wheelchair, and one involved a person riding an all-terrain vehicle.

For the full year, Nebraska recorded 227 traffic fatalities in 2025, matching the total reported in 2023. That figure is down from 252 fatalities in 2024 and below the four-year average of 236 fatalities from 2021 through 2024.

NDOT reports that only 62 of the 170 vehicle occupants killed statewide in 2025 were using seatbelts.

Additional traffic fatality data, including daily counts, is available at ndot.info/tollcompare.

The report includes information available through January 14, 2026, from NDOT’s Highway Safety Section in the Traffic Engineering Division.

Fifteen killed in Nebraska traffic crashes during December

The Hot Sheets: January 19, 2026

The Hot Sheets: January 18, 2026

The NSP Special Investigations Team is investigating a Mitchell Police and Scotts Bluff County officer-involved shooting that occurred Friday evening. 

One person was hospitalized. No officers were injured. There is no threat to the public. More information will be released when possible.&nbsp;&nbsp;

NSP Investigating Officer Involved Shooting in Panhandle

On today's episode of Knight's Weekly, Paxton sat down with Jacob Brandl, Head Coach of the North Platte Community College Men's Basketball team, to discuss a successful three-game homestand against Region 9 South opponents.&nbsp;

🎙️ Knight's Weekly #13 2026 featuring North Platte Community College Men's Basketball Coach Jacob Brandl

On today's episode of Knight's Weekly, Paxton sat down with Jeff Thurman, Head Coach of the North Platte Community College Women's Basketball team, and discussed an the first back-to-back of 2026 and what it meant for team to see the hard work starting to pay off.

🎙️ Knight's Weekly #9 2025 featuring North Platte Community College Women's Basketball Coach Jeff Thurman

Listen to the full interview with Ogallala City Manager Kevin Wilkins on our Kubota Podcast

Ogallala City Council Approves Board Appointments, Infrastructure Plans, and Airport Updates

OGALLALA — The Ogallala City Council kicked off 2026 by approving appointments to multiple city boards, discussing ongoing infrastructure projects, and reviewing plans for airport improvements at Monday night’s meeting.

City Manager Kevin Wilkins highlighted several new board appointments, including the city’s newly formed Historic Preservation Commission. 

“Ogallala is now one of 12 certified local governments with the Nebraska Historic Preservation Commission,” Wilkins said. Barb Jeffries was appointed to a two-year term, and Cody Quinn will serve three years.

 The commission plans to meet January 27, with Nebraska State Historical Preservation Director Kelly Bacon attending to discuss potential updates to the Historic Overlay at Ogallala Middle School.

Additional appointments included Ray Diaz and Jordan Namath to three-year terms on the Planning and Zoning Commission and Richard Kester to the Tree Board. Wilkins encouraged residents interested in trees to apply for the remaining openings.

The council also reviewed updates from the Ogallala YMCA, which has seen growing participation in programs and the city’s pool. Wilkins said the pool’s attendance has “probably tripled” under new management.

 “If you’re going to spend the money, you want to see people using it,” he said. Officials are exploring the possibility of forming a local swim team and expanding youth programming.

Infrastructure needs were also a major topic, including the cost of repairs following a lift station failure on the south side of town. Wilkins explained that the pumps were “probably undersized for the job” and that both failed simultaneously, leading to an emergency discharge of wastewater into a contained area of the river. 

He added, “Fortunately, there was a valve on it, so we got that fixed,” and the city expects the repairs to cost about $200,000.

At the airport, council members approved issuing a request for proposals for a fixed-base operator at Serial Field. Wilkins said the goal is to increase aviation-related business and streamline fuel sales. 

“We would really just like to have more activity at that airport,” he said. Plans include $8 million in runway improvements and additional hangar capacity.

The council also discussed long-term street and drainage projects, including a proposed half-cent infrastructure sales tax aimed at funding repairs while reducing property tax burdens. 

Wilkins said, “Once a lot of your costs are in mobilizing and engineering, you can get some efficiencies. That’s the kind of momentum we need within the community.”

City officials plan to implement online permitting through the Planning and Building Department by February 9 to streamline applications for residents and businesses. 

Wilkins concluded, “We’re just going to keep rocking and rolling in the City of Ogallala.”

🎙️Ogallala City Council Moves Forward on Boards, Infrastructure, and Airport Plans

Listen to the full interview with Lane Anderson on our Kubota Podcast

Keith County, Neb. - Keith County Commissioner Lane Anderson shared updates from the county’s January 14 meeting during a recent radio interview, outlining several ongoing projects and administrative actions.

