Good morning, Lincoln. Here’s what you should know today.
Planners OK solar farm
The Lincoln-Lancaster County Planning Commission on Wednesday unanimously approved a special permit for what would be the largest solar farm in Lancaster County, despite significant opposition from neighbors.
The commissioners passed three amendments intended to lessen the impact of NextEra Energy’s plans to build a nearly $600 million, 304-megawatt solar project on more than 2,400 acres of land east of Hallam in the southern part of the county.
Those amendments — which increased setbacks and screening requirements — are unlikely to satisfy opponents, who can, and undoubtedly will, appeal the decision to the Lancaster County Board.
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90-year-old's 901st donation
On Wednesday, 90-year-old Sherman Blocher donated for his 901st time at the Nebraska Community Blood Bank.
Blocher began donating in 1968 when the blood bank first opened and has since donated over 110 gallons of blood, which has helped more than 2,700 people.
His donation this week is his last one for a while because he will be traveling out of the country. In his absence, the blood bank is asking new donors to step in and continue Blocher's lifesaving work.
Huskers' 3rd time around
For the third time this season, the Nebraska volleyball team has traveled to Louisville.
This week’s trip is the best yet, with a spot in the NCAA Final Four. Nebraska plays Penn State in the national semifinals at approximately 8 p.m. on Thursday.
The Huskers opened the season in Louisville in the AVCA First Serve Showcase, beating Kentucky in four sets. The Huskers were back to play Louisville on Sept. 22 in a nonconference match, winning 3-0.
Said Coach John Cook, “Our goal was to get here a third time.”
That’s it for Thursday, Dec. 19. Stay in the know with Lincoln’s longest-standing news source at JournalStar.com. and we will see you back here tomorrow.
Top Journal Star photos for December 2024
Volunteers from Raymond Community Church, including Monty Woodward (from left), Wayne Anderson, Linda Feiler, Krista and Chuck Kohles dish out chicken noodle soup into meal boxes on Wednesday at the Gathering Place Soup Kitchen. The Gathering Place has seen an 87.5% increase in free, nightly meals served since the pandemic started.
Nebraska players celebrate after a kill by Andi Jackson (bottom right) during the first set of a NCAA Final Four match on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, at KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky.
Sen. Tom Brandt of Plymouth unrolls a round bale on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024, in Plymouth.
Lincoln Police Department graduates Kaitlyn Wiersma (from left), Joshua Woolfington, Chase Adams, Shawn Woods, Jillian Boysen, Sebastian Arrubla and Jeremiah McDowell listen during the first mixed LPD & LSO academy graduation on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024, at Lincoln Southeast Community College.
Lincoln East's Hailey Standish (front) leaps from the starting blocks in the third heat of the Girls 500 Yard Freestyle during the Lincoln Southeast invite on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, at Lincoln Southeast High School.
Sign language interpreters Davida Schejbal (left) and Ashten Schuler pose for a portrait while making the sign "interpreter." The two are mother and daughter.
Dale Strehle, surplus and inventory manager for Lincoln Public Schools, stands with a stack of old chairs in the LPS Distribution Center on Friday. Strehle is retiring after 24 years in the role, helping the district auction off countless bookshelves, cabinets, desks and more.
Sinclair Hille principal David Quade (left) and senior associate Kjersten Tucker lead a tour of a new University of Nebraska-Lincoln music building on Dec. 16. With the new building's design, the Lincoln architecture firm has sought to push the boundaries of what musical education looks like in higher education.
University of Nebraska - Lincoln sophomore geography major Maxwell Anderson, also known as Jersey Guy, has gone viral for wearing a different jersey to his class every day, Anderson says he has around 100 different jerseys.
Nebraska's Lexi Rodriguez (right) pancake-digs a ball during the fourth set of a third round NCAA tournament match against Dayton on Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, at the Devaney Sports Center.
Homeless man "Papa" George arranges his tent at a north Lincoln camp site, Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Lincoln.
Kiptara Thomas (back center), Grace Taylor (front center), and Ayla Brosman (right) prepare in the dressing room ahead of a dress rehearsal for "The Nutcracker" on Thursday at the Lied Center for Performing Arts.
