Good morning, Lincoln. Here are this morning's top headlines.
A year of gambling
Nebraska's first state-sanctioned casino has found its way in its first year of operation, but those intimately involved say it's nothing compared to where it will be in the coming years.
WarHorse Lincoln is a work in progress, an endeavor that has only scratched the surface of its potential.
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For now, the casino is currently being housed in a smaller building, while beyond the parking lot is a construction zone that will someday house a larger, 48,000-square-foot permanent casino, hotel and horse racing track.
The dirt work has begun on phase two, which will double the size of the existing casino by October 2024. Meanwhile, work continues on Legacy Downs at WarHorse, a seven-eighths of a mile horse track that is set to be ready in the spring.
Phase three of the hotel will bring more casino space, restaurants and lounges and an expanded sports book in the coming years, which will make WarHorse Lincoln a destination.
Olympic gymnast to talk in Lincoln
One of America’s most decorated female gymnasts of all time will make her way to Lincoln next week to talk about her journey with anxiety and depression.
Aly Raisman, a two-time Olympian and a three-time Olympic gold medalist, will share her experience with mental health and touch on the pressures of being a world-class gymnast at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church on Thursday at 6:30 p.m.
The event, hosted by Bryan Health, is free to attend, but registration is required.
Transplant forever connects families
And, the daughter of two proud season-ticket-holding Nebraska alumni and an OBGYN with three degrees from Michigan will be forever linked.
Two years ago, 6-year-old Julia Morrison of Lincoln needed bone marrow. A donor program matched her with Erica Brockberg, a doctor in Michigan.
Brockberg underwent the procedure – and it worked. Julia, now 8, is looking forward to meeting Erica. They have plans to meet for the first time in person later this year.
“She helped me. She had a surgery just for me,” Julia said.
Brockberg can’t wait either.
“Julia is amazing. She's got such a bright future and to be a part of helping make that a real possibility, it's incredible," Brockberg said. "It's indescribable.”
That’s it for Monday, Oct. 2. Stay in the know with Lincoln’s longest-standing news source at JournalStar.com., we’ll see you back here tomorrow.
Top Journal Star photos for September 2023
Students raise their hands to ask questions while First Lady Suzanne Pillen (right) reads, Right This Very Minute: A Table-to-Farm Book About Food and Farming, during an after school program at Prescott Elementary School, on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023, in Lincoln. On September 25, the Governor and First Lady proclaimed it was Agricultural Literacy Week and has been touring Nebraska schools participating in activities. Pillen led students, part of an after school Community Learning Center students, through a Nebraska Agriculture presentation.
Nebraska assistant coach Jordan Larson (left) talks with head coach John Cook speaks during a team practice on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023, at the Devaney Sports Center.
A farmer harvests a crop of soybeans using a combine just beneath a wind turbine, west of Fairmont on Sept. 26, 2023.
Nebraska players watch the video board as fans use their phone light to create a light show at the Devaney Sports Center, on Sunday.
Nebraska's Ally Batenhorst (first right) celebrates with her teammates after scoring the first set point against Minnesota on Sunday at the Devaney Sports Center.
The stadium lights at Memorial Stadium are reflected in the eyes of Nebraska's Janiran Bonner as he walks off the field following the game against Louisiana Tech on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023.
Louisiana Tech's Smoke Harris is held back by Nebraska's Omar Brown while John Bullock goes flying past after missing a tackle in the fourth quarter at Memorial Stadium, on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023.
About 25,000 fans return to watch the fourth quarter action between Louisiana Tech and Nebraska, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska's Heinrich Haarberg (top) celebrates his touchdown against Louisiana Tech with teammate Henry Lutovsky on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska's Laney Choboy dives into the crowd to make a save in the second set against Ohio State at the Devaney Sports Center, on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023.
Wahoo's Sam Edmonds (center) celebrates his touchdown against Columbus Lakeview with teammate Barrett Lavaley during a high school football game on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, in Wahoo.
