The Alliance Police Department announces the apprehension of a male suspect wanted on a nationwide extradition warrant for First Degree Assault, a felony offense originating out of Westminster, Colorado.

In the past 48 hours, credible intelligence was received by the involved agencies indicating the suspect was present in the Alliance area. As a result, the Alliance Police Department and the Western Intelligence Narcotics Group (WING) began conducting surveillance within Alliance and successfully located the individual.

On the morning of 02/12/2026, at approximately 0650 hours, officers with the Alliance Police Department, in conjunction with the WING drug task force, conducted a traffic stop near 3rd Street and Laramie Avenue. The driver of the vehicle was identified as Anthony Lee Smith, date of birth 07/19/1982, who was confirmed to have an active nationwide extradition warrant for Felony First Degree Assault.

Smith was apprehended without incident and transported to the Box Butte County Jail, where he was lodged pending extradition proceedings back to Colorado. 

During the arrest, Smith was also found to be in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Additional charges related to those offenses are pending.

“This arrest highlights the importance of strong partnerships and information sharing between local, state, and federal agencies,” said Sergeant David LaDuke of the Alliance Police Department. “Through coordinated efforts and proactive investigative work, we were able to locate and safely apprehend a dangerous individual while keeping our community and officers safe.”

This apprehension was the result of coordinated efforts between the Alliance Police Department, the Box Butte County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI’s Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force (RMSSTF), and WING. The Alliance Police Department would like to thank all partnering agencies for their cooperation and continued commitment to public safety.

Alliance police apprehend suspect wanted on nationwide extradition warrant

Alliance, NE – The City of Alliance Landfill accepts all natural materials such as trees, branches, clean soil, rock, grass, and leaves for free to all Alliance residents within City limits. Depending on the material, applicable rates will be charged to anyone outside of City limits. The City of Alliance Landfill is committed to delivering high-quality, reliable services.

For any questions, please contact the Landfill at (308) 762-2705.

City of Alliance Landfill Natural Materials Services

The Nebraska GOP county delegate registration process has changed

The Nebraska Republican Party (NEGOP) has opened delegate registration for 2026 County and State Conventions. Any registered Republican can do so until March 1, 2026. The process no longer requires anyone wishing to be a delegate to file with the county clerk’s office. They now have to file directly with the NEGOP.

Registered Republicans can do so by going to the NEGOP website: https://ne.gop (or just Google NEGOP, and click on the official website link given). Click on the hotlink on the home page titled: County Conventions, then scroll down to the Delegate Registration subheading and follow the instructions. You can directly register at the link provided or choose the alternate registration options of requesting a form by mail or by calling the NEGOP and registering over the phone. Also new this year is a $5.00 registration fee.

NE Republican Party Opens Delegate Registration

The North Platte Natural Resources District held its annual Ag Symposium on Tuesday, February 10th, at the Gering Civic Center. During the event, the District presented the third annual Outstanding Conservation Award to Tom Case.

The award recognizes individuals or businesses that demonstrate strong stewardship of natural resources and a commitment to long‑term sustainability. Tom Case was selected for his decades of practical, hands‑on work that has directly supported conservation efforts in the City of Minatare and the surrounding area.

Tom recently retired as the Utility Supervisor and Emergency Manager for the City of Minatare, a role he began in 1986. Throughout his career, he worked closely with the NRD on a variety of conservation‑related projects and infrastructure improvements. Whether the task involved water system upgrades, tree management, or other community needs, Tom consistently approached each project with a willingness to collaborate and offer straightforward, constructive input.

His work has had a lasting impact on the community. Tom played a key role in removing hazardous and dying trees and helped plant hundreds more over the years, contributing to both public safety and long‑term environmental health. His involvement with the Volunteer Fire Department and his steady commitment to the city reflect a career built on reliability and service.

The North Platte Natural Resources District is pleased to recognize Tom Case for his long‑standing dedication and meaningful contributions to conservation in the Panhandle of Nebraska.

Tom Case Awarded Conservation Award at North Platte Natural Resources District Ag Symposium

CHADRON — The Graves Lecture Series will begin later this month at Chadron State College. The series, which is free and open to the public, is a forum for speakers of many interests and disciplines. Since 2006, the series has included presentations about a wide variety of historical, cultural, artistic, and scientific areas. Each presentation this semester will be at 6 p.m. in the Sandoz Center’s Chicoine Atrium.

The series opens Feb. 24 with Justin Haag, Panhandle regional editor for Nebraskaland magazine, who will present Nebraskaland Magazine: 100 Years of Inspiring Outdoor Adventure. Haag will highlight the magazine’s century-long history and discuss how it continues to promote outdoor recreation, conservation, and public lands. Through photography and writing, Haag promotes natural resources and outdoor activities for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s flagship publication.