Nebraska's Brice Williams (left) dances with Juwan Gary after the Huskers' win against Indiana on Dec. 13, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Allie Christianson (top right), a senior community organizer with Civic Nebraska, speaks during an event Thursday at NeighborWorks Lincoln's office formally kicking off an initiative to ban source-of-income discrimination for renters.
Ariana Cunningham, playing Clara (right), practices dancing backstage during a rehearsal for "The Nutcracker" at the Lied Center for Performing Arts on Thursday.
Wisconsin's CC Crawford (left) celebrates a kill by Sarah Franklin (13) during the first set of a third round NCAA tournament match against Texas A&M on Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, at the Devaney Sports Center.
Norris' Evan Greenfield (22) scores a layup as Wahoo's Jase Kaminski (13) goes up to defend the basket in the second half on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, at Wahoo High School.
Ruby Augustine blows out the candles on her birthday cake during her 105th birthday party on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, at the Legacy Retirement Community.
Cicely Wardyn of Lincoln adjusts an outdoor heater next to a Nativity scene during the Hometown Christmas event Sunday at the Governor's Mansion.
Eddie Walters, dressed as the Grinch, leads the pack of runners along the Billy Wolff trail during the Santa Fun Run on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024.
Nebraska plays against Florida A&M in an NCAA tournament game on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.
Fourth grade student Lulu Kulwick carries her review worksheet to meet with her teacher during computer science class. Each student was asked to analyze how fun, challenging and easy to understand each game was, and discuss what they thought was a good aspect to the game, and what could use some work.
Ben Heppner is illuminated by morning light as he waits for the start of the Santa Fun Run on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, inside the Fleet Feet store.
Nebraska head coach Amy Williams (left) and Callin Hake (14) cheer for their team after a defensive stop during the third quarter of the game against Minnesota on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Members of the Lincoln Journal Star's 2024 Super State volleyball team compete in Dance Dance Revolution and air hockey while at a photo shoot on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, at Round 1 Arcade.
Lincoln North Star's J'Shawn Afun (10) and Mekhi Wayne-Browne (11) battle Lincoln Southeast's Jaydee Dongrin (21) for a rebound in the first half on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at Lincoln Southeast High School.
Miami's Flormarie Heredia Colon (left) and Ashley Carr celebrate a point against South Dakota State during an NCAA first-round match, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at the Devaney Sports Center.
Workers pull up the Capitol Christmas tree on Monday at the Capitol. The 22-foot Colorado spruce from Walton was selected by the Office of the Capitol Commission to be this year’s annual Christmas tree.
Jenni Watson helps to arrange chairs for New Covenant Community Church's first service in their repaired main auditorium on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024, at New Covenant Community Church.
New Covenant Community Church is nearing completion of six months of reconstruction project after a fire in May damages the church. While the building was not fully consumed by fire, there was significant water damage to the main auditorium and the first floor south wing.
Jack, the dog, lifts his leg on the Christmas tree that his owners David and Karen Petersen of Hickman chose as Max Novak helps them on Saturday at Prairie Woods tree farm in Hallam.
Iowa's Drew Stevens (18) kicks a game-winning field goal through the arms of Nebraska's Ty Robinson (9) and Nash Hutmacher (0) on Nov. 29, 2024, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City.
Lincoln Northwest senior Kynzee McFadden (top right) works with her teammates as they compete in an identifying game on the Anatomage Table on Tuesday at Lincoln Northwest High School.
An Anatomage Table is a digital platform that allows students to perform virtual experiments on a life-size touchscreen. The table is a tool that provides an interactive view of the human body, allowing students to virtually work with different body parts.
Dahlia Brandon of Lincoln tickles her 15-month-old daughter, Gema, with a stuffed animal while shopping at HobbyTown on Saturday. The toy and game store nearly doubled its sales on Black Friday from last year.
Nebraska's Berke Büyüktuncel (left) and South Dakota's Max Burchill (3) reach for the ball during the first half of the game on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
