Daniel Thomas Stethem, 19, North Platte and Faith Elizabeth Marie Miller, 20, North Platte

Joseph Ricardo Sinio III, 28, Colorado Springs, CO and Chelsea Alexis Martinez, 38, North Platte

David Raul Mata, 25, North Platte and Rosaura Contreras, 26, Bronx, New York

Marriage Licenses for Lincoln County (Week of November 27th)

Post News Director Canon Rath chatted with Haven Smith, Executive Director from the Mid-Plains United Way and the pair discussed upcoming events and the idea of donating during this holiday season.&nbsp;

NORTH PLATTE - The holiday season has officially rolled into and many partner agencies and the Mid-Plain United Way are in the middle of there fundraisers, campaigns, events and so much more. The holiday time can be a joy but also a struggle. Donating during the holiday can help benefit yourself and also others. In this weeks chat, Haven and Canon talked about different aspects of donating during the holiday season. The pair also chatted about upcoming events. If you would like to learn more, check out the podcast above.&nbsp;

(Audio) Mid-Plains United Way weekly conversation

Head Coach Dale Hall talked with Sports Director Paxton Gordon after the Bulldogs first victory against Gering in Boys Wrestling.

Head Coach Dale Hall talks about how impressed he was with the teams first Wrestling matches against Gering

North Platte native Olivia Phillips (stage name Liv Faith) joined Derek Beck on Z93.5 Country Friday afternoon to chat about her debut country song "Settle Down".

Olivia is a student at UNL, her parents are Robyn Summers Foote and Jess Phillips both of North Platte. Liv's brother is Drew Phillips who is also a musician plays with the Drew Phillips Band and was recently named the opener for Michael Ray at next summers Lincoln County Fair in North Platte. Below is Liv's conversation today on Z93.5 Country with Derek Beck. (Podcast sponsored by North Platte Kubota)

(Song not included in this interview, you can find "SETTLE DOWN" on all streaming platforms, search Liv Faith.

North Platte native Olivia Phillips debuts song on Z93.5 Country Today

Post News Director chatted with Camon Landry from the Salvation Army and the duo recapped Thanksgiving week, chatted about the Red Kettle campaign and so much more.&nbsp;

NORTH PLATTE - The Salvation Army is officially in full swing during this holiday season. Last week, the Salvation Army did their food distributions box donations and donated over 150 boxes to families who signed up. Boxes included Turkey's, mash potatoes and so much more. Leftover food from the boxes was then donated to partner agencies of the Salvation Army.&nbsp;

The Salvation Army is also gearing up for their Christmas Community Dinner on December 8th starting at 5:00pm. The event is for anyone in the community who wants to attend. Also, the Red Kettle campaign is underway. In North Platte, there are 8 locations. Volunteers are needed and if you would like to volunteer to ring the bell,<a href="https://registertoring.com/"> click here</a>. If someone under the age of 18 wants to volunteer an adult or guardian must be with the Individual.&nbsp;

If you would like to learn more about what the Salvation Army has been up and upcoming events, check out the podcast above.&nbsp;

(Audio) Salvation Army Weekly Chat #2

Post News Director Canon Rath chatted with Cassie Condon, Vice President of Operations for the North Platte Area of Chamber and Development talked about the Shop North Platte event that is going on tell December 12th.&nbsp;

NORTH PLATTE – Shop North Platte is officially under way and will continue on until December 12th. Shop North Platte was created to shop locally at North Platte businesses this holiday season. Over 30 local businesses are taking part in this year's event. Shoppers who shop locally have a chance to win $5,000. Shoppers will receive a blue ticket and every $10 spent, shoppers can earn another blue ticket. Folks just entering the business will also receive the blue ticket. The drawing is set for December 14th. Shoppers must be 18 and older to participate in the drawing.&nbsp;

Shop North Platte replaces the old passport system that was used for the past 4 years. “I absolutely loved the passport program as it highlighted our local entrepreneurs and small businesses that give so much back to our community... but our one-day program we felt just wasn’t enough,” said Cassie Condon. “We really wanted to find something that encouraged customer loyalty and raise more awareness for retail availability... we really wanted to expand it from a one-day program to a three-week program and reward people for shopping locally.”&nbsp;

If you would like to learn a more in-depth about the Shop North Platte event that’s going on, more about the blue tickets, how it was designed, check out the podcast above. To see all the participating businesses, check the graphic below.&nbsp;

(Audio) Shop North Platte is underway

The Weekly Nebraska Outdoor Report with Nebraska Game and Parks Public Information Officer, Julie Geiser. On this episode Julie Geiser talks about preparation for Christmas and what to get your loved ones.&nbsp;

Outdoor Report with Julie Geiser as she prepares Nebraska for Christmas

Post News Director Canon Rath chatted with Lauren Coleman, MPCC Assistant Director of Multicultural Leadership and Engagement about the upcoming Native American dancer/storyteller who will be in North Platte this Thursday but also chatted about Santa's Workshop that's going on next week.&nbsp;

NORTH PLATTE - Mid-Plains Community College Student Life Department will be hosting a free event this Thursday when they welcome Native American dancer/storyteller Garan Coons to the McCook and North Platte campuses. Coons travels all around the world to educate the public about negative Native American stereotypes by using his personal experiences. He will be performing in McCook at 11:00am at the Peter and Dolores Graff Events Center and will be in North Platte at 2:00pm at the McDonald-Belton Theatre on NPCC's south campus.&nbsp;

Also going on December 5th is Santa's Workshop at the activity center and cafeteria on NPCC's south campus. The festivals are planned to run from 5:00-7:30 with lots of fun activities for families to enjoy. Children must be accompanied by an adult. If you would like to learn more in-depth about these two events, check out the podcast above.&nbsp;

(Audio) MPCC to host Native American dancer/storyteller this Thursday, Santa's Workshop Dec. 5th

Post News Director Canon Rath chatted with 4-H'er Nattellia Boyer and 4-H Development Extension Educator Caitlyn Jacobson about the 4-H Lottery Pig Project.&nbsp;

NORTH PLATTE - NORTH PLATTE - 4-H is America's largest youth development program across the United States that helps learn skills that will last a lifetime. The age requirement for 4-H is the ages of 8-18. There are many different categories that 4-H'ers can participate in during their time in the program. The Lottery Pig Project is new to Lincoln and Logan County 4-H'ers to participate in.&nbsp;

The Lottery Pig Project gives all youths in 4-H who participates a chance to learn about the pig and how to raise it. For these 4-H'ers, they all start at the same spot when participating in the Lottery Pig Project. Getting a pig ready for competition takes time for the 4-H'ers. "It starts months before because you have to train them to walk, train their hair, but it takes a lot, but it's a lot of fun and learning," said Natellia Boyer.&nbsp;Boyer was reserved champion last year in the Lottery Pig Project.&nbsp;

If you would like to learn more in-depth on the Lottery Pig Project and Boyer's involvement with 4-H, check out the podcast above. To follow along on Facebook for more information about Lincoln, Logan or McPherson Counties 4-H, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LLM4h">click here</a> or for their website, <a href="https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/lincolnmcpherson/?fbclid=IwAR14YEAUI3fP9PwgydGtWvFLZyWMmc8p1vwQBk9gs8GkhzWK1THrQjZq3eI">click here.&nbsp;</a>

(Audio) 4-H Lottery Pig Project

Post News Director Canon Rath chatted with North Platte Mayor Brandon Kelliher as they recapped the November 21st, North Platte City Council meeting.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