Haag has been an editor with the magazine since 2013 and previously worked for 12 years in communications and marketing at Chadron State. A native of southwestern Nebraska, Haag earned a journalism degree from CSC in 1996 and lives in Chadron with his wife, Cricket.

The March 19 lecture will feature Conor P. Casey, a trial lawyer with Beardsley, Jensen &amp; Lee in Rapid City, South Dakota, who will present Who Decides What’s Reasonable? Casey will examine how the legal concept of reasonableness is used to resolve conflict and how it often reflects deeper issues of power, judgment, and human experience. Casey represents individuals in complex civil litigation, with an emphasis on civil rights, Federal Tort Claims Act litigation, and workers’ compensation.

A Rapid City native, he earned degrees in English and comparative philosophy from CSC while playing football, completed his MBA at CSC, and graduated from the University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law.

The series concludes April 23 with CSC Art Professor Mary Donahue, who will present Art?! Get Out! Twenty Plus Years of Learning and Exploring Outside the Classroom with Students. Donahue will share stories and photographs of museums, galleries, and outdoor experiences CSC students have explored beyond the classroom and reflect on what those experiences taught her and the students.

Donahue is an artist, designer, and writer who grew up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and moved west at age 18. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in art and advertising design and a Master of Fine Arts in painting from Utah State University and has worked in advertising, publishing, and university research before joining the CSC faculty.

Chadron Graves Lecture Series to highlight outdoor journalism, law, art

Alliance, NE – The City of Alliance Facilities will be closed Monday, February 16, 2026, in observance of President’s Day. This closure includes the Utility Office, Public Works, Knight Museum &amp; Sandhills Center, Sallows Military Museum, Alliance Public Library, The Senior Center, Public Transit, Landfill, and the Municipal Building.

Please contact the City Administration Offices at (308) 762-5400 for any questions or for more information.

President’s Day Closures of City of Alliance Facilities

By Northwest Community Action Partnership

Northwest Community Action Partnership (NCAP) is reminding residents across Box Butte, Cherry, Dawes, Sheridan, and Sioux counties that help is available for individuals and families facing housing instability, utility shutoffs, food insecurity, and other urgent needs.

Through NCAP’s Community Services Program, qualifying residents may receive assistance with rent payments for those actively facing eviction, rental deposits for individuals experiencing active homelessness, and rapid rehousing support for households at immediate risk of losing their nighttime residence. The program also offers case management services with a focus on preventing and addressing homelessness.

Additional support may include utility assistance for households with an active disconnect notice, a diaper bank, food pantry access, and referrals to other local resources. Eligibility requirements vary by service and are based on income guidelines, documentation, and current need.

Residents are encouraged to call ahead to schedule an appointment at their local NCAP office:

• Dawes &amp; Sioux Counties: (308) 747-2180

More information about available services and eligibility requirements can be found at www.ncap.info. NCAP remains committed to strengthening communities by connecting individuals and families with resources that promote stability, dignity, and long-term well-being.

NCAP is here for you

By Shelby Westinghouse, Chadron State College

CHADRON, Neb. – Chadron State College student Gabriel Broussard has been chosen as the Project Strive/TRiO Student of the Month for January 2026.

Broussard is a junior from Aurora, Colorado, studying business administration with a minor in marketing. He is also a wide receiver for the Eagles’ football team.

CSC has felt like home to Broussard since he first visited campus. He was originally nervous coming from a city to a small town but quickly saw the benefits of a tight-knit community, like Chadron.

“The people here are great. Everyone cares about you; they want to see you win and they want to see you grow and succeed,” Broussard said.

He plans to attend a police academy and become a state trooper after earning his degree. While shadowing a Nebraska sheriff who is also a family friend, Broussard discovered his love for the fast pace and excitement of the job.

“He was the whole inspiration for me. I got to see how everything goes down: the scary stuff, the cool stuff, and helping people out. All of it resonated with me,” he said.

Broussard has started the police academy application process, hoping to take the next steps in securing his career this summer.

Among the faculty at CSC, Broussard has developed a connection with Associate Professor Markus Jones. Although Broussard was only enrolled in a few writing classes with Jones, his impact was long-lasting.&nbsp;

“He was more than a teacher. He really cared about me,” he said.

As a first-generation college student, Broussard finds Project Strive a helpful resource. Particularly, he enjoys having a place to get away from any chaos to focus and study in the basement of the King Library.&nbsp;

“Going to college, I wanted to make sure that I was doing everything right. Project Strive provided that guidance,” Broussard said. “They are people you can talk to and trust.”

