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The suit asserts the Governor has exceeded his authority under state law LINCOLN, NE – Red Willow County District Judge Patrick Heng has issued a ruling in the lawsuit filed by Nebraska Appleseed on behalf of former State Senator DiAnna Schimek and thirteen residents of McCook, Nebraska , to prevent Governor Jim Pillen’s unauthorized attempt to repurpose Nebraska’s Work Ethic Camp into a large-scale ICE detainment camp.  The plaintiffs in the case asked for a temporary inj

October 27, 2025 McCOOK Neb.— A Red Willow County District Judge has denied a request from 13 McCook residents and former State Senator DiAnna Schimek to temporarily block the State of Nebraska from converting the Work Ethic Camp (WEC) into a federal ICE detention facility. Judge Patrick Heng ruled that Nebraska Department of Corrections Director Rob Jeffreys has the authority to move forward under the agreement between the State of Nebraska and the U.S. Department of Homela

Oct. 27, 2025 McCOOK Neb.— The Red Willow County Board of Commissioners moved through a full agenda Monday, adopting the county’s One- and Six-Year Road & Street Improvement Program, responding to an audit finding on personal-property tax collections, and directing the clerk to prepare a salary resolution for the next elected-official term. One- & Six-Year Road Plan adopted Commissioners held a public hearing with engineer Kevin Petros of Miller & Associates before approving

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook Housing Agency, under the leadership of Executive Director Carma Earl, celebrated a milestone moment with a ribbon-cutting ceremony marking its official welcome into the McCook Area Chamber of Commerce. The event highlighted both the agency’s recent updates and its broader vision of providing safe, affordable, and dignified housing for local residents. Community leaders, chamber members, and residents attended the ceremony, which also showcased the a

October 24, 2025 McCOOK, Neb. — A Red Willow County District Court judge heard hours of arguments Friday in the case challenging the State of Nebraska’s plan to repurpose the Work Ethic Camp (WEC) in McCook into a temporary detention facility for federal immigration detainees. The lawsuit, filed by former State Senator Diana Schimek and 13 Red Willow County residents, names Governor Jim Pillen and Department of Correctional Services Director Rob Jeffreys as defendants. The pl

October 23, 2025 CONTACT: Laura Strimple, (402) 580-9495   LINCOLN, NE  – Governor Jim Pillen is providing an update on progress made at the Work Ethic Camp in McCook, which will allow the facility to be utilized for the detention of illegal detainees in support of ongoing efforts by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and ICE. In preparation for receiving detainees, the facility underwent a final walk-through by ICE inspectors this week and was approved for use.  

McCOOK Neb. — When hailstorms sweep through the Midwest, SkyDiamonds Auto Repair is often one of the first teams on the ground—ready to restore not only vehicles, but also peace of mind. The company, founded in 2004 and headquartered in Austin, Texas, has built its reputation on precision, honesty, and a heartfelt commitment to the communities it serves. This fall, SkyDiamonds has brought that same dedication to McCook, where their team is currently operating from 210 W. 3rd

October 20, 2025 McCOOK Neb. — The McCook City Council met Monday evening for a short and straightforward meeting. All items on the agenda were approved as presented. City Manager Updates City Manager Nate Schneider shared several announcements at the start of the meeting: The Nebraska Department of Transportation will hold a public meeting Friday, Oct. 24 at McCook Community College’s East Campus. The city’s annual audit is scheduled for Oct. 28–29. Council members can exp

McCOOK, Neb. — In the southwest corner of her kitchen, where sunlight pours through a wall of windows, oil painter Skyla Hegwood spends countless hours bringing portraits and stories to life. Her easel — a cherished gift from her college art instructor — fits perfectly in that bright corner, transforming the space into a home studio that’s part of her daily rhythm. “It’s where everything happens,” she said with a small laugh. “I love that I can paint right here, close to my

October 20, 2025 McCOOK, Neb. — A beloved piece of McCook’s downtown history has officially come to a close. Embers Bakery & Café announced on Sunday night that Saturday was its final day of operation, marking the end of a 68-year tradition that began in 1957 as Sehnert’s Bakery. The announcement, shared in a Facebook post by owners Andrew and Alix Ambriz, was met with an outpouring of emotion from the community — from sadness and surprise to heartfelt gratitude. Many longtim