NORTH PLATTE - he North Platte city council held their regular meeting on November 21st and their were different agenda that was discussed amongst the council. Some items discussed in this council meeting was an upgrade to the city of North Platte website, water improvements along 9th and Adams Street, second reading of Ordinance 4148 which is the skills games fees, and so much more.&nbsp;

If you would like to learn more in-depth of what went on during the November 21st, North Platte City Council meeting, check out the podcast above or you would like to watch the November 21st meeting, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qh5TVeho6w">click here.</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

***Interview aired on Good Morning North Platte FM98.1 &amp; AM1410 on 11/22/23.&nbsp;

(Audio) North Platte City Council Meeting November 21st Recap

Post News Director Canon Rath chatted with Keith County Chamber Membership and Events Coordinator Tawny Craig about Shop Small Saturday which kicks off this Saturday in Ogallala.&nbsp;

OGALLALA - Shop Small is a national wide campaign that kicks off this Saturday, Nov. 25th to dedicate a day of shopping to small businesses in communities. As Saturday approaches, Ogallala is gearing up for Shop Small Saturday. The community is full of many small businesses to shop and support. With the holiday season, shopping small is a great opportunity to get a once in a lifetime gift for someone special. This year, participating in business will be a part of a special passport that will be handed out Saturday.&nbsp;

If you would like to learn more about Shop Small Saturday and how Ogallala is getting ready for it, check out the podcast above.&nbsp;

PODCAST- Shop Small Saturday starts this weekend in Ogallala

The Hot Sheets: December 3rd, 2023

Questions? David Lott, Horticulture Extension Educator&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="mailto:dlott2@unl.edu" target="_blank">dlott2@unl.edu</a>&nbsp; OR (308) 532-2683 – Extension Office&nbsp;&nbsp;

Extension is a Division of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln cooperating with the Counties and the United States Department of Agriculture.&nbsp;

University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension educational programs abide with the nondiscrimination policies of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.&nbsp;

Caring for a Christmas Tree after Purchase 

(LINCOLN, NEB.) — The Property Assessment Division announces that pursuant to&nbsp; Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-421(2), due to a vacant county assessor office, a county assessor certification&nbsp; examination (examination) will be held at a time different from February, May, August, and November examinations. This examination will be given on Tuesday, December 12, 2023. The examination is held&nbsp; from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (CST) with a one-hour break for lunch. Examinations can be held in either&nbsp; Lincoln or North Platte as noted below.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Any interested applicants are to complete an application and submit it with payment to the Department of&nbsp; Revenue prior to taking the examination.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Application forms and additional information can be obtained at revenue.nebraska.gov/PAD/assessor.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Certification and eligibility to hold office as a county assessor or deputy county assessor requires successful completion of this examination. Nebraska law prohibits an individual from filing for, or being appointed to, the office of county assessor or serving as deputy county assessor without a valid Nebraska Assessor Certificate. In addition, this certificate is required to be eligible to file for, or assume the office of, county clerk acting as an ex-officio county assessor.&nbsp;

North Platte examination location:&nbsp;

Nebraska Department of Revenue Conference Room&nbsp;

First Floor, Craft State Office Building&nbsp;

200 South Silber Street, North Platte, Nebraska&nbsp;

Lincoln examination location:&nbsp;&nbsp;

Second Floor, Nebraska State Office Building&nbsp;

301 Centennial Mall South, 14th &amp; M Streets, Lincoln, Nebraska&nbsp;

Emergency County Assessor/Deputy County Assessor  Examination 

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The head of the union that represents track maintenance workers says Union Pacific is jeopardizing safety by delaying nearly 1,200 planned projects until next year and laying off more than 1,000 workers, but the railroad says the seasonal move shouldn't be alarming.

The president of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division union has been sending letters to regulators for more than a month raising concerns about the layoffs, but the the Surface Transportation Board hasn't intervened.

“Chaos and disruption with Union Pacific’s Maintenance of Way forces can only lead to one outcome — deferred maintenance and catastrophic outcomes,” Tony Cardwell, who leads the union, said in his letters. “These furloughs will affect the safety of Union Pacific operations and pose serious safety risks for the general public and the communities surrounding Union Pacific’s infrastructure.”

Union Pacific said the decision to delay these projects is a reflection of the fact that the railroad went over budget after dealing with several unexpected weather events like the tropical storm that hit California this year and last summer's extreme heat. The railroad said it remains committed to safety and improving its track network across the western U.S.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/palestinian-territories-ohio-canada-business-accidents-d57651e17b2f9e0163c50298106950a3">Railroad safety</a>&nbsp;has been a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/railroad-safety-derailments-tank-car-ohio-minnesota-c60f33b64e9c7dc05768a78ae20f3ce5">concern</a>&nbsp;nationwide this year ever since a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-pete-buttigieg-evacuations-ohio-explosions-64908a6416662b5866809387f210aee5">Norfolk Southern train derailed</a>, spilled hazardous chemicals and caught fire in eastern Ohio in February. Members of Congress proposed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-train-derailment-congress-6288cdfb0b4381de4c9bfb05199b8ba6">reforms</a>&nbsp;but those have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/east-palestine-train-derailment-safety-regulations-railroad-4db52c68daf68da05425b5b70363fb0a">largely stalled</a>.

Cardwell said that after these layoffs of 1,350 workers UP will have only a little over 4,700 track maintenance workers. Back in 2015 before a series of cuts designed to make the railroad more efficient, Union Pacific employed 8,791. That means each maintenance worker will now have about 11 miles (17.7 kilometers) of track to take care of on average, up from 8.6 last year and 6.5 in 2016.

The union is concerned that these cuts are an indication of how tightly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/union-pacific-ceo-jim-vena-railroad-23365ccd844a91a7ba9d0cfd6b36fe0b">new CEO Jim Vena</a>&nbsp;plans to manage the railroad's expenses. Union Pacific, like all the major freight railroads, already made significant cuts in its workforce over the past several years as part of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-aab7d3084a8d17d8d721d2cb750be323">overhauling its operations</a>&nbsp;to rely more on fewer, longer trains. Last month, Union Pacific announced plans to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/union-pacific-railroad-management-layoffs-d72058d3154289e26c732492748bd452">trim the ranks</a>&nbsp;of its mangers across the railroad to help streamline decision making.

Union Pacific hasn't done large year-end layoffs of maintenance workers like this in several years, according to the union, although these jobs were originally listed as seasonal positions.

Union Pacific spokeswoman Clarissa Beyah said the actual number of furloughs will be smaller than the union fears because many workers take other jobs with the railroad and some workers may have enough vacation time saved up to cover the period.

“Accusations that Union Pacific does not invest in its infrastructure and maintenance are untrue," Beyah said. "This year alone, the railroad will spend $3.7 billion on capital investment, of which a significant portion is allotted for maintenance. As part of the capital planning process, we are temporarily reducing some seasonal track maintenance positions.”

The railroad said its workers have already replaced more than 3 million railroad ties and more than 400 miles of track across the railroad this year.

And even though these maintenance workers will be out of work during the holiday season, Union Pacific said it continues to hire train crews in certain locations as part of its effort to improve service and make sure it can handle all the shipments companies hire the railroad to deliver. At last report, Union Pacific had more than 33,000 employees in October before these layoffs began.

Rail union says Union Pacific layoffs of over 1,000 track maintenance workers jeopardizes safety

The Hot Sheets: December 2nd, 2023

OHS One-Act Team placed 1st at the Southwest Conference Play Production Contest on Tuesday. They also took home the Outstanding Actress award, Lauren Henning, and the Outstanding Actor award, Michael Tophoj. 