Chadron State College’s Project Strive/TRiO program, located in the lower level of the King Library, is an academic enrichment program committed to help students succeed. Project Strive also focuses on career exploration, cultural and social enrichment, and self-awareness. To be eligible for the program, a student must be one of the following: A first-generation student where neither parent has a four-year degree, meet low-income status based on U.S. Department of Health and Human Services criteria, or have a documented disability.

For more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.csc.edu/projectstrive" target="_blank">https://www.csc.edu/projectstrive/</a>.

Broussard Named Student of the Month at CSC

ALLIANCE, Neb. – ACE, the Public Alliance for Community Energy, is distributing $22,801 to the City of Alliance as its share of $400,000 being distributed through ACE’s revenue return program to the 75 Nebraska member communities of the not-for-profit, community-owned natural gas commodity supplier.

Since forming in 1998, ACE has returned more than $4.7 million to Nebraska communities, with over $331,000 to Alliance. The funds are used in various ways to benefit each ACE member community, including helping fund community recreational projects, community swimming pools, and park improvement.

ACE was formed in 1998 by Nebraska communities to provide competition in the Nebraska Choice Gas program while retaining local control and striving to keep revenue in Nebraska’s ACE member communities. ACE also serves as an advocate for Choice Gas customers.

The 2026 Nebraska Choice Gas selection period will run April 2nd – 22nd. During this period, customers can choose a competitive natural gas commodity price and pricing option at www.ACEenergy.org or by calling 800-454-4759. Selection forms will be mailed out to all eligible customers prior to the start of the selection period.

For more information, please contact Kirby Bridge at (308) 762-1907.

ACE Returns Funds to City of Alliance

LINCOLN, Neb.&nbsp; —&nbsp; The Nebraska State Patrol encourages parents to get engaged in their kids’ online activity today on Safer Internet Day.

Safer Internet Day is a worldwide initiative to deliver tips and programs to build safe online practices. The effort began in 2004 and includes information for teachers, schools, and families on how to teach safe internet usage for kids.

“It’s incredibly important for parents to stay involved in their kids’ online presence,” said Sgt. Peter Rutherford, Commander of the Nebraska Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. “Keeping the lines of communication open between parents and kids about how to stay safe online can be the determining factor in preventing victimization. Be aware that there are online predators, but there are also tactics you can use to keep your kids safe.”

This year’s Safer Internet Day features several topics, primarily focused on discussions and training related to AI. NSP encourages all internet users to keep safety in mind as they conduct their online activity. Resources are available at the&nbsp;<a href="https://safer.connectsafely.org/" target="_blank">Safer Internet Day</a>&nbsp;website.

NSP Encourages Important Conversations on Safer Internet Day

LINCOLN, Neb. — The Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) has been awarded $15 million in Congressional Directed Spending (CDS) through the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) section of the FY26 Consolidated Appropriations Act. Across the state as a whole, $93.4 million was appropriated to improve mobility.

Dollars appropriated to NDOT will support three projects, including the 38th Street viaduct in Omaha, improvements to U.S. Highway 136 (US-136) in Fairbury, and the Chadron North project on U.S. Highway 385 (US-385). 

NDOT was awarded $5 million to help fund the 38th Street viaduct project, located on U.S. Highway 275 (US-275), also known as L Street. The funding will be used to replace an existing viaduct that carries four lanes of traffic and pedestrian access between 42nd and 36th street. The 38th street viaduct serves as a vital route for South Omaha, connecting local businesses, schools, neighborhoods, parks and meat processing facilities central to Nebraska’s agricultural economy. The structure supports regional and national freight along a critical corridor that connects communities across the Missouri River and supports both local travel and the movement of goods throughout eastern Nebraska.

$4 million was awarded toward improvements to US-136 in Fairbury. The project will replace aging concrete pavement and reconfigure the highway into a three-lane roadway with a center two-way left-turn lane. This change will result in several safety improvements that reduce conflict points, provide sidewalks on both sides of the roadway for pedestrians and bicyclists, and will encourage lower driving speeds. It will also make navigating intersections safer for traffic coming from side streets.

Improvements to Chadron North on US-385

NDOT was awarded $6 million toward improvements to the Chadron North segment of US-385. The improvements include upgrading 17 miles of highway to a Super-2, developing a two-lane resurfaced roadway with paved shoulders and additional passing lanes, intersection reconstruction, and bridge repairs. The addition of passing lanes will improve the connectivity and benefit regional commerce between Chadron and South Dakota, while also improving operations, safety, and reduce delays caused by truck volumes and rolling terrain.

“Each of these projects addresses real needs across Nebraska, from aging bridges to highway improvements” NDOT Director Vicki Kramer said. “We appreciate the Nebraska congressional delegation’s support in securing these funds, specifically Rep. Don Bacon and Senator Deb Fischer. Their efforts will help NDOT deliver improvements that enhance safety and economic opportunity for years to come.”