Among the key items discussed were the setting of county elected official salaries and the county’s insurance renewal process. The board also completed its annual reorganization, with Corey Crandall continuing as chairman of the Keith County Board of Commissioners.

Commissioners reviewed year-end reports and discussed creating a nuisance application process that could be used when applying for nuisance-related grants. The county highway department completed its annual fuel bids and recently purchased a scraper and disc in an effort to improve county road maintenance.

Anderson also noted recent personnel changes. Longtime Keith County employee Lori Hood retired after 40 years of service. Commissioners appointed J.D. Cartwright to fill her role as the county’s new Emergency Operations Center director.

Additional updates included ongoing EMS-related discussions, current jail population numbers, and road conditions impacted by dry winter weather. Anderson said he plans to provide regular monthly updates moving forward and confirmed he will be running for re-election this year.

🎙️Keith County Commissioners January 14 Update

On today's episode of Knight's Weekly, Paxton sat down with Jeff Thurman, Head Coach of the North Platte Community College Women's Basketball team, and discussed an encouraging performance in the first game back from winter break against McCook Community College and what they need to do going forward to continue this form.

🎙️ Knight's Weekly #8 2025 featuring North Platte Community College Women's Basketball Coach Jeff Thurman

On today's episode of Knight's Weekly, Paxton sat down with Jacob Brandl, Head Coach of the North Platte Community College Men's Basketball team, to talk about the positive impact last Saturday's victory over McCook Community College had on the team so far. Also, what to expect from the team going forward as region play begins.

🎙️ Knight's Weekly #12 2026 featuring North Platte Community College Men's Basketball Coach Jacob Brandl

By Allison Peck | North Platte Post/Sandhills Post

Listen to the full interview with Seth Schneider on our Kubota Podcast

Hershey, Neb. — Most people recognize the sound of an auctioneer the moment they hear it. Few stop to think about how someone learns to do it — or how far that skill can take them.

For Seth Schneider of Hershey, Nebraska, it has taken him to the national stage.

Schneider recently placed in the top 10 at a World Livestock Auctioneer Championship qualifying event in Bowman, North Dakota. The finish earned him a spot in the 2026 World Livestock Auctioneer Championship, which will be held in St. Onge, South Dakota.

His path into auctioneering started early and close to home.

“It kind of runs in the family,” Schneider said. “My great-grandpa and my uncle were both auctioneers.”

As a kid, Schneider spent time at the sale barn with his grandmother, who fed a few head of cattle each year. Listening to auctioneers call bids left a strong impression.

“I just always loved listening to the auctioneer,” he said. “That’s when I decided it was something I wanted to do.”

By the time he was six or seven years old, Schneider was already practicing his chant. As he got older, sports and school took more of his time, but the interest never fully went away. In high school, a conversation with his agriculture teacher brought the idea back into focus.

“That’s when it really clicked,” Schneider said. “It just made sense.”

Learning to auction wasn’t easy. Schneider said it takes time and steady practice to find the right rhythm — and even more work to keep it sharp.

“Once you get your chant down, it starts to feel natural,” he said. “But it takes constant practice.”

That work paid off at the Bowman qualifying event, which was hosted by Sioux Falls Regional Livestock of Worthing, South Dakota. The contest marked Schneider’s fourth Livestock Marketing Association qualifying event.

When officials announced the top 10 finishers, Schneider’s name was called last.

“They definitely made me wait,” he said. “I was surprised, but really grateful.”

The competition drew auctioneers from across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Schneider said staying relaxed was important, especially before taking the block.

“You just try to stay calm, visit with people and keep your nerves under control,” he said.

Schneider now works weekly at the North Platte Stockyards and credits much of his growth to mentorship and experience.

“I’m lucky to work behind a really good mentor in Kyle Scowl,” he said. “I’ve learned a lot from him.”

While auctioneering often sounds fast and technical, Schneider said the job is really about people.

“For a lot of producers, selling cattle is their main paycheck for the year,” he said. “Being able to represent them and do a good job for them means a lot.”

Nebraska has a strong history in the World Livestock Auctioneer Championship, though it has been nearly two decades since the state last claimed the top title. The most recent Nebraska world champion was Matt Lowery of Burwell, who won the championship in 2008.

Despite the national recognition, Schneider said his focus remains the same.

“I just want to keep getting better and do the best job I can every week,” he said.

The 2026 World Livestock Auctioneer Championship will be livestreamed on the Livestock Marketing Association’s YouTube page, with a televised special later airing on RFD-TV.

For young people interested in auctioneering, Schneider said persistence matters.