Seven others received outstanding performance awards: Tyler Wang, Anica Bush, Kaden Walker, Erica Hesser, Jasmine, Biel, Isabel Rodriguez, and Lillian Holthusen. The group will travel to Gothenburg on Saturday to compete in the District B-6 contest.

OHS One Act Team places 1st at the Southwest Conference Play Production, team will compete at the B-6 District tomorrow in Gothenburg

Winter Wonderland event going in Ogallala on Sunday

Perkins County Schools has announced that Ava Reese has committed to Hastings College to continue her education and athletic career to run track. Reese signed in the school's gym.

Perkins County Ava Reese commits to Hastings College for track

After completing a clean sweep of McPherson College on Wednesday (WBB: 59-47, MBB: 76-69), the Kansas Wesleyan will return to Salina to square off with the Bethany Swedes.

Coyotes Return to Mabee this Saturday to Host Bethany on KINA

LINCOLN, Neb.&nbsp;- The top-ranked Nebraska volleyball team moved on in the NCAA Tournament after a 25-13, 25-16, 25-22 sweep of Long Island on Friday night in front of a crowd of 8,599 at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.&nbsp;

The Huskers (29-1) were balanced offensively with five players posting at least six kills. Merritt Beason led the way with a match-high 13 kills on .478 hitting. Harper Murray added nine kills in her NCAA Tournament debut while Ally Batenhorst had seven kills. Middles Andi Jackson and Maggie Mendelson had six kills apiece, with Mendelson tying her career high in kills and blocks (4).

Nebraska had 44 kills to LIU's 28, and the Huskers hit .280 compared to .151 by the Sharks. NU also had a 46-33 advantage in digs and had seven services aces. Camelia Melendez paced LIU with 12 kills while Rumur Rouille had a match-high seven blocks.

Set 1:&nbsp;Mendelson started the match off with a block with Beason and a kill, and two kills each by Batenhorst and Jackson - along with an ace by Beason - put the Huskers up 8-3. The Huskers kept their foot on the gas, going up 14-5 after two kills by Murray and one by Reilly as part of another 4-0 run. Reilly and Murray each served an ace, while Beason and Mendelson teamed up for a block, and the Huskers built the lead to 19-7. Rodriguez served the Huskers' fourth ace for a 21-8 lead, and Batenhorst, Jackson and Reilly posted kills down the stretch as the Huskers won 25-13. Nebraska held LIU to -.040 hitting in the first set.&nbsp;

Set 2:&nbsp;LIU hung around in game two, trailing 9-7 after a kill by Camelia Melendez. Murray and Beason then combined for three kills in a row to help the Huskers go up 12-7, but the Sharks fought back to get within two, 15-13. Jackson and Murray had kills to lift the Big Red back to a five-point lead at 18-13, and Beason and Murray had kills while Reilly served two aces, and the Huskers led 23-15. Mendelson then posted two kills to close out the set, 25-16.&nbsp;

Set 3:&nbsp;The Huskers fell into an 8-3 hole as Long Island clicked offensively. The Sharks led 11-5 before a kill by Murray and ace by Kennedi Orr. After an LIU kill, Mendelson had a kill and back-to-back blocks with Murray, and an LIU attacking error cut the deficit to one, 12-11. The Sharks held firm, however, building the lead back to three at 19-16. Jackson responded out of a timeout with a kill, and Beason terminated from the back row to make it 19-18. The teams traded points before Murray tooled a block to tie it 20-20. The teams then traded kills on the next four rallies, and a hitting error by LIU made it 23-22 Nebraska, the Huskers' first lead of the set. After a Long Island timeout, Beason earned match point with a kill, and the Huskers won 25-22.&nbsp;

Husker Volleyball Sweep Sharks in NCAA Div 1 Opener

Kearney, Neb. –&nbsp;All-American middle Taya Beller had a match-high 22 kills and third-ranked Wayne State controlled the final two sets to rally past 13th-ranked Nebraska Kearney (<a href="https://lopers.com/boxscore.aspx?path=wvball&amp;id=7814" target="_blank">18-25, -23, 20-25, -22, -9</a>) Friday night in an NCAA Tournament second round match in St. Paul, Minn.This was the first meeting between the Wildcats (30-2) and the&nbsp;Lopers&nbsp;(29-6) in eight years and the first-ever national tourney battle between the two. UNK still has a healthy 69-10 all-time series advantage.

Wayne will meet either Concordia-St. Paul or Central Missouri on Saturday night for the right to advance to the “Elite Eight.”"In both matches this weekend I thought we competed at a different level. I'm proud of our team as if we had won because they came out here and left it all out on the court," said UNK head coach&nbsp;Rick Squiers&nbsp;on the&nbsp; Radio&nbsp;postgame&nbsp;show. "A little bit of the inexperience we have that maybe they don't shows up once or twice and that's about all it takes to put you in a tough spot."Ranked number one for much of the last two seasons, Wayne had fewer kills and digs than the&nbsp;Lopers&nbsp;and hit six points lower. However, they registered six more blocks, took advantage of seven UNK service errors and hit .260 over the final two sets. The Blue &amp; Gold amassed 21 kills in the fourth and fifth sets but had only early leads in both."In the fourth when we kind of made a run at them at the end (7-1 run to make it 21-20), I thought we're right there again. It comes down to just a play or two in moments like that and they were able to make a couple. Some of that is because they have good athletes who have a little more margin for error," said Squiers.

UNK's best set was the third when it hit .306 (14-3-36) to help erase deficits of 4-1, 7-3 and 10-6. The Lopers closed on an 11-6 run with back-to-back blocks making it 2-1 on the scoreboard. In the first set, Kearney had an 18-9 outburst to erase a four-point hole. They then closed with three straight points, the final one being a block.In the fifth, Wayne took advantage of two service errors and four kills from senior outside&nbsp;Kelsie&nbsp;Cada&nbsp;to control the&nbsp;action. UNK led 2-1 after a kill from sophomore outside&nbsp;Emilee&nbsp;Lane&nbsp;(Hays, Kan.) but the 'Cats zoomed ahead to lead 7-4 and 9-7.

The&nbsp;Lopers&nbsp;got within 11-9 but the final four points of the match all went to the Black &amp; Gold."We ran out of juice a little bit," said&nbsp;Squiers. "Every year is a different journey but this one was unique by the way it started … the outdoor match and then going for the regular season attendance record."Beller, a 6-2 fifth-year junior, hit .383 and added six blocks to her offensive output. She had six kills in each of the first two sets and then four in both the third and fourth. Next,&nbsp;Cada&nbsp;had 14 kills and went 26 for 27 in serve receive with freshman outside Channatee Robles and fifth-year junior middle Maggie Brahmer having 11 kills apiece. A 2022 All-American, Brahmer had a team-best nine blocks with sophomore Taylor Bunjer adding seven more. 

Finally,&nbsp;libero&nbsp;Jordan McCormick had 23 digs.Lane, in relief of All-American&nbsp;Emersen Cyza&nbsp;(Alliance) due to injury, went for 16 kills in a team-best 50 swings. The total was one shy of tying her career high. For the fifth straight match, junior outside&nbsp;Asha Regier&nbsp;(Newton, Kan.) had a double digit kill total, going for 16 in 48 swings. Next, right side&nbsp;Jaden Ferguson&nbsp;(Lincoln SW) had her 10th double double (17 digs, 13 kills, .297 pct.) of the year with freshman middle&nbsp;Mia Berg&nbsp;(Eureka, Mo.) hot early and ending with 10 kills and six stuffs. Sophomore middle&nbsp;Trista&nbsp;Marx&nbsp;(Limon, Colo.) was strong late to the tune of eight kills, two blocks and a .375 efficiency.Also for the&nbsp;Lopers,&nbsp;libero&nbsp;Lauren Taubenheim&nbsp;(Lincoln Pius) had 23 digs, junior DS&nbsp;Jensen&nbsp;Rowse&nbsp;(Minden) had 16 and two aces with setter&nbsp;Peyton Neff&nbsp;(North Platte) having her typical all-around effort; 59 assists, 17 digs, four aces, block and kill.This was the curtain call for&nbsp;Cyza&nbsp;and Ferguson with&nbsp;Taubenheim,&nbsp;Rowse&nbsp;and DS/S&nbsp;Rhianna Wilhelm&nbsp;(Henderson) all having a "COVID" year available if they wish to return in 2024.