In addition to securing statewide funding, NDOT has also played a crucial role in helping individual communities secure CDS grants. The Nebraska Infrastructure Hub (IHub) supports local agencies who compete for CDS grants by providing letters of support, assisting with applications, and, if grants are awarded to local agencies, managing those grants on their behalf.

The IHub worked directly with Sheridan County in securing almost $3.5 million for a road rehabilitation project. The county reached out to the IHUB interested in a congressional delegation for their project. The IHUB assisted them with their application and provided a letter of support. The project will rehabilitate a 28.5 mile rural corridor; the route connects residents, ranching operations, and emergency services to Nebraska Highway 2 (N-2) and Nebraska Highway 87 (N-87) improving safety and connectivity for the community.

Grants appropriated to Nebraska airports are also developed with support from NDOT. At the request of airport sponsors, NDOT Aeronautics supports the development of Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) projects that address long-standing, safety-critical infrastructure needs.

Nebraska has received over $121 million in transportation-related congressional delegations from 2022-24, bringing the total awards since 2022 to over $214 million.

NDOT Awarded $15 Million in Congressional Directed Spending Grants

Hemingford Volunteer Fire Department to Host Blood Drive Feb. 11

Jessi Laine to perform in Sidney 

Gabriel The Brute to play in Scottsbluff

Mark your calendars for&nbsp;March 28 and 29, 2026. The Chadron State College Hoop Shoot isn't just a tournament; it’s a major economic opportunity for our community. We anticipate an&nbsp;influx of hundreds of visitors, families, and fans&nbsp;from across the region, filling our hotels, restaurants, shops, and streets.

This is our moment to shine, provide exceptional hospitality, and grow our businesses. The NNDC, in partnership with Chadron State College, and the Chadron Chamber of Commerce encourages you to prepare now to maximize this opportunity.﻿﻿

Here’s How Your Business Can Win:

Together, we can ensure every visitor leaves impressed, planning their next trip back to Chadron.

Chadron State Hoop Shoot March 28 and 29

Details for March Fundraising Event for Pryor Family in Alliance

The first Alliance Arts Council event of 2026 will be a performance by Wendy Bantam from Lincoln, Nebraska on Friday, Jan. 30. Bantam will also be working as an artist in residence at the elementary schools the week of January 26-30.

A Nebraska native, Wendy Jane Bantam brings a pioneering sound to Americana Roots Music. With influences from old time country masters, and today’s Indie/world folk sound, Bantam’s ballads and melodies captivate people of all ages. A prolific songwriter and troubadour, Ms. Bantam spent her early childhood on a farm between Hay Springs and Chadron.

She studied performance at The University of Kansas in Lawrence, KS and received her Master of Fine Arts from the University of Nebraska- Lincoln. She’s appeared live on England’s BBC Radio and signed on with recording label, Tremulant Records; recently performing her original songs with the Missouri Symphony. Her album, Virga, was recorded with Merle Haggard’s longtime guitarist and Grammy winner, Redd Volkaert. She is currently with recording label state 51 in the United Kingdom.

Bantam will also include the 4th grade residency students as part of her program to allow them to share what they have worked on during the week. Business co-presenters for the school residency and the public performance are FNIC, FNBO, KCOW/Double Q Country Radio, Harris Sales and Western Nebraska Real Estate.

The programs are presented with the support of the Nebraska Arts Council and the Nebraska Cultural Endowment.

Tickets for Friday night show are $15 Adult, $10 Senior, $5 Student (preschool admitted free). Tickets are available at Carnegie Arts Center, Chamber of Commerce and at the door. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Alliance Arts Council to Host Artist/Musician Wendy Bantam

Alliance City Council Meeting Agenda, Jan. 20

The Brothers Duo to play in Scottsbluff

Southern Fryed will perform at the Alliance Eagles Club for the annual Barn Dance on Saturday, Jan. 17 starting at 9pm. There is a cover charge to attend.&nbsp;

Southern Fryed to perform in Alliance 

The House of Representatives passed the election integrity overhaul bill on Wednesday aimed at keeping non-citizens from voting in U.S. federal elections.

The bill passed with a mostly party-line vote, 218-213. All three GOP Members of the Nebraska House delegation voted with the majority. Only one Democrat, Rep. Henry Cuellar, of Texas voted for the bill.

Nebraska Lawmakers help House pass proof-of-citizenship requirement for voters

WASHINGTON— Attorney General Pam Bondi appeared before the House Oversight Committee Wednesday to answer questions about the release of the Epstein files and other controversies.