“Don’t get discouraged,” he said. “Find a mentor and keep practicing.”

From family roots to a place on the world stage, Schneider’s story reflects both the tradition and the future of auctioneering in western Nebraska.

🎙️Western Nebraska Auctioneer Qualifies for World Championship

On today's late episode of Knight's Weekly, Paxton sat down with Jacob Brandl, Head Coach of the North Platte Community College Men's Basketball team, and welcomed back Coach to discuss all things first semester and share his goals and expectations for his players heading into the second half of the season.

🎙️ Knight's Weekly #11 2026 featuring North Platte Community College Men's Basketball Coach Jacob Brandl

Listen to the full interview with Kerri Anderson on our Kubota Podcast

OGALLALA — Local women are proving that small contributions can make a big difference with 100+ Women Who Care – Keith County, a group that combines resources to support nonprofit organizations throughout the county.

The group, organized in 2019, meets four times a year for just one hour, with members contributing $100 each per meeting. The collective donations, often totaling more than $10,000 per quarter, go directly to local charities selected by majority vote at each meeting. Since its first gathering in January 2020, the Keith County chapter has donated more than $233,000 to area nonprofits.

“Even as individuals, it would be difficult to make this kind of impact,” said Keri Anderson, one of the organizers. “But when we come together, the difference we can make for our community is huge.”

Meetings are held upstairs at Front Street in the Hayloft in Ogallala, with women arriving at 5 p.m. for an optional meal and the meeting starting promptly at 6 p.m. Each session features three nonprofits presenting their case for funding with 10-minute presentations and five minutes for questions. Ballots are then counted and the winning organization announced that night, with new presenters drawn for the following quarter.

The group serves communities across Keith County, including Ogallala, Paxton, Keystone, Lemoyne, and Brule. Over the years, donations have supported a wide range of local causes, including, but not limited to, the Paxton Library, Keith County Historical Society, senior centers, Friends of the FFA, Royal Family Kids Camp, the American Legion Post 135, the Regional Arts Council, the Food Pantry, the Backpack Program, and Bridge of Hope.

Anderson said the Paxton Library, the group’s first recipient, had an annual budget of less than $5,000. The $10,000 donation allowed the library to expand services and resources significantly. 

“For them to receive that kind of support in one giving was incredible,” Anderson said.

The upcoming January 12 meeting will feature presentations from Keep Keith County Beautiful, the Backpack Program, and First Impressions. Anderson encourages women interested in joining to attend, even without committing immediately. 

“Come see what it’s all about, talk to the organizations, and see the impact firsthand,” she said.

Meals for the January 12 meeting are optional and require advance orders. Options include creamy mushroom and asparagus chicken penne for $15, chicken corn chowder soup in a bread bowl for $12, and grilled steak tips with mashed potatoes and asparagus for $21. Meal orders must be submitted by 8 a.m. Sunday, though women who do not plan to eat are welcome to attend the meeting at 6 p.m.

Anderson said the group’s impact goes beyond the money donated. “Sometimes you can talk yourself out of giving $50 or $100, but when you join together with a hundred women or more, the impact is huge. Watching these organizations receive funding, seeing their reaction — it’s overwhelming and emotional, and it makes it worth every minute,” she said.

100+ Women Who Care – Keith County offers a simple, meaningful way for women to give back, connect with other community members, and make a lasting local impact — all in just one hour per quarter.

The next meeting is Monday, January 12, with meal beginning at 5 p.m. , upstairs at Front Street Steakhouse and the meeting will begin promptly at 6 p.m. If you plan to join the meal portion of the evening, RSVP with meal choices must be in by 8 a.m. on January 8.

🎙️100+ Women Who Care – Keith County Brings Big Impact to Local Charities 

By Allison Peck | North Platte Post/Sandhills Post

Hear the full interview with Paxton Gordon on our Kubota Podcast

Eagle Communications in North Platte is entering a new chapter with the promotion of Paxton Gordon to Operations Manager, a move that reflects both the company’s commitment to internal growth and Gordon’s steady rise within the organization.

Gordon officially stepped into the role at the start of the new year after longtime Operations Manager Derek Beck departed Eagle Communications to pursue his own venture, Your Ag Network. Beck had worked for Eagle Communications for just over five years, celebrating his five-year Eagle anniversary in December.

Beck’s departure followed months of transition planning, allowing for a smooth handoff of responsibilities and providing Gordon time to prepare for the role.

For Gordon, the promotion represents both an opportunity and a challenge. Now overseeing operations for five Eagle radio stations in North Platte, he is responsible for keeping the day-to-day mechanics of the stations running while supporting on-air staff, production, and sports coverage.