Wayne St takes down UNK to move on in NCAA Tournament

Wrestling - Clash in the Commons

Story by Pro Volleyball Federation

<a href="https://www.provolleyball.com/" target="_blank">Pro Volleyball Federation</a>, North America’s premier women’s professional volleyball league, has announced a multi-year agreement with&nbsp;<a href="https://franklinsports.com/" target="_blank">Franklin Sports</a>, a leading manufacturer in the sporting goods industry. As part of the partnership, Franklin’s newly designed REAL Pro Volleyball will become the exclusive volleyball of the League. &nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The partnership between Pro Volleyball Federation and Franklin Sports comes at the perfect time. Both organizations share a collective goal and commitment of bringing the highest level of women’s professional volleyball to the United States. In teaming up, Franklin and the League will shine a light on the first real opportunity for women to play professional volleyball in North America at a major league level. To that end, the Franklin REAL Pro Volleyball was designed for Pro Volleyball Federation to rival any other ball played in any other league in the world. &nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “We always aimed to be able to design and produce our own ball for Pro Volleyball Federation that would stand up to any other ball in the world, and our partners at Franklin have helped us accomplish that goal,” said Dave Whinham, co-founder of Pro Volleyball Federation. “From the start Franklin expressed a desire to disrupt the status quo in the volleyball space and become a real leader in the production and development of the highest quality volleyballs. That commitment to excellence, and its desire to disrupt, made Franklin the perfect partner in developing this new ball for our League.”&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Designed specifically for Pro Volleyball Federation, the Franklin REAL Pro Volleyball is renowned for its innovative and cutting-edge features including a distinctive cover material, a 12-panel design, and an innovative wave surface texture. The ball’s embossed cover and precisely balanced construction play a pivotal role in ball tracking, assisting in generating consistent float and spin through the air while ensuring a seamless experience for players. The cover material, pattern, and surface texture are meticulously crafted to enhance touch, providing superior ball control and making it conducive to high-intensity performance. &nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The ball is designed to meet all&nbsp;Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) size and weight requirements and has passed all performance standards. This guarantees that players at all levels, from amateur enthusiasts to professional athletes, can rely on the Franklin REAL Pro Volleyball for quality and performance during play.&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “We are incredibly excited to partner with Pro Volleyball Federation and to have Franklin’s REAL Pro Volleyball designated as the exclusive volleyball of the federation. This collaboration milestone highlights our commitment to innovation and quality, aligning with Pro Volleyball Federation’s vision for the sport’s future growth,” said Adam Franklin, President of Franklin Sports. “The REAL Pro Volleyball is not just a ball; it represents our shared dedication to empowering the players. We are beyond thrilled to be a part of Pro Volleyball Federation’s inaugural season and working together to shape a new era in women’s volleyball.”&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Franklin&nbsp;also manufactures licensed products for Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, the National Basketball Association, the National Football League, the National Hockey League, and USA Pickleball.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Seven teams for the inaugural season will compete, with squads in Atlanta, Columbus, Ohio, Grand Rapids, Mich., Las Vegas, Omaha, Neb., Orlando, Fla. and San Diego. Two additional markets (Dallas and Kansas City, Mo.) have already been announced for 2025. Overall, the League will be showcased in three different time zones in the United States in season one. Matches will take place on 67 different dates between January and May 2024 as opponents will be competing every day of the week.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Franklin Sports will have prominent visibility on the court in all Pro Volleyball Federation arenas, inclusion during games and commercials, along with dedicated Franklin product exhibits showcasing fan favorites and participating in League contests and sweepstakes. The Franklin REAL Pro Volleyball will be on display for the first time at the American Volleyball Coaches Association Convention (AVCA) in Tampa, Fla. from December 14-17. The ball will officially debut on the court for Pro Volleyball Federation’s inaugural match between the Atlanta Vibe and Omaha Supernovas at CHI Center on January 24 at 8 p.m. ET.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As a valuable league partner, Franklin Sports will collaborate with Pro Volleyball Federation on growth initiatives for the sport that seek to drive participation in volleyball nationwide. Support of the numerous camps and clinics organized by each League franchise throughout the year will be integral to this grassroots development.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; For more information about the Franklin REAL Pro Volleyball visit&nbsp;<a href="https://franklinsports.com/elite-pro-volleyball" target="_blank">franklinsports.com/elite-pro-volleyball</a>&nbsp;and for photography assets visit&nbsp;<a href="https://app.frame.io/presentations/283ca123-0881-4ae5-88d6-fdc920507d4a" target="_blank">here</a>. To learn more about Pro Volleyball Federation, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://provolleyball.com/" target="_blank">ProVolleyball.com</a>. &nbsp;

Pro Volleyball Federation is&nbsp;REAL PRO VOLLEYBALL&nbsp;and the premier women’s professional volleyball league in North America. Pro Volleyball Federation will begin play in January 2024 with world class players and coaches, including some of America’s greatest volleyball players and elite players from around the world. Our entire focus is on ensuring that our level and quality of play, our treatment of players, the quality of our event presentations, and our day-to-day fan experience is world class and the very best offered in North America. For more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.provolleyball.com/" target="_blank">ProVolleyball.com</a>.&nbsp;

Founded by Irving Franklin in 1946, Franklin Sports is a Stoughton, Massachusetts-based sporting goods brand that manufactures and sells over 10,000 products across many different categories. Franklin Sports is proud of its partnerships with Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, the National Basketball Association, the National Football League, the National Hockey League, USA Pickleball, Pro Volleyball Federation and Hasbro’s Nerf brand including the leagues’ youth participation programs. Franklin also works with hundreds of elite athletes through sports equipment and apparel collaborations. Franklin is a multigenerational, family-owned business with a rich history and trusted reputation as a quality sporting goods brand – from recreational sports all the way up to the professional level – has made it one of the perennial leaders in the industry. At Franklin Sports, the team believes that sports make life better. Driven by Franklin’s passion to get people moving, playing, and competing, the Franklin mission is to bring sports to life for athletes of all ages. Whether designing a product for a World Series MVP or a child enjoying their first swings of the bat, Franklin Sports is dedicated to making sports inspiring, fun and accessible for all. For more information on Franklin Sports, please visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.franklinsports.com/" target="_blank">www.franklinsports.com</a>&nbsp;or follow Franklin on Instagram&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/franklinsports/" target="_blank">@franklinsports</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/franklinsportseqp/" target="_blank">@franklinsportseqp</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/franklinpickleball/" target="_blank">@franklinpickleball</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/FranklinSports" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, and Twitter&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/FranklinSports" target="_blank">@franklinsports</a>.

Pro Volleyball Federation announces multi-year agreement with Franklin Sports

Story by UNK Athletic Communications

Senior transfer guard Rodney Battle scored 21 points to help Rogers State down Nebraska Kearney,&nbsp;<a href="https://lopers.com/sports/mens-basketball/stats/2023-24/rogers-state/boxscore/7551" target="_blank">79-68</a>, Thursday night in Claremore, Okla. This was the MIAA opener for both squads and the only meeting between the Hillcats (2-2) and Lopers (2-3) this year. Rogers has now won six of the eight all-time meetings between the two. UNK rallied from two seven-point deficits, 14-7 and 46-39, but couldn't do it a third time.