Everett Elementary School fourth graders Jai'lisea Williams (from left), Ariana Neemeyer, Jaqueline Lima Mellado and Matias Mendez Hernandez look from a panel blind, Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, at Spring Creek Prairie Audubon near Denton.
Lincoln East's Mikhale Ford (first right) celebrates with his team after scoring a 51-yard interception return touchdown during the second quarter at Seacrest Field, on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023, in Lincoln.
Kay McGuire (left) holds up a small handmade notebook to show Grace Cooper (right) as they volunteer their time to create breast cancer care packages at Picnic Hill Create, on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023, in Lincoln. Volunteers at Picnic Hill Create, a Lincoln craft store, have been meeting three nights this month to prepare care packages for people who were recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Care packages include a handmade journal/notebook, handmade card, and other care items such as mints, lotion and a bookmark.
Muriel Graham, 94, talks with pilot Scott "Scooter" DeLong as she sits in a World War II-era Boeing Stearman plane at Lincoln Airport on Wednesday as part of Dream Flights, a program that takes veterans and their spouses to tour the sky. Graham's first flight was in 1946 with her cousin, who used to fly with her near Springview where she taught at a one-room schoolhouse. "I've always wanted to be a pilot," Graham said, "Married a sailor and I was left on the ground with three naughty girls and a dog and he was flying," she said. Her husband, Marvin, served in the Navy for 26 years as a Navy aircraft mechanic onboard an aircraft carrier. Wednesday's short flight took her to downtown Lincoln overlooking Memorial Stadium as well as the Capitol.
Woman of the Year Susanne Blue, recently retired director of Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach, speaks during the Inspire ceremony at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Sept. 20, 2023.
Lincoln Southwest’s Makenna Murphy (6) and Delaney Madson (10) dance before a game against Kearney on Sept. 19, 2023, at Doris Bair Complex.
Five-year old Jack Kountze of Omaha picks an apple at Kimmel Orchard & Vineyard during the AppleJack Festival on Sunday in Nebraska City. The annual festival is expected to draw nearly 80,000 people to the area by the time it ends Sept. 24.
Nebraska's Derek Branch (left) and teammate Grant Tagge tackle Northern Illinois' Dane Pardridge in the fourth quarter Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska’s quarterback Heinrich Haarberg (left) celebrates his touchdown with teammate Bryce Benhart during the second half of the match against Northern Illinois on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Northern Illinois' Cade Haberman (left) and George Gumbs forces Nebraska's Heinrich Haarberg to fumble in the first quarter, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska's Kwinten Ives jumps as he and his teammates run out from the Northeast tunnel before the game on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska's defense walks out of the new tunnel before the game on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
Norris players take the field as the sun sets in the west during the second quarter at Waverly High School, on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, in Waverly.
Nebraska's Haley Peterson (left) is defended by Wisconsin's Ashley Martinez in the first half Friday at Hibner Stadium.
Lincoln East's Mikhale Ford celebrates with Owen Laessig (from left) after Laessig scored a touchdown during the second quarter at Seacrest Field, on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023.
Nebraska’s Alina Felix (26) gets under a pop-fly on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023 during an intrasquad scrimmage at Bowlin Stadium in Lincoln.
Runners charge forward during the Harold Scott Invitational on Thursday at Pioneers Park.
Omaha native Adam Murphy takes a stroll hand-in-hand with Kenzie Houser (from Riverton, Kansas) on Thursday at Sunken Gardens in Lincoln. “It’s my first time here,” Murphy said. “It’s gorgeous — just a great place to be.”
A bomb squad robot responds to a suspicious package at 200 S 21st, Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023, in Lincoln.
Tommy Blanton looks out the window while he sits at a booth with a drink during a Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana signature drive kickoff event at Duffy’s Tavern on Wednesday.
Nebraska softball head coach Rhonda Revelle shouts instructions to her players during practice at Bowlin Stadium, on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023.