“They’re like my children now,” Gordon said, referring to the stations. “I have to always worry about them.”

Gordon, a Kansas State University graduate, earned his degree in Mass Communications and Journalism from the A.Q. Miller School of Journalism. His path into broadcasting, however, was not a straightforward one. He initially entered college planning to follow family members into aerospace engineering before realizing that career path wasn’t the right fit.

Radio, it turned out, had already been quietly shaping his future.

Growing up, Gordon spent his early morning drives to school listening to a local sports radio show hosted by broadcaster Jim Davis, whom he still considers an inspiration. That daily routine sparked an interest that followed him through high school and into college, eventually steering him toward broadcasting.

With encouragement from his mother—who reminded him that his love of talking could be turned into a career—and guidance from industry professionals, Gordon began to seriously consider radio. A pivotal moment came during a conversation with longtime Kansas State play-by-play broadcaster Wyatt Thompson, who helped Gordon better understand the possibilities within the field.

“That was really the start of everything,” Gordon said, reflecting on the moment he realized radio could be his future.

After graduating in 2021, Gordon accepted his first broadcasting position in Marysville, Kansas. While the job provided valuable experience, the daily hour-long commute prompted him to explore other opportunities. After interning for Eagle in Manhattan, KS he was eventually offered the full-time Sports Director position in North Platte.

Gordon relocated to North Platte within weeks and quickly became a familiar voice across Eagle’s stations. In addition to sports coverage, he took on production responsibilities, steadily expanding his role behind the scenes.

Now nearing four years with the company, Gordon’s promotion to Operations Manager aligns with Eagle Communications’ long-standing practice of promoting from within.

“It’s one big family,” Gordon said. “They like to keep things internal, reward people who work hard, and keep good people around.”

Stepping into the Operations Manager role means following Beck, whom Gordon credits as both a mentor and a respected leader during his five-plus years with the company.

“Derek’s a superstar in terms of what he’s done,” Gordon said. “There are big shoes to fill.”

In the short term, Gordon will continue handling sports duties through the end of basketball season. Coverage of North Platte Community College and North Platte High School games will remain unchanged for now, with a transition planned as Eagle moves into spring sports. Eagle Communications is actively working to fill the Sports Director and Production Manager position, allowing Gordon to fully focus on his expanded leadership role.

Despite recent staffing changes across departments, Gordon emphasized that listeners should not expect major disruptions.

“We’ve been pretty adaptable over the last few years,” he said. “I don’t think anything too drastic is going to change.”

Those changes include on-air schedule adjustments and internal role shifts that Gordon believes strengthen the overall lineup while maintaining the consistency radio audiences value.

Even as the youngest member of the office, Gordon now leads the North Platte operation, a responsibility he approaches with humility and humor. He credits teamwork, routine, and what he jokingly refers to as the office’s “feng shui” for keeping things running smoothly.

“It’s definitely a little weird,” he said of the transition. “But it was time to take on a new challenge.”

As he begins his first full week as Operations Manager, Gordon remains focused on stability, growth, and serving the North Platte community through local radio.

“Nothing’s really going to change,” Gordon said. “It’s going to be the same great radio. We’re going to put in the effort and do the best we can.”

For Eagle Communications in North Platte, Gordon’s promotion signals continuity backed by fresh leadership—grounded in experience, familiarity, and a genuine passion for radio.

🎙️Paxton Gordon Takes on Operations Manager Role at Eagle Communications in North Platte

🎥March for Life: Vance touts Trump admin. record against abortion

On Jan. 23, at the direction of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations, according to a statement from the U.S. Southern Command.

 Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations. Two narco-terrorists were killed and one survived the strike. Following the engagement, U.S. Southern Command immediately notified the Coast Guard to activate the Search and Rescue system for the survivor.&nbsp;

🎥US carries out first deadly strike on drug boat since Maduro’s capture

By Zach Wendling | Nebraska Examiner

Lawmakers say they’re reviewing board shakeup; one called it the ‘nuclear option’

LINCOLN —&nbsp;The University of Nebraska and Clarkson Regional Health Services are replacing nearly all members of the Nebraska Medicine Board of Directors as NU moves forward with an $800 million deal for sole ownership of the nonprofit medical provider.

The restructuring could end a&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-medicine-suing-to-stop-800-million-nu-clarkson-deal-for-nu-sole-ownership/">lawsuit pursued by the Nebraska Medicine board</a>&nbsp;to stop the deal. A majority of four new voting members, all NU and Clarkson leaders, support the deal.