🎥Epstein files: Bondi's Oversight hearing erupts into shouting match

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/mchilson/">Morgan Chilson</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — CoreCivic argued Tuesday for the right to begin holding prisoners in its closed Leavenworth facility, even as the company is working through a local permit process that could make the court case irrelevant.

CoreCivic challenged an injunction in the Kansas Court of Appeals that was made last year by the Leavenworth County District Court. The injunction kept the private prison from taking detainees from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement while CoreCivic and the City of Leavenworth fought in court about reopening the company’s prison facility.

Complicating the issue, the two are now working through the city’s planning process as CoreCivic has applied for a special use permit that would allow it to reopen.&nbsp;

“This is a difficult case because it feels like there are all of these slippery parts that are not part of the matter before us,” said Chief Judge Sarah Warner. “There’s a separate lawsuit. There are ongoing administrative proceedings.”&nbsp;

CoreCivic operated a private prison in Leavenworth until 2021 when it lost a contract with the U.S. Department of Justice. In 2025, the company announced it planned to reopen the prison as the Midwest Regional Detention Center and house ICE detainees.&nbsp;

The city required CoreCivic to obtain a special use permit through its planning and zoning process before reopening, which is where the court cases originated last year. The two entities have been fighting it out in court, with CoreCivic insisting it did not need a permit.&nbsp;

After losses in Kansas district court, CoreCivic bowed to the city’s demands and began the process of obtaining the permit. Last week, the city’s planning commission&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2026/02/03/corecivic-receives-leavenworth-planning-commission-approval-in-contentious-meeting/" target="_blank">approved the permit</a>&nbsp;and sent it to the city commission for a final determination.&nbsp;

Although one court case between the two ended and one remains open but inactive, the Nashville-based private prison company continued its appeal Tuesday to&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/06/04/leavenworth-wins-restraining-order-barring-corecivic-from-taking-ice-detainees/" target="_blank">argue the injunction prohibiting</a>&nbsp;it from taking prisoners immediately should be reversed.

Sara Fevurly, an attorney for CoreCivic, said the district court didn’t properly grant the injunction, and even if the decision were rendered moot after the permit was approved, the company may be entitled to fees and damages associated with an improper temporary injunction.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In the short hearing focused on legal technicalities of the case, both sides argued about the definition of “irreparable harm” and whether CoreCivic abandoned use of its property because it did not house prisoners there for about three years.&nbsp;

Joseph Hatley, an attorney for Leavenworth, told the court it was difficult to determine what “irreparable harm” would mean for the city, listing challenges the city had with CoreCivic during its operations before 2021. Those included not alerting local police to crimes at the facility and public works issues created by sewage.&nbsp;

Fevurly argued that past behavior cannot be used to determine harm.&nbsp;

“I don’t know how you calculate damages based on the police inability to investigate crimes,” Hatley said. “There are people who get hurt by that, there are victims in the facility who are hurt by that. Irreparable harm is the inability to calculate damages, and that’s what we have here.”

Warner said the judges would render a written opinion as soon as they could.&nbsp;

CoreCivic will know by March 10 whether the city will approve its special use permit to reopen the prison, Hatley said after the hearing. That will be the city commission’s second consideration of the permit, with the first consideration occurring Feb. 24. A public hearing is held as part of the process.&nbsp;

David Waters, the Leavenworth city attorney, said after the hearing that the public’s input is “certainly” part of determining whether the permit goes through.&nbsp;

“That is why we hold a public hearing,” he said. “The planning commission holds that public hearing to get the citizen input on that. It’s one of the most important parts of the zoning and planning process is to get that input from the residents as to what is best for the public health and safety and welfare of the community.”

Waters said CoreCivic has the option to appeal to the district court if the city commission refuses to grant the permit.

CoreCivic argues to overturn injunction keeping it from housing ICE detainees in Kansas prison

The FAA lifted the restrictions hours after they were put in place. Rep. Veronica Escobar stressed there is no threat to El Paso or the surrounding areas.

by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/author/terri-langford/">Terri Langford</a> <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/">Texas Tribune</a>

The Federal Aviation Administration suddenly shut down airspace over El Paso and part of southern New Mexico because of an impasse with the Department of Defense over the use of unmanned military aircraft, according to an industry official who had been briefed on the matter by the FAA in a morning call.&nbsp;

The FAA later reopened airspace on Wednesday morning, just hours after the notice shutting it down was issued.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“The temporary closure of airspace over El Paso has been lifted. There is no threat to commercial aviation. All flights will resume as normal,” the FAA shared on X.