RSU went on a 7-0 run to lead 53-46 with 12:03 remaining and never trailed again. A three from junior lefty&nbsp;Damiri Lindo&nbsp;(Oakland) got the Lopers within six, 72-66, at the 1:19 mark but Rogers made its free throws down the stretch. Battle was a first-team all-league selection last year for Division II Miles (Ala.) College. He made 7 of 12 shots (4 of 7 threes) as well as going 3 for 4 at the line and handing out three assists. Coming off a two-week break, RSU had three others in double figures including 5-11 junior guard Anthony Marshall Jr. (14) and veteran forward Kofi Hamilton (13). Marshall Jr. had six dimes, two steals and two rebounds as well with Hamilton (11 rebounds) recording a double double.

UNK came in ranked eighth nationally in field goal percentage (.531) but ended up at .391 (25 of 64). That included and 8 of 29 effort from behind the arc. The 'Cats also made seven more freebies, got 36 points off its bench and was plus four on the glass. For the Lopers, Colorado junior guard&nbsp;Sean Evans&nbsp;went 6 of 13 from the floor to have a team-high 17 with Lindo making four shots to tally 11 points while also having a team-best seven rebounds and three assists. Next, Idaho junior lefty&nbsp;Taden King&nbsp;scored 10 thanks to two triples with New Zealand junior forward&nbsp;Sean Murphy&nbsp;at eight points and five rebounds. Finally, California junior point guard&nbsp;Miguel Robles&nbsp;provided six rebounds, five points and two steals. &nbsp;UNK heads to Northeastern State on Saturday afternoon. The RiverHawks (4-2) fell tonight to Fort Hays State, 65-43.&nbsp;&nbsp;

UNK leads at the Break but Drops lone game with RSU

Redshirt junior wing&nbsp;Meg Burns&nbsp;scored 17 points and Nebraska Kearney limited Rogers State to 27 percent field goal shooting to win&nbsp;<a href="https://lopers.com/sports/womens-basketball/stats/2023-24/rogers-state/boxscore/7573" target="_blank">58-51</a>&nbsp;Thursday night in Claremore, Okla. This was the MIAA opener for both teams with UNK (7-0) now 8-0 all-time against the Hillcats (4-2). This was the only meeting between the two this season. Under first-year head coach Heather Davis, a former assistant at Central Oklahoma, Rogers has almost equaled its win total (five) from a year ago. One big reason is 6-3 transfer Alayzha Knapp, a former UCO Broncho who came in averaging 23 points and six boards per game. The 'Cats next two leading scorers are 6-2 posts in Trinity Jackson and Kylee Day. While that trio altered and blocked several shots, UNK still managed to be plus seven on the glass and out scored the 'Cats 26-12 in the paint. However, RSU opened a 26-10 first half lead on the strength of five triples, including one from Knapp, and some early offensive struggles for the Lopers. A three from freshman guard Amaya Gallegos gave RSU its biggest lead of the night at 6:41 of the second quarter. But, UNK followed with a 12-0 spurt and then started the second half on a 12-9 run to retake the lead at 39-38. The Lopers finally got some breathing room in the fourth after point guard&nbsp;Jillian Aschoff&nbsp;(Lincoln Pius) sunk two freebies to make it 51-46. Jackson went 2 for 4 at the line over the next couple of minutes with RSU ending just 10 of 20 from the stripe. Burns and guard&nbsp;Trinity Law&nbsp;(Brandon, S.D.) each sunk freebies to push the lead to five, 53-48, with under a minute remaining. RSU continued to miss hard from the field as several threes hit nothing but the backboard. They came in at 17 of 63 (7 of 24 threes) while UNK was 10 percentage points higher at 18 of 50 (5 of 14 threes).Finishing two shy of her career-high, Burns made five field goals (three treys) and four free throws while drawing five fouls and having three boards in nearly 36 minutes of work. Next, post&nbsp;Shiloh McCool&nbsp;(Pleasant Hill, Ia.) worked around RSU's height advantage to have 13 rebounds (12 defensive) and nine points with forward&nbsp;Kia Wilson&nbsp;(St. George, Kan.) at 10 points over 24 minutes. Next, veteran wing&nbsp;Lexi Moes&nbsp;(Smithville, Mo.) bounced back from a first half injury to hit two second half triples to tally seven with Aschoff at five points, five fouls drawn and four assists. Finally, redshirt freshman post&nbsp;Bailee Sobczak&nbsp;(Rapid City, S.D.) had five caroms and four points in just 13 minutes. Knapp (12 points, five rebounds, three blocks) paced Rogers with five others between four-nine points. That included Jackson (six, seven rebounds).UNK heads to Northeastern State on Saturday afternoon. The RiverHawks (3-3) led Fort Hays State after three quarters tonight but fell, 63-52.&nbsp;&nbsp;

UNK shuts down tall Hillcats

• The Nebraska volleyball team was selected as the No. 1 overall seed for the 2023 NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship and will host the first and second rounds at the Bob Devaney Sports Center this Friday and Saturday.&nbsp;• The Huskers, making their 42nd straight NCAA Tournament appearance and hosting the first round for the 38th time, will open the tournament on Friday, Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. against Long Island University (13-18), champions of the Northeast Conference. The 4:30 p.m. match will feature Missouri (17-12) of the SEC and Delaware (24-4) of the Colonial Athletic Association. Friday’s winners will meet in the second round on Saturday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m.• All first and second round matches will be streamed on ESPN+.&nbsp;• The Huskers Radio Network will broadcast all the action on their radio affiliates, including 107.3 FM in Lincoln and AM 590 in Omaha. A live audio stream will be provided at Huskers.com and on the Huskers app.&nbsp;• John Baylor is in his 30th season doing play-by-play for the Husker volleyball program. Lauren (Cook) West, a former All-American setter for the Huskers, will provide color commentary.

ABOUT THE HUSKERS• Nebraska is the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament for the sixth time in program history. The other years were 2000 (NCAA Champion), 2004 (NCAA Regional Finalist), 2005 (NCAA Runner-Up), 2006 (NCAA Champion) and 2016 (NCAA Semifinalist).• The Huskers won the outright Big Ten title this season with a 19-1 league record, earning their first Big Ten title since 2017. Nebraska has now won four Big Ten titles since joining the conference in 2011. The years were 2011, 2016, 2017 (co-champions) and 2023. All-time, Nebraska volleyball has won 35 conference titles. John Cook has been head coach for 13 of them.&nbsp;• Nebraska won 27 matches in a row to begin the season and finished 28-1, its best regular-season record since going 28-1 in 2005.&nbsp;• NU went 17-0 in home matches in the regular season. The last time the Huskers went undefeated at home in the regular season was 2017 (15-0).&nbsp;• From Sept. 12-Sept. 29, Nebraska played five straight ranked teams and won all five matches. It was the sixth time in school history Nebraska played five matches in a row against ranked teams but the first time NU won all five.&nbsp;• The Huskers went undefeated in non-conference play for the first time since 2016 and just the second time since 2008.• The Huskers, who led the nation in defense in 2022, have held their opponents this season to a combined .141 hitting percentage, which ranks third nationally.&nbsp;• Nebraska has been sharp offensively this season, hitting .282 to rank 15th nationally. The Huskers rank 10th nationally with 14.16 kills per set and 12th in assists per set at 13.10.&nbsp;• Nebraska had four All-Big Ten First Team selections and two All-Big Ten Second Team selections for a total of six all-conference players this season, the most in program history.