Lincoln, Neb. — As a result of new federal requirements, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is rolling out several changes to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility requirements. The required changes listed below will go into effect on October 20, 2025, immediately for new applicants, and households with active benefits will be reviewed at their next recertification, when a household member is added, or when other updates are add

October 17, 2025 OMAHA, Neb. — State Senator Megan Hunt today raised serious constitutional, fiscal, and transparency concerns regarding Governor Jim Pillen's agreement to convert Nebraska's Work Ethic Camp (WEC) in McCook into a federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility. "The Governor cannot unilaterally hand over a state prison to the federal government," said Hunt. "The Nebraska Constitution gives the Legislature, not the Governor, authority over

McCook Neb. — We’ve all had that moment in the store — the one where you see something fancy, pick it up, and immediately start questioning your life choices. That was me this week, staring down the Lindt “Dubai Style” Pistachio & Kadaïf Chocolate with a $14.97 price tag. Fourteen. Ninety. Seven. For chocolate. Of course, curiosity (and my sweet tooth) won. I bought it in the name of journalism — or at least, dessert science — and here’s what I found out. The Taste Test: Fa

Oct. 16, 2025 McCOOK, Neb. — A lawsuit filed Wednesday in Red Willow County District Court seeks to halt Governor Jim Pillen’s plan to repurpose McCook’s Work Ethic Camp (WEC) into a federal immigration detention facility. The case — filed Oct. 15 by Nebraska Appleseed and announced publicly Thursday morning — names former State Senator DiAnna Schimek and 13 Red Willow County residents as plaintiffs. It names Governor Jim Pillen and Rob Jeffreys, Director of the Nebraska Dep

McCook Neb. — A fifth positive case of rabies in an animal has been reported to Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department (SWNPHD). This positive rabies test was from a bat in Frontier County. This is the second positive bat in southwest Nebraska for 2025, and the highest number of rabies cases in a year since 2015. Rabies is a deadly virus that affects the brain and is found in bats and other warm-blooded animals. Rabies is spread through the saliva or blood of an infecte

McCook Neb. —  Hailing from Lincoln, Nebraska, Philip Daniel has built a career on emotion — weaving stories not with words, but with sound. A classically trained pianist and acclaimed film composer, Daniel’s music has been streamed more than 30 million times around the world, connecting deeply with audiences who crave music that feels as much as it sounds. Daniel’s journey began at the piano bench, earning a graduate degree in Piano Performance from the UMKC Conservatory and

McCook Neb.— One of America’s longest running traveling art exhibitions is in McCook for a six-week stop at McCook Community College’s Wrightstone Gallery. The 158th International Exhibition of the American Watercolor Society continues through Oct. 27 at McCook Community College. This is one of America’s longest running traveling art exhibits, is free admission and housed in the Wrightstone Fine Art Gallery, 1203 E. Third. The gallery is open to the public seven days a week.

McCOOK, Neb. — Possible changes to McCook High School’s grading system were a key topic at Monday’s school board meeting. Superintendent Grant Norgaard reported that the district will review its current seven-point grading scale — in place for about two decades — as many Nebraska schools have transitioned to a ten-point scale to help students remain more competitive for college admissions and scholarships. Any proposed updates will involve input from teachers, administrators

McCOOK, Neb. — Longtime children’s librarian Diane Lyon joined the McCook Rotary Club this week to share the remarkable story of how McCook’s public library came to be — and how it continues to evolve as a vital community resource. From Temperance to Carnegie: The Birth of a Library McCook’s first public reading space appeared in 1885, when the Women’s Temperance Union offered newspapers and magazines in their reading room. At the time, most libraries were private or charged

McCOOK, Neb. — For nearly a decade, TJ Peterson has been reading tarot cards — first for herself, then for friends, and now, for anyone curious enough to sit down with her at Familiar Finds, where she offers walk-in readings on Saturdays from 10-3 p.m. ✨ Introductory pricing — $5 for a single card or $10 for a three-card spread — runs through the end of October. “This is the first time I’ve stepped out of my comfort zone to do in-person readings for other people,” TJ says. Wi