The Defense Department has been operating unmanned aircrafts, or drones, against drug cartel operations from a base near El Paso’s airport without sharing information with the FAA, the source, who asked not to be identified, told The Texas Tribune early Wednesday.&nbsp;

“It has to do with the FAA’s inability to predict where [unmanned aircraft systems] might be flying,” the official told the Tribune. “They have been operating outside the normal flight paths.”

A Trump official said the closure occurred because Mexican cartel drones breached US airspace. The Department of War took action to disable the drones, the official said, and both the FAA and the military have now determined there is no threat to commercial travel.

The unexplained notices late Tuesday closed airspace over El Paso and a large patch of southern New Mexico west of Santa Teresa for 10 days. El Paso International Airport was set to be closed to all flights, the city had said. The orders closed off all air travel in the affected area, which could cause massive disruption in the nation’s 23rd-largest city.

Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso, said her office has been told there’s no imminent threat to El Paso.

The Tribune was unable to immediately reach Fort Bliss officials for comment.&nbsp;

The Federal Aviation Administration issued notices late Tuesday, closing airspace over El Paso and a large patch of southern New Mexico west of Santa Teresa for 10 days. El Paso International Airport is closed to all flights, the city said.&nbsp;

The orders close off all air travel in the affected area, which could cause massive disruption in the nation’s 23rd largest city.

Pilots who do not adhere may be intercepted and detained, the notices said. The government could use deadly force if the aircraft poses an “imminent security threat.”

The notices, known as Notice to Air Missions, or NOTAM, took effect at 11:30 p.m. Mountain Time Tuesday, and expire at 11:30 p.m. Feb. 20. The announcement caught officials with local government agencies and Fort Bliss by surprise, multiple sources told El Paso Matters.

The El Paso city government issued an advisory early Wednesday that flights at El Paso International Airport are canceled.

“The FAA, on short notice, issued a temporary flight restriction halting all flights to and from El Paso and our neighboring community, Santa Teresa, NM. The restriction prohibits all aircraft operations (including commercial, cargo and general aviation) and is effective from February 10 at 11:30 PM (MST) to February 20 at 11:30PM (MST),” the city said in a news release.

“Airport staff has reached out to the FAA, and we are pending additional guidance.&nbsp; In the meanwhile, commercial airlines operating out of El Paso are being informed of the restriction, which appears to be security related. Travelers are encouraged to contact their airlines to get the latest information on their flight status.”

Closing off airspace over a major U.S. city is a rare action, and officials with the Federal Aviation Administration didn’t immediately respond to questions from El Paso Matters on the reasons for the action.

A person familiar with the notices, who asked not to be identified because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly, said the action to close airspace over a major U.S. for security reasons over an extended period hasn’t happened since immediately after the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

“All air traffic has been halted in a 10 nautical mile range around the airport, so encompassing El Paso and Fort Bliss, from the ground to 17,000 feet. So no aircraft in or out, regardless of what they are, whether it’s air carriers, military, medevac helicopters, law enforcement. Nobody can fly as this thing is written up,” the person said.

The notices include a phone number at the FAA’s Special Operations Support Center to call for more information. A man identifying himself as Eric spoke briefly to El Paso Matters late Tuesday and said he couldn’t explain the reason for the notices.

“Not really, not because I won’t, it’s because I don’t know. I mean, this is just the office that publishes. So we’re handed the sheets and they say go with it,” Eric said.

The restricted airspace covers most of El Paso County, but doesn’t include Mexican airspace, according to information provided by the FAA.

It also includes a large area of southern New Mexico west of San Teresa, but not the airport in the suburb west of El Paso. The restricted New Mexico airspace goes from the Mexican border on the south to the Organ Mountains-Desert Peak National Monument to the north.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

This&nbsp;<a href="https://elpasomatters.org/2026/02/11/unexplained-faa-order-shuts-down-el-paso-southern-new-mexico-airspace-for-10-days/" target="_blank">article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a href="https://elpasomatters.org/" target="_blank">El Paso Matters</a>&nbsp;and is republished here under a&nbsp;<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/" target="_blank">Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.

Security Alert: El Paso airspace briefly closed after impasse between FAA, Defense Dept.

Person detained after FBI released photos in Nancy Guthrie case

By Cindy Gonzalez <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — An undocumented migrant caught in legal limbo at the ICE detention center in McCook will get a bond hearing soon, or, a federal judge has ruled, the federal government must release him.&nbsp;

U.S. District Judge Susan Bazis issued&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aclunebraska.org/app/uploads/2026/02/Chang-Memorandum-and-Order.pdf" target="_blank">an order late Monday</a>&nbsp;calling for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials to arrange a bond hearing within seven days for Carlos Roldan Chang. If that doesn’t happen, she ordered that Roldan Chang be immediately released.&nbsp;

ACLU Nebraska, which filed a lawsuit Jan. 26 on behalf of the Guatemala native, called the order a welcome and positive development —&nbsp;for him as well as for a broader ongoing battle against a new ICE policy that asserts nearly all detained immigrants are ineligible for bond hearings and release on bond as they fight deportation proceedings.