Lincoln Northwest High School senior Jack Duval places words of encouragement on a wall to promote Suicide Prevention Month on Wednesday at the school.
Lincoln local Aaron Wilson, 50, rides his skateboard on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023 at the ramps in Lincoln’s Peter Pan Park. Wilson has been skating 37 years, but is a long-time user of this particular skatepark as well. “I’ve spent at least ten years right here in this exact spot,” he says. Wilson says he considers skating his “fountain of youth.” Doesn’t matter what I did the night before—I can come here, sweat it out, and all is forgiven,” he says.
An American flag is raised in front of the Nebraska Capitol during the Patriot Day ceremony on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023.
Nebraska’s Laney Choboy (6) celebrates a point during the match against Long Beach State on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023 at Bob Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln. Nebraska was up 2-0 going into the third period.
Colorado head football coach Deion Sanders leads his team on to the field before the game against Nebraska on Sept. 9, 2023, at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colo.
Lincoln-local Philip Lass, 12, looks at a set of homemade LED-illuminated polyhedra during Make Lincoln at Turbine Flats on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023. The free, annual all-ages event features hands-on workshops, vendor booths and demonstrations from local creators in robotics, electronics, woodworking, textiles, painting, 3D printing, and more.
Nebraska quarterback Jeff Sims (7) scrambles out of the pocket as he is pursued by Colorado's Shane Cokes (99) in the second quarter on Saturday at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colo.
Colorado's Cam'Ron Silmon-Craig celebrates after Nebraska misses a field goal on Saturday at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colo.
Lincoln High's Remy Chapman (11) attempts a pass on the run under defense by Omaha Central's Ke'Von Newsome (20) at Beechner Athletic Complex in Lincoln. Omaha Central was up 35-0 going into halftime.
Long-time Lincoln local Ted Hollinger, 91, sits on a bench at Holmes Lake Park on Friday, Sept. 8, 2023, and looks out over the water. “The last few years since I’ve retired, I probably come out here every day,” he says. “I hate to see summer coming to an end.”
Vehicles cross over the mostly dry Platte River on U.S. 34 near Grand Island on Friday.
Lincoln East freshman Lucy Barrett (left) and senior Lucy Barrett (right) pose for a portrait Thursday at Doris Bair Softball Complex in Lincoln. Though they are not relatives, they share identical first and last names, and are close friends.
Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule speaks during a news conference on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska's Merritt Beason (top) spikes the ball past Creighton's Destiny Ndam-Simpson and Ann Marie Remmes during the fourth set at the Devaney Sports Center, on Wednesday in Lincoln.
Lincoln East's Kennedy Johnson (11) sets the ball against Lincoln North Star on Tuesday at Lincoln East. The Spartans won the match 3-0.
Katie Kelly sits in her late mother's 1960 Lotus 7 sportscar as her husband Craig Sarachene fixes a sticker at the Tire Rack Sports Car Club of America Solo National Championships at the Lincoln Airpark, Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023.
Kayson Hanika, 6, and Emerie Wayne, 4, lie together on the sand on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023 at Branched Oak Lake in Lancaster County on Labor Day weekend.
Lincoln Southeast's Dallas Washington celebrates a touchdown after out running Lincoln East's Presley Hall in the third quarter at Seacrest Field, on Friday, Sept. 1, 2023, in Lincoln.
Lincoln Southwest running back Ashton Traudt (2) runs the ball under defense by Columbus defensive end Caden Kapels (81) during the Silver Hawks' game against Columbus on Friday at UBT Stadium at Lincoln Northwest. Southwest was leading 14-6 at halftime.
Seward local Garin Metzger (left) drives his pontoon boat on Friday, Sept. 1, 2023 at Branched Oak Lake in Lancaster County during the start of Labor Day weekend. Pictured with him is his wife Linda Metzger (center-right), and their friends Shanda Laflin (center-left) and Pam Spicher (right).
Volleyball fans do the wave during a break in the action during the match between Omaha and Nebraska on Wednesday at Memorial Stadium.