HUSKERS RACK UP POSTSEASON AWARDS• Junior libero Lexi Rodriguez was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year for the second time in her career, becoming the fifth player in Big Ten history to receive that honor twice in a career. Rodriguez, who averages 3.60 digs and 1.24 assists per set with a .979 serve reception percentage, leads a Husker defense that ranks third nationally in opponent hitting percentage. She also received All-Big Ten First Team (unanimous) honors for the third time in three years. The junior from Sterling, Ill., was twice named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week this season despite opponents frequently tailoring their game plans to avoid Rodriguez on the court. Rodriguez was a first-team AVCA All-American in 2021 and a second-team AVCA All-American in 2022, as well as an All-Big Ten libero both years. Rodriguez was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year as a freshman in 2021 and also excels academically, earning Academic All-America honors in 2022.&nbsp;• Freshman setter Bergen Reilly was chosen Big Ten Setter of the Year, becoming the first ever freshman to earn the award since it originated in 2012. She also earned All-Big Ten First Team and unanimous All-Big Ten Freshman Team accolades. Reilly, just the second true freshman setter to be the starter at Nebraska under head coach John Cook, is putting up 10.74 assists and 2.60 digs per set and has 12 double-doubles this season. The Sioux Falls, S.D., native ranks 13th nationally in assists per set. Reilly was named Big Ten Setter of the Week four times this year and Big Ten Freshman of the Week twice. She paces a Husker offense that ranks in the top 15 nationally in hitting percentage (.282) and kills per set (14.16). Reilly posted her career high of 54 assists in a 3-2 win at then-No. 17 Purdue on Sept. 29. She also recorded 12 digs and a career-best five kills in that match.&nbsp;• Freshman outside hitter Harper Murray was voted Big Ten Freshman of the Year, making her the second ever Husker (Madi Kubik, 2019) to receive that distinction. She also earned All-Big Ten First Team and unanimous All-Big Ten Freshman Team accolades. Murray, a freshman outside hitter from Ann Arbor, Mich., ranks second on the Huskers in kills with 3.29 per set on .250 hitting and adds 2.10 digs per set with a team-high 31 service aces. Murray was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week three times this season and has seven double-doubles. She hit a career-high 21 kills in a 3-2 win at then-No. 17 Purdue on Sept. 29.&nbsp;• Merritt Beason, a junior opposite hitter who transfered to NU from Florida, has stepped in as a team captain and is contributing a team-leading 3.81 kills per set this season with 2.08 digs per set and a .284 hitting percentage. Beason was a unanimous All-Big Ten First Team selection. A native of Gardendale, Ala., Beason earned four Big Ten Player of the Week honors this season and was the AVCA National Player of the Week on Oct. 24 following 21 kills in a 3-2 win over then-No. 1 Wisconsin. Beason had a career-high 27 kills on .426 hitting in a 3-2 reverse sweep at then-No. 16 Penn State on Nov. 3. As a sophomore at Florida in 2022, Beason was an All-SEC and AVCA All-Region selection.• Bekka Allick, a sophomore middle blocker from Lincoln, Neb., has been Nebraska’s top defensive presence at the net with a team-best 1.35 blocks per set this season. Offensively, Allick adds 1.82 kills per set on .324 hitting. Allick had a career-high nine blocks in the regular-season finale at Minnesota. Allick received second-team All-Big Ten honors for the second year in a row.&nbsp;• Andi Jackson, a freshman middle blocker from Brighton, Colo., averages 2.10 kills per set and 1.06 blocks per set and has a team-high .408 hitting percentage, which ranks 15th nationally. Jackson was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week in November and has hit .500 or better in 12 matches this season. She was selected to the All-Big Ten Second Team and All-Big Ten Freshman Team. &nbsp;

SCOUTING REPORT: LIU• LIU (13-18) is making its 13th NCAA Tournament appearance after winning the Northeast Conference Tournament as the No. 4 seed. After finishing 9-5 in NEC play, LIU upset No. 1 seed Sacred Heart (3-1) and No. 2 Fairleigh Dickinson (3-1) to qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2020.&nbsp;• Libero Alasha Colon was the NEC Defensive Player of the Year and first-team All-NEC after averaging 5.45 digs per set, which ranks 10th nationally. Camelia Melendez leads the Sharks with 3.08 kills per set and was first-team All-NEC.&nbsp;• Amable Martinez is in his first year as head coach at LIU. Martinez was previously the head coach at St. Francis Brooklyn for four years, but the school ended its athletic programs following the 2022-23 year. Prior to that, Martinez was head coach at Saint Peter’s for two seasons.&nbsp;

SCOUTING REPORT: MISSOURI• Missouri (17-12) earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2020. The Tigers went 9-9 in the SEC to finish seventh in the standings.&nbsp;• Libero Maya Sands and opposite hitter Jordan Iliff were named to the All-SEC Team. Sands was named the SEC Libero of the Year, averaging 4.81 digs per set. Iliff leads the Tigers with 3.44 kills per set and 42 service aces.&nbsp;• Dawn Sullivan is in her first year as head coach and was the SEC Coach of the Year. Sullivan was previously at UNLV, where she was the Mountain West Coach of the Year in 2020 and 2022.&nbsp;

SCOUTING REPORT: DELAWARE• Delaware (24-4) won the Coastal Athletic Association Tournament to qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time and first since 2011.&nbsp;• Outside hitter Lani Mason was an All-CAA First Team member for the third year in a row, averaging 3.66 kills per set. Setter Ezgi Basaranlar and middle blocker Kirah Johnson were honored on the second team. Basaranalar averages 9.55 assists per set, while Johnson provides 2.38 kills per set and 1.01 blocks per set. &nbsp;• Kimberly Lambert is in her second season as head coach at Delaware after serving as associate head coach for three years.&nbsp;

SERIES HISTORY• Nebraska and LIU will be playing for the first time.&nbsp;• Nebraska is 73-3-1 all-time against Missouri. The Huskers have won 17 straight matches against their former Big 8 and Big 12 Conference foe dating back to 2003. The last time the teams met was Dec. 7, 2019 in the NCAA Tournament Second Round in Lincoln, a 3-1 Husker win.&nbsp;• Nebraska has never played Delaware.&nbsp;

HUSKERS RANKED NO. 1 IN AVCA COACHES POLL• Nebraska is ranked No. 1 in the AVCA Coaches Poll this week.• Nebraska has been ranked No. 1 in 108 all-time polls, the most in NCAA history.&nbsp;• The Huskers have been ranked in the top 10 a total of 557 times, which is also the most in NCAA history.• Nebraska has appeared in all 618 AVCA Coaches Polls it has been eligible for since it was established in 1982. Nebraska is the only program to be ranked in every eligible poll all-time.• Nebraska’s 618 consecutive weeks of being ranked is the longest active streak in Division I for any sport, leading Connecticut women’s basketball and North Carolina women’s soccer.