Although a federal class action lawsuit had vacated ICE’s mandatory detention policy, which is based upon the Trump administration’s new interpretation of statutes, the feds have continued to deny bond hearings. ACLU Nebraska over the past couple of weeks has filed three related federal lawsuits seeking a bond hearing for ICE detainees in Nebraska, including one for Roldan Chang.

The undocumented immigrant has been in the United States for more than 20 years, and has been at the McCook detention facility since December. His first contact with ICE authorities was late last year in Des Moines, said ACLU Nebraska. He had been in the Polk County Jail after he was arrested for assault causing bodily injury.

Federal officials started deportation proceedings against Roldan Chang in December, and an immigration judge denied his request for a bond hearing, based on the new Trump administration policy.&nbsp;

Bazis, in the Monday decision, said the court has previously concluded that noncitizens detained within the interior of the U.S. who have been present in the country for years are entitled to a bond hearing.&nbsp;

“It reaches the same conclusion here based on its interpretation of the relevant statutory detention framework,” her order said.

Roldan Chang seeks release on bond to be with his family members while his legal team works on his deportation case.

“We were grateful to see this swift order,” said Grant Friedman, ACLU attorney. He said it affirmed the nonprofit’s contention that Chang is entitled to a bond hearing and that his ongoing detention without a hearing is unlawful.

Friedman called the Monday order a “welcome development,” as it granted what the ACLU sought in the lawsuit. But he said it is far from the “last hurdle,” as his client’s release is not guaranteed even if provided a bond hearing.&nbsp;

“We are hopeful on next steps, and we will continue to advocate for others in ICE custody who are facing similar circumstances,” Friedman said.

Federal judge sides with McCook migrant detainee in ACLU Nebraska lawsuit

TUCSON —Over the last eight days, the FBI and Pima County Sheriff’s Department have been working closely with our private sector partners to continue to&nbsp;recover any images or video footage from Nancy Guthrie’s home that may have been lost, corrupted, or inaccessible due to a variety of factors - including the removal of recording devices, according to a statement from the FBI.

 The video was recovered from residual data located in backend systems.
&nbsp;
Working with our partners - as of Tuesday morning, law enforcement&nbsp; uncovered these previously inaccessible new images showing an armed&nbsp;individual appearing to have tampered with the camera at Nancy Guthrie's front door&nbsp;the morning&nbsp;of her disappearance.
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Anyone with information, please contact 1-800-CALL-FBI&nbsp;or visit <a href="https://t.co/m55w5cqC7Y" target="_blank">http://tips.fbi.gov</a>

🎥FBI: Video from Guthrie home shows masked person

🎥US military boards sanctioned oil tanker in the Indian Ocean after pursuit

State’s top election official has said he plans to hand the data to the Justice Department later this week

By:<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/jsalinas/">Juan Salinas II</a> <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN – A Lancaster County District Court judge dismissed a lawsuit without prejudice late last week that sought to stop the state from handing over its voter data to the U.S. Department of Justice.&nbsp;

District Judge Lori Maret said in her Friday ruling that Common Cause lacks standing to sue because the alleged harm is speculative and not imminent, and ruling now would not end the controversy surrounding the DOJ request, including what information the Justice Department would ultimately seek or what Nebraska would provide.&nbsp;She also did not rule on the legal question at the heart of the lawsuit.

The judge&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/01/29/court-hears-lawsuit-seeking-to-stop-nebraska-from-releasing-voter-data-to-federal-government/">heard arguments</a>&nbsp;last month. Common Cause argued that Nebraska law affords federal officials no special rights to access residents’ private information included in parts of the voter file. The state argued that federal agencies still play a valuable role in elections overseen by states, noting that the federal government has a wealth of information and resources that help states with election systems.

Voting advocacy group Common Cause has appealed the ruling to the Nebraska Court of Appeals, which gave the case a docket number. Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen has said he plans to hand over the voter data to the DOJ on Thursday.&nbsp;

Evnen told reporters last week that he plans to send a letter to the DOJ with the voter data to remind the agency of “its obligation under law to keep the information confidential and to honor the privacy statutes of our country and our state.”

Federal officials have asked states for names, dates of birth, driver’s license numbers and the last four digits of voters’ Social Security numbers, saying they want the information to ensure accurate voter registration rolls, based on reporting in other states. In Nebraska, the information maintained is more limited.

