News

The Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance (NDBF) has issued an alert regarding an emerging scam that targets recipients of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans issued during the pandemic. The Nebraska Bankers Association reports that scammers have called PPP recipients and impersonated bank employees or local law enforcement in an attempt to gain access to financial accounts.

Local utility customers recently received a pair of important mailings from the City of Central City: one promoting a charitable utility donation program, and the other seeking community feedback on natural gas safety awareness.

For one week each summer, the Central City High School Performing Arts Center transforms into a hub of energy, artistry, and collaboration as Broadway Academy sets up camp. This nonprofit musical theater program draws students from across Nebraska—and in some cases, from beyond state lines—to take part in an intensive week of training with professional artists from around the country.

The 2026 Merrick County sheriff’s race is already heating up—more than a year before voters head to the polls. During the Lone Tree Days parade on the Fourth of July, current Merrick County Sheriff John Westman made his re-election campaign official, marching with family and staff from the sheriff’s office as the community celebrated 150 years since the name change from Lone Tree to Central City.

Accurately sampling and testing hay is the only way to get a real understanding of the nutritive value of feed. Using values from previous years or a “book value” can be costly since a producer may incorrectly develop a ration using values that aren’t representative.

Grant applications for the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment (DWEE) 2026 Waste Reduction and Recycling Incentive, Litter Reduction and Recycling, and Scrap Tire programs can be submitted between July 9 and August 20, 2025 (4:00 p.m. CST).

Too much of most anything is the pits. The rain we received in the last week of June was certainly sweet cherries, but when it continued to 5,6,7,upwards it became the pits. Wheat fields coming close to harvest and young corn standing in knee high water is not a good thing. It becomes “rain,rain go away.” Just don’t forget to come back in about two to three weeks with a calm inch or two.

“For the past several years, Nebraska’s farmers and ranchers have been working closely with Nebraska’s congressional delegation to secure passage of a new Farm Bill and an extension of the many vital tax provisions found in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Failing to do so would have led to the largest tax increase on American families in our nation’s history and pushed back passage of important updates to the agricultural safety-net yet again. Today, with the reconciliation bill finally headed to President Trump’s desk, farmers and ranchers can celebrate the passage of a bill which extends and, in most cases, makes permanent key federal tax provisions and provides needed updates to Farm Bill risk management tools. We want to thank Nebraska Senators Deb Fischer and Pete Ricketts along with Congressmen Mike Flood, Don Bacon, and Adrian Smith for their tireless work to improve and secure passage of this important bill. Passage of the ‘One, Big, Beautiful Bill’ is a win for Nebraska’s farm and ranch families, and we look forward to continuing to work with our stellar congressional delegation on legislation to improve the lives of our state’s food, fuel, and fiber producers.”