AVCA HALL OF FAMER JOHN COOK IN 24TH SEASON AT NEBRASKA• Nebraska head coach John Cook is in his 24th season as the Nebraska volleyball head coach in 2023. He has led the Huskers to four national championships, 10 final fours, 13 conference championships and 21 top-10 final rankings since 2000.&nbsp;• Cook has 845 career wins and is one of the all-time winningest coaches in NCAA history. Since taking over the program in 2000, Cook has led the Huskers to a nation-leading .874 win percentage (684-99).&nbsp;• Under Cook, the Huskers have achieved 64 AVCA All-Americans and 20 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans, both among the best in the nation. He is a two-time AVCA National Coach of the Year, earning the prestigious honor in 2000 and 2005, and an eight-time conference coach of the year, including Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2016, 2017 and 2023.• Cook was voted Big Ten Coach of the Year by both coaches and media this season after leading a young Nebraska team with no seniors to its first Big Ten title since 2017. The Huskers finished the regular season 28-1 overall, their best regular season record since going 28-1 in 2005. After going 26-6 last year and missing the NCAA Regional Finals for the first time since 2011, the Huskers started over with a starting lineup featuring four true freshmen and a junior transfer (Beason). Cook’s Huskers won their first 27 matches of the season and held the No. 1 ranking from Oct. 23 through the end of the regular season. Despite having no seniors on the roster for just the second time in Cook’s 24 years at Nebraska - as well as starting a true freshman at setter for only the second time in Cook’s tenure - the Huskers earned the overall No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2016 and the sixth time overall under Cook.• Cook is one of only two active coaches - and one of six all-time - to be a two-time AVCA National Coach of the Year and was honored in 2008 by USA Volleyball, receiving its All-Time Great Coach Award.• Cook was inducted into the AVCA Hall of Fame in 2017, joining former Husker volleyball coach Terry Pettit in the hall.&nbsp;

Husker NCAA Volleyball Tournament preview

(LINCOLN, NEB.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— The Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) welcomes feedback from the public as part of its ongoing commitment to public safety for the state of Nebraska.

NSP is accredited by CALEA (Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies), an internationally recognized organization to develop and maintain standards for law enforcement agencies. NSP recently completed its annual review as part of the four-year CALEA accreditation process.

As part of NSP’s commitment to maintaining CALEA standards, NSP seeks the feedback of the public regarding the agency’s quality of service to the state. Feedback can be provided at the&nbsp;<a href="https://statepatrol.nebraska.gov/divisions/office-superintendent/calea-feedback" target="_blank">NSP website</a>&nbsp;or directly to&nbsp;<a href="https://cimrs2.calea.org/" target="_blank">CALEA</a>.

The Nebraska State Patrol is one of eight law enforcement agencies in Nebraska that hold CALEA accreditation. Three additional Nebraska agencies are in the application process to receive CALEA accreditation.

NSP Seeks Feedback as Part of CALEA Accreditation

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/elainepovich/">ELAINE S. POVICH</a>

In 2016, California Democratic state Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva sat with then-California Gov. Jerry Brown at an event where he signed baseball-type cards featuring the image of his dog, Colusa.

But many of the recipients of the cards couldn’t read his cursive signature, Quirk-Silva recalled, much to the Democratic governor’s dismay. “The governor asked me what I did” before becoming a legislator, she remembered. “I said I was a teacher, and he said, ‘You have to bring back cursive writing.’”

After seven years of trying, she finally succeeded.

Last month, the California legislature unanimously passed and Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law requiring the teaching of cursive or “joined italics” handwriting in grades one through six.

While grandparents’ sprawling handwriting on birthday cards or treasured family recipes may spring to mind when many younger people think of cursive, some educators today think it’s a skill worth reviving even — or maybe especially — in an age when most kids spend hours every day on their smartphones. But others think students already have too many subjects to master and that their fingers belong on keyboards.

Some California teachers already were teaching cursive, but not usually in underresourced schools, Quirk-Silva said in an interview.

She argued cursive is valuable to read historical documents, increases writing speed and has become a popular way for teachers to make sure students are not using artificial intelligence to craft their written work.

Teaching cursive in public schools waned after the Common Core standards, which most states adopted, didn’t include cursive in the recommended curriculum. Critics of cursive requirements say time in the classroom could be better spent on new skills such as coding and keyboarding. And Quirk-Silva recalled that some younger lawmakers called the looping writing style “old-fashioned.”

Supporters recently have had some success in bringing it back, pointing to studies that show a link between cursive and cognitive abilities, including helping with reading and writing disabilities such as dyslexia and dysgraphia.

In May,&nbsp;New Hampshire Republican Gov. Chris Sununu&nbsp;signed&nbsp;a bill requiring schools to teach cursive and multiplication tables.

More than 20 states have implemented state directives to teach cursive in the past decade or so, according to Connie Slone, founder of MyCursive.com, a company that provides cursive learning materials to teachers and schools.

A few others don’t require cursive, but instead encourage it without specific mandates, according to the Zaner-Bloser company, another cursive instructional vendor.

Critics of teaching cursive remain skeptical. There’s “not much evidence that cursive matters,” said Morgan Polikoff, an associate professor of education at the University of Southern California.

“If you are going to spend time on some indication of written communication, keyboarding skills are more important,” Polikoff said. “In the scheme of educational policies, I’m not sure there’s a single topic I care less about. We’ve fallen behind during COVID, we’re dealing with chronic absenteeism, student mental health is in crisis, and we’re spending time on cursive? That’s what we’re mandating?”

The Indiana legislature and governor this year changed a bill that would have required cursive, amending it so that it now only requires a study of the use of cursive in public schools. An education department report is due Dec. 1.

Over the past few years, cursive bills have been introduced but not taken up in several states, Slone said, including Colorado, Minnesota and Washington.

The late William Klemm, a neuroscience professor at Texas A&amp;M University, is widely cited by advocates for his article a decade ago in Psychology Today maintaining that learning cursive “is an important tool for cognitive development.” Cursive helps to train “the brain to learn ‘functional specialization’ — that is, the capacity for optimal efficiency,” he wrote.

A 2019&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6366728/">study</a>&nbsp;published by PLOS One and listed in the National Library of Medicine, found that “there is increasing evidence that mastering handwriting skills play an important role on academic achievement.”

And a 2020&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7399101/">study</a>&nbsp;from researchers in Norway made the direct connection between “writing by hand” and “synchronized activity” in a particular part of the brain “important for memory and for the encoding of new information and, therefore, provides the brain with optimal conditions for learning.” The study recommended that all forms of writing — printing, cursive and typing — be taught to strengthen “both cognitive development and learning efficiency.”

Suzanne McLeod, coordinator of educational leadership at Binghamton University, a state university of New York, said cursive developed into wide use during the quill pen-and-ink era before the 1800s. It was largely because quill pens tended to blot when they were lifted off the page, she said. That means centuries of historical documents are written in cursive, and historians have to be able to read it to do original research.

“Not to have an underpinning in basic cursive where the letters connect would mean that you would need remediation in that area,” she said. “You would find it absolutely unapproachable.”

In Michigan, Democratic&nbsp;state Rep. Brenda Carter&nbsp;this year&nbsp;succeeded in getting a bill through the&nbsp;state&nbsp;House&nbsp;that encouraged — though didn’t require — teaching cursive. There was virtually no opposition, she said. But the state Senate never took up the bill before adjourning.

Carter, who must leave the House after 2024 because of term limits, said she is seeking GOP&nbsp;backing for&nbsp;the measure and is encouraged because the state Department of Education&nbsp;supports it.

“Our young people are missing out on so much,” she said. “All of the founding documents are written in cursive. Where is our history if we can’t read this? Are we depriving future generations of our history?”

This article first appeared in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://stateline.org/2023/11/17/cursive-makes-a-comeback-by-law-in-public-schools/">Stateline</a>, which is part of States Newsroom network, as is the Nebraska Examiner. Stateline maintains editorial independence.

Cursive makes a comeback — by law — in public schools

BY:&nbsp;ARIANA FIGUEROA&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/03/30/u-s-judge-rules-insurers-dont-have-to-cover-many-free-preventive-health-services/">States Newsroom</a>

WASHINGTON — The U.S. House Thursday passed a bill to bar the use of public lands for temporary housing for migrants applying for asylum.

