Good morning, Lincoln. Here's what you should know today.
Drought worsens in NebraskaÂ
Drought is continuing to get worse in Nebraska thanks to unseasonably warm and dry weather, leading to high fire danger in many places.
According to the latest Drought Monitor, almost half of the state is now in at least a moderate drought. That's up from just over 40% last week and less than 6% just two months ago. That includes more than 14% in severe drought, up from about 9% last week and less than 1% two months ago.
All of Lancaster County is now in moderate drought, and a tiny sliver of the southwestern part of the county is in severe drought. As recently as the second week of August, the county was drought-free.
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Construction begins at old Pershing site
Construction workers have begun to fill the giant hole left by Pershing Auditorium in downtown Lincoln and the mixed-use building that will replace it will be done by December 2025.
White Lotus, the Omaha-based company the mayor chose to redevelop the property, is building a mix of residential and commercial space in the five-story building. The top four floors will include 90 apartments affordable to people with various income levels. The first floor will include a lobby and the commercial space will include health care services.
Developers have named the project MURAL, a tribute to the giant mural that graced the front of Pershing for more than half a century.
Stars scoring at frantic pace
And, last season, it took the Lincoln Stars 10 games to reach 20 goals. This season, it took four.
The Stars are off and running, winning three of their first four games and scoring at a breakneck pace. That includes a whopper of a home opener in which Lincoln scored nine times to beat Green Bay on Sept. 28.
Lincoln plays Sioux Falls on Saturday in its first true road game of the season. Lincoln opened its season at a neutral-site event in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
That’s it for Friday, Oct. 4. Stay in the know with Lincoln’s longest-standing news source at and we’ll see you back here on Monday.
Top Journal Star photos for October 2024
First grade student JaMaya Arnolds (center) leaps over Tinikeling sticks held by Ben (left) and Linda Witfoth while playing a rhythm game during the Music Studio LNK after school program held at McPhee Elementary School on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024.
Ira and Marlina Bowdery of M & J's Southern Style Food pose for a portrait next to their food truck.Â
Lincoln Public Schools psychotherapist Liesel Hogan and her therapy dog, a 3-year-old standard poodle named Yeti, are greeted by students during a passing period on Wednesday at Scott Middle School.
Voters wait in line outside of the Lancaster County Election Commission Office to register and vote early on Monday.
Gov. Jim Pillen answers questions from reporters during a news conference on Tuesday at the Capitol.
Norris' Crew Moeller (4) dives into the endzone over Waverly's Trev Greve (2) to score a touchdown in the second quarter to score a on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, at Norris High School.
Lincoln North Star junior Skyler Shaw practices welding at The Career Academy. Ten years since its grand opening, The Career Academy at Lincoln Public Schools has more than doubled its enrollment and district officials expect that growth to continue.
Factory Manager Dan Neil (from left), associate maintenance manager Tanner Winberg, predictive maintenance tech Kenny Rose, PDM Tech Chu Fung Wong, and IT tech Gary Schellhorn pose for a photo alongside their new Boston Dynamics robot dog Spot at Nestle Purina Petcare Company on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, in Crete.
Gretna's Alexis Jensen celebrates after the final out of the fifth inning during a Class A state tournament game on Thursday in Hastings.
Oliver Degner, 4, (from left) Charlotte Degner, 6, and Noelle Gormley, 7, all of Lincoln, run to the finish line during the Pumpkin Run on Sunday in Lincoln's Haymarket.
Erika Madison, Capital Humane Society animal welfare specialist manager, weighs a Goldendoodle on a scale during intake on Friday. The city of Lincoln is balking at signing a new long-term contract with the humane society to provide shelter for stray animals after the amount nearly tripled over previous years.
Russ Marr works on a wooden portion of "Vlad the Impaler" — an art piece depicting a goose that has the fangs of a vampire, the tongue of a serpent and the tail of a rattlesnake. The body of the piece uses an original tank from a 1977 Harley-Davidson Super Glide.
Malcolm's Cole Tiedeman (center) celebrates with his teammates after the Clippers defeated Raymond Central 27-19 on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, at Raymond Central High School.
Lincoln Northwest High School seniors Brookelynn Wheeler (from left), Tyjian Deerinwater, Kareem Yahya and Haylie Helmick investigate a crime scene during a forensics class on Tuesday.
Lincoln Lutheran's McKenzie Sidlo (center from left) goes to hit the ball over the net while defended by Pius X's McKenzie Becker and Faith Venable (2) during the third set on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, at Lincoln Lutheran High School
As seen from outside the UNL Union, Sen. Deb Fischer (right) speaks about her responsibilities as a senator and answers questions from students during a UNL College Republicans meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024, at the UNL Union. Fischer, the Republican from Nebraska seeking her third term in the US Senate.
Lincoln Southwest's Ja'Sara Wilson kicks up dirt as she slides into second base in the first inning of the A-2 district championship on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, at Doris Bair Complex .
Henry Oetjen augers corn from his combine into a grain cart while harvesting on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, at Oetjen Farms near Walton.
Pius X's Faith Venable (left) is mobbed by her teammates after scoring the set winning kill in the second set on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, at Lincoln Lutheran High School
From left, Nola Broderick, 7, and her twin Rose Broderick ride their bikes past the Halloween decorations at the home of Wade and Debbie McGinnis at 5043 Leighton Avenue is seen on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, in Lincoln.
Malcolm players are silhouetted by the sun as they warm up before the game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Malcolm High School.
Nebraska players huddle up the North endzone in the fourth quarter against Rutgers on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Wicked Bones band members Marshall Johnson (left) and Jobe Sullivan rock out onstage during at UNL's Battle of the Bands on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024, at the Bourbon Theatre. Six local bands comprised of UNL students competed for a spot to perform as part of UNL's homecoming. The final two bands will perform during Cornstock on Friday.
Nebraska's Isaac Gifford (2), Nebraska's Ceyair Wright (15), DeShon Singleton (8) and Nebraska's MJ Sherman (48) celebrate a defensive stop during the third quarter of the game against Rutgers on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska's Jahmal Banks is defended by Rutgers' Eric Rogers is ruled as a incomplete pass, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Mark Thornton, executive director of Jacob's Well, sees potential in an old grocery store at 2001 J St. He hopes to create a new gather place and make it part of the neighborhood again.
Lincoln Southwest's Sage Strait competes in the Girls 5K during the LPS cross country championships at Pioneers Park on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, in Lincoln.
Norris' Crew Moeller (4) stiff-arms Lincoln Pius X's Sam Kassmeier during the first quarter on Friday at Aldrich Field.
Teacher Maileigh Camp holds Tailey Helmstadter, 7 months, at an Early Head Start classroom Tuesday at the Community Action Head Start K Street Center.
Lincoln Southwest's Brenly Noerrlinger (from left), Ja'Sara Wilson and Hadley Madson sing a chant during a game against Fremont on Tuesday at Doris Bair Complex.
USC's Ally Batenhorst (left) reacts as Nebraska fans cheer for her before Sunday's match at the Devaney Sports Center.
Amy Bolton arranges several skeletons in tutus as she decorates her front yard for Halloween on Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, at her Lincoln home near 48th and High Street. Bolton has been decorating her yard with skeletons since she bought her home in 2020.
