Good morning, Lincoln. Here’s what you should know today.
Session begins
Hundreds of people crammed into the George W. Norris chamber at Nebraska's Capitol on Wednesday as the 109th Legislature met for the first time this year in a day marked by pomp and circumstance and little a bit of drama.
Family members and friends of the state's newest lawmakers filled the chamber normally off limits to most of the public as 16 freshman senators were sworn in for the first time. Loved ones of reelected lawmakers joined, too, for their second go-around.
There was some indication of the long day and heated debates that are sure to come as the 49-member Legislature begins a 90-day legislative session that is scheduled to stretch into June. Speaker John Arch of La Vista, in his prayer that kicked off the session Wednesday, asked God, first, for wisdom.
Said Arch: "While the potential is great, the issues are complex and difficult.”
New bar in old space
A new restaurant is taking over a space on West O Street that has been home to some longtime Lincoln restaurants.
Since 1989, the restaurant at 1339 West O St. had been known as the Red Fox Steakhouse, or a variation on that name. Before that, it was The Arrow Inn and the Hi-Way Diner, according to a March 20, 1992, article in the Lincoln Journal Star.
Salty's Lodge is the first new restaurant to occupy that space in 35 years, and its goal is to replicate that longevity.
NU looks to future
The Nebraska football coaching staff is out building for the future.
There are two open contact periods this month in which 10 Husker assistants and head coach Matt Rhule can hit the recruiting trail. The first open period began Monday and runs through Sunday; the second is from Jan. 16 to Feb. 1.
A February signing day for 2025 recruits still exists, meaning those players could theoretically be a focus for coaches this month. But, that's not the case anymore because the vast majority of recruits make things official during the early signing period in December.
Instead, it’s onto the Classes of 2026 (current high school juniors) and 2027 (sophomores) for Nebraska and other programs around the country.
That’s it for Thursday, Jan. 9. Stay in the know with Lincoln’s longest-standing news source at JournalStar.com and we will see you back here on Wednesday.