The bill,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/5283/cosponsors?s=4&amp;r=2&amp;q=%7B%22search%22%3A%22H.R.+5283%22%7D">H.R. 5283</a>, passed with a majority of Republicans in support,<a target="_blank" href="https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2023689?Page=2">&nbsp;224-203.&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;The GOP members from Kansas and Missouri supported the measure.

Six Democrats voted with Republicans: Reps. Henry Cuellar of Texas, Don Davis of North Carolina, Jared Golden of Maine, Vicente Gonzalez of Texas, Mary Peltola of Alaska and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington.

It’s dead on arrival in the U.S. Senate, where Democrats hold a slim majority, and many Democrats criticized the bill as a messaging tactic for the 2024 elections, where hard-line immigration policies are the cornerstone of the GOP platform.

The Senate is currently negotiating a $14 billion request from the White House for U.S. border security.

“The mission of the National Park Service is to conserve the natural and cultural resources for the enjoyment of future generations, not bail out the failed border policies of the Biden administration,” the chair of the House Committee on Natural Resources, Bruce Westerman of Arkansas, said during debate Wednesday.

The push for the bill comes after the Biden administration granted New York City officials’ request to build temporary housing and facilities for migrant families at Floyd Bennett Field in Southeastern Brooklyn.

The bill prohibits this type of action from land under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, or the Forest Service.

It also revokes a 2023 lease between the National Park Service and New York City to use portions of the Gateway National Recreation Area to provide housing for migrants.

The bill’s sponsor, Republican Rep. Nicole Malliotakis of New York, said that New York City’s decision to house migrant families on public land is “encouraging people to take that treacherous journey instead of applying (for asylum) from the next safe country.”

This is not the first time House Republicans have passed legislation in response to New York City’s handling of migrants in its city.

<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/07/20/public-schools-banned-from-sheltering-migrants-under-bill-passed-by-u-s-house/">In July, House Republicans passed a bill</a>&nbsp;to bar the use of public K-12 school facilities to provide shelter for migrants seeking asylum. That bill, which will also go nowhere in the Senate, was in response to a May decision by New York City officials to convert several current and former school gyms to temporarily house about 300 migrants.

The top Democrat on the House Committee on Natural Resources, Rep. Raúl Grijalva of Arizona, said the bill voted on Thursday to bar the use of public lands to temporarily house migrants was a “political stunt that will invite even more hateful anti-immigration rhetoric from the extreme MAGA wing of the Republican Party.”

During the House Rules Committee meeting on the public lands bill Tuesday, Republicans argued that the area used to house migrants at Floyd Bennett Field&nbsp; posed a danger to Americans who live nearby because there are single adult men in the temporary structures. However, a majority of migrants staying at Floyd Bennett Field are families.

About 500 people are currently living at Floyd Bennett Field for up to 60 days, but it can house up to 2,000 people,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/foia/upload/FINAL-Lease-Floyd-Bennet-Field-09-15-2023-2.pdf">according to the lease agreement</a>. As temperatures drop in New York City, there’s concern that the plastic tents will not be warm enough for those families,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.thecity.nyc/2023/11/22/floyd-bennett-field-shelter-families-cold/">THE CITY reported</a>.

Minnesota Republican Rep. Pete Stauber said the bill is needed because “Republicans are taking action to address our Southern border crisis, because the Biden administration has failed to do so.”

Democratic Rep. Chellie Pingree of Maine, said the bill does not help cities dealing with newly arrived migrants. She said a big issue is that because of the current asylum law, migrants have to wait six months before they are authorized to work.

Pingree advocated for her legislation, which would cut that waiting period to 30 days so that migrants aren’t spending six months relying “on social safety nets to survive.”

The Biden administration<a target="_blank" href="https://alabamareflector.com/2023/09/21/biden-administration-offers-temporary-protection-to-venezuelan-migrants/">&nbsp;recently redesignated the Temporary Protected Status&nbsp;</a>for nearly half a million Venezuelan nationals, which allows them to work in the U.S. The September decision came after multiple requests from cities that have struggled to house asylum seekers and calls from Democratic lawmakers to redesignate TPS for those Venezuelan nationals.

New Jersey Democratic Rep. Bob Menendez said that Republicans were vilifying families seeking refuge.

“This bill has no purpose other than to score cheap political points for House Republicans,” he said.

Republican Rep. Juan Ciscomani of Arizona, who came to the U.S. as an immigrant when he was a child and later became a naturalized citizen, argued that New York City’s decision would encourage migrants to make the long and dangerous journey to the U.S.

“This is no way to treat immigrants seeking asylum,” Ciscomani said.

House Republicans argued that national parks should be solely for the use of&nbsp; American citizens.

“Americans shouldn’t be denied access to national parks and lands paid for by their tax dollars because of this administration’s destructive immigration policies,” Rep. Jen Kiggans, Republican of Virginia, said.

However, national parks are not limited to use for only American citizens, as there is no citizenship requirement to enter a park and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.doi.gov/ocl/national-parks-visitation">millions of international visitors attend national parks each year.&nbsp;</a>

Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany of Wisconsin said that he was concerned about the damage that can be done to a national park by using it to temporarily house people.

He said he wants the bill passed to ensure that “the public lands we all cherish are not transformed into squatting grounds.”

Lawmakers voted on two amendments to the bill, one from Tennessee Republican Rep. Andy Ogles and another from New York Democratic Rep. Nydia Velázquez.

<a target="_blank" href="https://amendments-rules.house.gov/amendments/OGLES_326_xml231128114506785.pdf?_gl=1*mwhub4*_ga*MjA4NDA3MzkxNi4xNjk1MDQ0NzAx*_ga_N4RTJ5D08B*MTcwMTM1NTg5OC44LjEuMTcwMTM1NTkxNC4wLjAuMA..">The amendment</a>&nbsp;from Ogles would require the U.S. Department of Interior and U.S. Department of Agriculture to submit a report to Congress on the number of immigrants who were housed on federal lands.

“This amendment requires accountability,” Ogles said.

Grijalva said the amendment was unnecessary because the bill, if passed into law, would ban migrants from being temporarily housed on federal lands.

“It’s a permanent requirement for reporting on nothing, paid for by the taxpayer,” he said.

The other<a target="_blank" href="https://amendments-rules.house.gov/amendments/VELAZQ_059_xml231122114954056.pdf?_gl=1*brsgpl*_ga*MjA4NDA3MzkxNi4xNjk1MDQ0NzAx*_ga_N4RTJ5D08B*MTcwMTM1NTg5OC44LjEuMTcwMTM1NTk3NC4wLjAuMA..">&nbsp;amendment</a>, by Velázquez, would allow the U.S. Secretary of the Interior to provide housing for migrants under certain criteria.

They would include when the original state those migrants came to has transferred them to another state; the original state has funded that transportation; the original state has not given 48 hours of notice to the governor of the destination state; and if the original state failed to give those migrants accurate information on the conditions of the state they are being transferred to.

That amendment is in response to Republican governors, especially Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who have sent buses of migrants to cities such as New York, often without warning local officials.

Abbott has also&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/11/texas-abbott-migrant-buses-washington-kamala-harris-title-42/#:~:text=Abbott%27s%20office%20launched%20the%20controversial,given%20the%20option%20by%20officials.">sent buses to Washington, D.C.</a>, dropping off migrants, in the cold and without proper clothing, outside the residence of Vice President Kamala Harris, who has been tasked by Biden to address the root causes of migration along the Southern border.

The Velázquez amendment failed, 206 to 223.

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