“[NU and Clarkson] have since determined that this action was necessary to protect the organization’s reputation, stability, and future, and to ensure it can continue to fulfill its charitable mission effectively long into the future,” NU and Clarkson said in a joint statement.

The NU Board of Regents announced in a Thursday news release that it, along with Clarkson, had filed new articles of incorporation for Nebraska Medicine with the Nebraska Secretary of State’s Office. The amended articles were filed shortly after 8 a.m. Thursday. NU and Clarkson have overseen the nonprofit hospital and clinic partner of the University of Nebraska Medical Center in a 50-50 split since 1997.

The NU-Clarkson transaction&nbsp;includes NU paying Clarkson $500 million for its 50% stake in the nonprofit, plus $300 million for related properties. The deal is expected to close by June 30.

After the transaction finishes, Clarkson has pledged to donate $200 million back to NU for “Project Health,” a $2.19 billion endeavor to build up the next generation of health care.

Regents say the Nebraska Medicine changes are needed because NU and Clarkson “have serious concerns about recent actions and behavior” of previous Nebraska Medicine board members. NU and Clarkson argue those actions “threatened critically important mission-driven strategic initiatives.”&nbsp;

The NU regents on Jan. 8 asked the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office to investigate the nonprofit board, too.

“We have initiated a thorough review of these allegations,” an AG’s Office spokesperson said in a text last week. “Any investigation our office conducts will remain strictly confidential.”

The Nebraska Medicine board, before the changes, pushed back on those claims before and said they had “no merit” and said they were an effort to distract from questions about the NU-Clarkson deal.&nbsp;The former board members said they had been left out of meaningful negotiations, including a possible alternative.

In a statement last week issued by the nonprofit’s former leadership, the board said it “must uphold its fiduciary duties to Nebraska Medicine, and our opposition to and questions about the regents’ transaction fully [align] with that duty.”

According to the joint statements Thursday, NU and Clarkson said they desired to complete the “transformative transaction” without board changes. They say the changes came after a “careful review of current circumstances,” Nebraska Medicine’s governing documents and the law.

Only Davies was actively on the board before Thursday. Gold was a member during his time as UNMC chancellor, starting as the inaugural board chair in 2016.

There will also be four nonvoting members who all previously served on the Nebraska Medicine board by virtue of their positions. They are the dean of the UNMC College of Medicine, chair of surgery in the UNMC College of Medicine, Nebraska Medicine’s chief nursing officer and chief of staff of The Nebraska Medical Center medical staff.

The changes remove Nebraska Medicine’s CEO, Dr. Michael Ash, and seven other members, including Lance Fritz, the previous chair, who led opposition to the NU-Clarkson changes.&nbsp;

Fritz, who was president and CEO of Union Pacific between 2015 and 2023, did not immediately return a call seeking comment Thursday.

The day before the vote last week, NU and Nebraska Medicine hosted competing forums with state lawmakers on the deal. In the wake of Thursday’s board restructuring, multiple senators said they needed to review what had happened before commenting.

State Sen. Eliot Bostar of Lincoln called the board changes the “nuclear option.” Another senator said it was like adding gasoline to a fire.

Multiple senators described the situation as a “clash of the titans,” which was only made public Jan. 2 after strict non-disclosure agreements. The deal proceeded in less than two weeks.&nbsp;

State Sen. Merv Riepe of Ralston, a former hospital administrator, said he worried about impacts to the Omaha philanthropic community.

State Sen. Tony Sorrentino of the Elkhorn area proposed&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=63652&amp;docnum=LB1125&amp;leg=109" target="_blank">Legislative Bill 1125</a>&nbsp;this year at Nebraska Medicine’s urging. It would require any such NU deals for hospitals above $100 million to obtain legislative approval.&nbsp;

Thursday’s action might increase pressure for lawmakers to step in.

“Came out of left field,” Sorrentino said Thursday of the board restructuring.

NU, Clarkson replace nearly all Nebraska Medicine board members in escalating ownership fight

By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ariana-figueroa/">Ariana Figueroa</a>

WASHINGTON — The House Thursday passed four appropriations bills to fund the government and avert a partial shutdown, but Democrats largely objected to spending on the Department of Homeland Security amid aggressive immigration enforcement in communities across the country.&nbsp;

Democrats have pushed for tougher oversight of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. In addition,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/progressives-congress-vow-oppose-immigration-enforcement-funding" target="_blank">members of the progressive wing</a>&nbsp;of the caucus vowed to not approve any funding for DHS after federal immigration agent Jonathan Ross shot and killed Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis earlier this month.&nbsp;

Local

Region

Sports

Podcasts