The Justice Department has requested voter data from 44 states and Washington, D.C. so far, with plans to ask for that information from all 50 states. A few GOP-led states have declined or not responded, citing privacy concerns. A majority of Democratic-run states have declined to turn over the information.

Critics have questioned the safety of letting any presidential administration consolidate state voter data in one place. The federal government has sued more than 20 states and the District of Columbia for not complying.

“We believe in the merits of this case, and we will exhaust every option to protect voters,” said Gavin Geis, Common Cause’s Nebraska Executive Director. “Nebraskans shouldn’t have to wait until they experience catastrophic harm to demand that the state protect their private data.”&nbsp;

A federal judge&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/federal-judge-dismisses-doj-lawsuit-seeking-oregon-voter-rolls-rcna256069" target="_blank">dismissed</a>&nbsp;the Justice Department’s lawsuit seeking Oregon’s voter data last month.&nbsp;The DOJ asked&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/01/24/us/pam-bondi-walz-doc.html" target="_blank">Minnesota</a>&nbsp;to hand over its voter rolls as part of a federal offer to reduce the presence of&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/2026/01/29/homan-im-staying-til-the-problem-is-gone/" target="_blank">thousands of immigration agents in the state</a>&nbsp;last month.

The Secretary of State’s Office, in a statement Monday afternoon, confirmed that Evnen intends to hand over the data on Thursday.&nbsp;The Nebraska Attorney General’s Office declined to comment.

Nebraska judge tosses lawsuit to keep state from releasing voter data to feds

On Monday at the direction of U.S. Southern Command commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations, according to a social media report from the U.S. Southern Command.

 Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations. 

Two narco-terrorists were killed and one survived the strike. Following the engagement, USSOUTHCOM immediately notified U.S. Coast Guard to activate the Search and Rescue system for the survivor.&nbsp;

🎥Two dead after another US strike on a drug boat

Chadron State Football Head Coach Jay Long and Voice of the Eagles Dave Collins host their annual discussion about signing day, off-season team updates, the spring outlook and other college football topics!

🔊2026 CSC Football Signing Class & Spring Team Update with Coach Jay Long

WAYNE, Neb. – Chayton Bynes vaulted to the top of the record books and the Division II leaderboard with a massive triple jump mark while Camila Salvucci, Ryan Clapper and Christopher Cormier also won events at the Wildcat Invite held in Wayne, Nebraska on Friday. 

Bynes jumped 16.01 meters, or 52 feet, 6.5 inches, more than seven feet ahead of any competitor at the Wayne meet. The mark sets a new indoor school record, surpassing the old record of 51-8.5 set by Isaac Grimes in 2019, and set a new facility record for Wayne State.

Even more impressively, Bynes’s leap is the longest jump by a Division II competitor this season, 0.07 meters and 2.75 inches farther than second-place Justin Forde of Washburn’s top mark. It easily sets an NCAA provisional qualifying standard and should punch Bynes’s ticket to the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships. 

In winning the women’s triple jump event, Salvucci also set a Wayne State facility record and a new season best with her leap of 11.93 meters (39-1.75). Salvucci’s Friday mark is four inches shy of her career best of 12.03 (39-5.75) from last year’s Eagle Last Chance meet and is less than a foot off the school record of 40-0.25, set by Emily Volkmer in 2006.

Ryan Clapper had a big day in the sprints. The junior won the 200-meter dash in a season-best 21.86 seconds, which is the fifth-fastest time in the RMAC this season, and placed third in the 400 meters by running that in 48.60 seconds, the fourth-fastest time in the league this year.

Christopher Cormier edged out his teammate and the rest of the field by winning the event in 48.41, which is the third-fastest RMAC time of the season in that event. Cormier and Clapper’s 400-meter times are the third and fourth-fastest ever at Chadron State indoors.

Two more Eagles were runners-up in their events. Esosa Iyengunmwena placed second in the 60-meter dash in 6.94 seconds, while Shelby Ekwall threw 13.45 meters (44-1.5) to place second in the women’s shot put. Ekwall’s heave was 1.25 inches shy of her career best, which came two weeks ago at the same facility.

Caleb Christensen finished sixth in the men’s weight throw with a personal-best mark of 16.03 meters (52-7.25). Courtney Williams also tallied a personal best in the high jump, clearing 1.92 meters (6-3.5) to finish seventh in that event. 

Paige Kehmeier had a standout performance on the women’s side by placing fourth in the 15-runner women’s 400 with a season best of 1:00.96.

Three more Eagles placed sixth in various events – Casey Miller in the men’s shot put (14.70m/48-2.75), Eva Nitschke in the women’s 60-meter hurdles (9.36 seconds), and Augustin Chiang in the men’s 60 (7.09 seconds).

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