Good morning, Lincoln. Here’s what you should know today.
Break-in at McPhee
Students at McPhee Elementary were placed into lockdown Wednesday afternoon after a man armed with a knife attempted to break into the school.
The man first attempted to break through a window on the north side of the school at 820 Goodhue Boulevard, just south of the Capitol. He then went to the main entrance and used a bike to break the glass of a locked door inside the vestibule of the school.
Staff immediately called the Lincoln Police Department, and officers arrived within two minutes. The school initiated a lockdown to keep all students inside classrooms out of sight with the lights off, according to a message sent to families.
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Police apprehended the man within 10 feet of the front door.
Rule changes OK'd
The 109th Legislature approved a pair of small changes to its rules on Wednesday before launching a debate over a third proposal that generated controversy among senators.
Lawmakers adjourned before they could reach resolution on the proposed rule from Omaha Sen. Kathleen Kauth, who is seeking to change how senators who are "present not voting" are recorded. Lawmakers will resume debate on the proposal on Thursday.
Volleyball at arena
The Nebraska volleyball program's first set of matches ever at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln will include at least one high-profile matchup.
Nebraska will host the season-opening AVCA First Serve Showcase and will play Pittsburgh, coach John Cook said on the Huskers Radio Network. The Panthers were ranked No. 1 for most of last season and, like Nebraska, advanced to the NCAA Final Four.
The Huskers will play two matches during the event, which is scheduled for Aug. 22-24, with the second opponent not yet announced. There are two matches each day. Tickets will go on sale in the summer.
That’s it for Thursday, Jan. 23. Stay in the know with Lincoln’s longest-standing news source at Journalstar.com and we will see you back here Friday.
Top Journal Star photos for January 2025
Former Nebraska head coach John Cook speaks during his coaching retirement news conference on Jan. 30 in Lincoln. Cook will be a GM and part-owner of the Omaha Supernovas.
The Legislature's Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee listens to testimony Thursday at the Capitol regarding a bill to change Nebraska to a winner-take-all voting system in the Electoral College.
The Lincoln Southwest bench, including Eedee Npimnee (front left), celebrates scoring a basket against Lincoln North Star, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, at Lincoln North Star.
Construction work continues near South 17th and A streets as part of the current Lincoln On the Move program previously approved by voters to build and rehab streets. The City Council has been asked to put a proposal to extend a quarter-center sales tax for the program on April’s primary ballot.
Chief Justice Jeffrey Funke delivers his first State of the Judiciary address in the legislative chamber at the Capitol on Tuesday.
Lincoln Fire and Rescue firefighters work to remove a fence to reach a recreational vehicle that caught fire Friday near 30th and U streets.
Nebraska’s Sam Hoiberg (left) and Rollie Worster wrestle the ball from USC’s Wesley Yates III on Wednesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps answers questions from honor roll and AVID students at Goodrich Middle School on Thursday. Epps shared her experience in space with students as part of a collaboration with the Strategic Air Command and Aerospace Museum. David Seizys, a teacher at Goodrich, organized the presentation.
Elkhorn South's Lincoln Schwarz (23) defends the basket as Pius X's Cole Randall (3) and Kolbe Volkmer (44) try to gain possession of the ball underneath the rim in the first half on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025,at Pius X High School.
The Nebraska wrestling team is greeted by throngs of fans as they enter the arena to take on Penn State on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, at the Devaney Sports Center.
Ray Jisa (left) adjusts his wheelchair next to his wife, Marla, on Friday at their Seward home. Due to a new state law that caps what medical equipment providers can charge Medicaid supplement plans, Jisa said replacing his wheelchair would cost him $2,500 out of pocket when it cost him nothing when he first bought one five years ago.
Matthias McKing (left), 11, helps Javar Walker, 3, decide on a piece of candy during the Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Rally on Sunday at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Nebraska Union.
Nebraska's Tyus Wilson celebrates after winning the men's high jump event at the Graduate Classic on Jan. 18 at the Devaney Sports Center.
Lincoln Lutheran’s Trenton Ernst (left), Grant Stowell and Grant Kuhlmann defend as Ashland-Greenwood’s Cal Kissinger goes for a basket on Thursday in Ashland.
University of Nebraska-Lincoln senior Nik Barger looks through peacoats to hand out to a UNL choir member on Thursday at Westbrook Music building before the choir left for Monday's presidential inauguration.
Nebraska’s Ridge Lovett (left) celebrates after defeating Penn State’s Shayne Van Ness (center) in a 149lb match on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, at the Devaney Sports Center.
Nebraska's Braxton Meah (34) dunks the ball against Rutgers defenders in the second half on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Two parkgoers fish through the ice of Holmes Lake on Monday at Holmes Lake Park in Lincoln. Nebraska Game and Parks is reminding people to use caution and test the ice before venturing out onto frozen lakes or ponds.
Southeast Community College President Paul Illich speaks during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Sandhills Global Technology Center on SCC's Lincoln campus on Wednesday. The new, 65,000-square-foot building, which will house a number of SCC programs, including biotechnology, electronic systems, computer information technology and design and drafting, will open to students next week.
Members of the media record Gov. Jim Pillen (bottom right) as he delivers his State of the State address Wednesday at the Capitol.
Nebraska's Christopher Minto reacts after defeating Minnesota's Andrew Sparks at 165 pounds Saturday at the Devaney Sports Center.
People attend a Lancaster County Board meeting Tuesday at the County-City Building. Opponents and supporters of a large solar farm planned for southern Lancaster County offered testimony for six hours on the proposed $600 million, 304-megawatt solar project, which Florida company NextEra Energy wants to build on 2,400 acres east of Hallam.
Zoe, 6, (left) and Betsy, 7, (right) spend time on the floor with their mother, Sen. Carolyn Bosn of Lincoln (center), during the first day of the legislative session Wednesday at the Capitol.
Volunteer Olivia Guynan takes Teddy the cat out of his cage on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, at the Capital Humane Society Pieloch Pet Adoption Center.
Nebraska State Board of Education member Deborah Neary (left) listens as her colleague Elizabeth Tegtmeier discusses her qualifications to be board president during a board orientation meeting Thursday at the Nebraska Department of Education's Lincoln office.
Lincoln Southwest’s Jayven Mitchell (left) rebounds the ball next to Lincoln Southeast’s Uzziah Sanders on Friday at Lincoln Southwest High School.
Jordyn Bahl (center) is greeted by fellow Husker athlete Rebekah Allick after she leaves the podium in the Governor's Hearing Room on Friday at the Capitol. At left is Hannah Holtmeier, a UNL student. They spoke in support of a bill introduced by Sen. Kathleen Kauth (right) that would ban transgender individuals from certain bathrooms and locker rooms in the state.
Kevin Stocker (bottom right)a Nebraska Public Service commissioner, takes a phone call on the first day of the legislative session Wednesday at the Capitol.
Logan Sweet, a newly graduated firefighter recruit at Lincoln Fire and Rescue, introduces his 10-month-old daughter Lennon to Archie, a golden lab, and his handler Samantha Wilkins, an LFR firefighter and EMT, following an LFR badge ceremony for firefighter recruits Tuesday at Lincoln Firefighters Reception Hall. Eleven recruits and three canine teams received badges in the ceremony.
In addition to taking another run at property tax cuts this year, Gov. Jim Pillen said he will seek to ban Nebraska children from social media until they are 16 years old and bar cellphones from K-12 schools.
Penn State's Jayla Oden (12) and Nebraska's Britt Prince (23) battle for the ball during the first quarter of the game on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Casey Manka with The Tree Guys works to haul a Christmas tree into a chipper at Holmes Lake Park in the parking lot west of the north softball fields on Tuesday. The city of Lincoln is providing drop-off areas for anyone wishing to dispose of their trees.
Nebraska's Logan Nissley (2) and Amiah Hargrove (33) celebrate in the fourth quarter of the game against Michigan State on Wednesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Milford's Ayla Roth (4) dives to save the ball amid Malcolm defenders on Thursday at Malcolm High School.
Brandon Lenners snow blows the sidewalk outside of an apartment complex near Old Cheney and 84th street on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025.
Pius X's Austen Davis (24) gains possession of a rebound against Omaha Skutt's Libby Shotkoski (12) and Kamryn Kasner (34) in the first half on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, at Lincoln Pius X High School.
Quentin Shaw, assistant coordinator of legislative services, changes the nameplates in the Norris Chamber Friday. Senators return to the Capitol for the first session of the 109th Nebraska Legislature on Wednesday.
Lincoln North Star's Jakeyce Fowler (left) and Rieal Acin (5) celebrate during the fourth quarter of the game against Lincoln Southwest on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, at Lincoln North Star High School.
