ALLIANCE, Neb. -&nbsp;Aaron Hamburger Jr. (AJ), a freshman at Alliance High School, has been selected to perform in the High School Honors Performance Series at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

AJ will perform on clarinet with the National Honors Performance Ensemble in February, an elite group featuring some of the highest-rated young musicians from around the world.

Participation in this prestigious program is limited to the most talented student performers who audition and are selected by a panel of music professionals. Being chosen to perform at Carnegie Hall is considered one of the highest honors for high school musicians.

“We are incredibly proud of AJ and his dedication to music,” said Alliance High School music staff. “This is a remarkable achievement and a testament to his hard work and talent.”

AJ will travel to New York to rehearse and perform under master conductors and alongside other accomplished young musicians from across the globe.

Alliance High School Freshman Selected to Perform at Carnegie Hall in NYC

BEVERAGES OF THE DAMNED: Monkee Business

PANHANDLE PROFILE: Steph Mantooth

By&nbsp;Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands

Chadron, Neb– The Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands is hiring seasonal employees for the upcoming recreation season and is encouraging local residents to apply.&nbsp;"Working with Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands means more than a summer job—it’s a chance to care for places that matter," said Forest Supervisor Amanda Gehrt. "Whether you’re helping at the tree nursery, maintaining trails, or greeting visitors at the Grasslands Visitor Center, you’ll be part of something bigger."The Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands is recruiting for a variety of roles, including:

These positions are in addition to seasonal fire hire events, already underway. Bringing on seasonal employees will help improve trails, campgrounds and facilities for safer, reliable and enjoyable recreation experiences for all.&nbsp;Positions are available at Nebraska National Forest’s Pine Ridge Ranger District in Chadron, Nebraska, and Bessey Ranger District in Halsey, Nebraska; at Buffalo Gap National Grassland’s Fall River Ranger District in Hot Springs, South Dakota, and Wall Ranger District, as well as the National Grasslands Visitor Center in Wall, South Dakota.&nbsp;"Seasonal roles here offer hands-on experience and a connection to unique landscapes," Gehrt said. "It’s a great way to start a career in natural resources or simply spend the summer outdoors making a difference. We encourage anyone interested to apply."

Applicants can view open job announcements and submit applications through&nbsp;<a href="https://click.news.fs.usda.gov/?qs=eyJkZWtJZCI6IjNhYzRiN2EwLTZlMzItNDExYy1iMjI2LWU2NzI5ZjBjNWIzZCIsImRla1ZlcnNpb24iOjEsIml2IjoiNW9CTkR5L3l1NEFkNjFiOFdPMXdNZz09IiwiY2lwaGVyVGV4dCI6InRYU216SjE4bWZZMVp4SzVibWxSeFFiQ2h2QXVXZUJWVHhwdDllcEtuT2ZtaHp1Q0tVQk5HRGtkTnNwbWZBcTBXZEM5TDlBVm1aaWg0UmVSWkQzTHlYRHlMVUxtZ0UwUEwvSzdnQjNyVnZ4WTdYQXkiLCJhdXRoVGFnIjoiMEJXWm1LSGhGNUZrUGN2SmNQSXRRZz09In0%3D" target="_blank">USAJOBS.gov</a>.Application periods, qualifications, and start dates vary by position. Applicants are encouraged to review job announcements carefully for deadlines and required materials.

To learn more about Forest Service careers, benefits and upcoming hiring events, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://click.news.fs.usda.gov/?qs=eyJkZWtJZCI6Ijg5YjMyYjY4LTY4ZDgtNDg2OC1hOTU5LTNhNGY3OGQ4M2NjMyIsImRla1ZlcnNpb24iOjEsIml2IjoiWnM2WlF0V2xOUldjNU5qekpSZ24xUT09IiwiY2lwaGVyVGV4dCI6InBxTkVic2U4dUtxYkMxUFJjeTVnUW1pY0pIYytuMEJNVUMyUGh3aWZSN0JxUTQyOGNUSm55T01JdTNpNVpIWm51eEVWRSs4VitlRUVmcVVVT0xjN0lJSXNqK1ptenBsQzFhVTFGWnprMlBNbEdDZlYiLCJhdXRoVGFnIjoiN3hYNTRRUitwUlE0dHpzZ2dpeVA1Zz09In0%3D" target="_blank">www.fs.usda.gov/r02/working-with-us</a>.

About the Forest Service:&nbsp;The USDA Forest Service has for more than 100 years brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology– and rooted in communities–the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.

Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands announce seasonal hiring

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 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

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

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 

CARIBBEAN SEA --The Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) announced on Thursday, the death of a Marine who was lost at sea, while conducting operations in the Caribbean, according to a media release.

Lance Cpl. Chukwuemeka E. Oforah, 21, of Florida, was declared deceased on Feb. 10, 2026. He was reported falling overboard the USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) on the evening of Feb. 7 and was the subject of an extensive, around‑the‑clock 72‑hour search and rescue operation.

"We are all grieving alongside the Oforah family," said Col. Tom Trimble, commanding officer, 22nd MEU (SOC). "The loss of Lance Cpl. Oforah is deeply felt across the entire Navy-Marine Corps team. He will be profoundly missed, and his dedicated service will not be forgotten."

The declaration followed the conclusion of the 72‑hour search and rescue operation on Feb. 10. The multi‑branch effort covered a wide search area and involved a range of assets, including five U.S. Navy ships, a rigid‑hull inflatable boat, and ten aircraft from the Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force—all supported by National Technical Means.

The nonstop search and rescue operation included hundreds of flight hours, extensive aviation support, and search efforts from USS Iwo Jima’s 7‑meter small‑boat and surface rescue swimmer teams. Aircraft involved in the search included six helicopters (two U.S. Navy MH‑60 Sierras, two MH‑60 Romeos, one U.S. Marine Corps AH‑1Z Viper, and one UH‑1Y Venom); one U.S. Navy P‑8 Poseidon; two U.S. Air Force HC‑130J Combat King IIs; and one U.S. Air Force MQ‑9 Reaper.Lance Cpl. Oforah was an infantry rifleman. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in Oct. 2023 and graduated from Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, in Feb. 2024. He completed the School of Infantry at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment. At the time of his death, he was deployed with Battalion Landing Team 3/6, 22nd MEU (SOC), aboard the USS Iwo Jima.

The circumstances surrounding the incident are currently under investigation.&nbsp;

Marine becomes first American to die in drug boat targeting operation

Four crew members of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission launched at 5:15 a.m. EST Friday from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida for a science expedition aboard the International Space Station.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket propelled a Dragon spacecraft into orbit carrying NASA astronauts&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nasa.gov/people/jessica-u-meir/">Jessica Meir</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nasa.gov/people/nasa-astronaut-jack-hathaway/">Jack Hathaway</a>, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev. The spacecraft will dock autonomously to the space-facing port of the station’s Harmony module at approximately 3:15 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14.

“With Crew-12 safely on orbit, America and our international partners once again demonstrated the professionalism, preparation, and teamwork required for human spaceflight,” said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. “The research this crew will conduct aboard the space station advances critical technologies for deep space exploration while delivering real benefits here on Earth. I’m grateful to the NASA and SpaceX teams whose discipline, rigor, and resilience made today’s launch possible. We undertake these missions with a clear understanding of risk, managing it responsibly so we can continue expanding human presence in low Earth orbit while preparing for our next great leap to the Moon and onward to Mars.”

During Dragon’s flight, SpaceX will monitor a series of automatic spacecraft maneuvers from its mission control center in Hawthorne, California. NASA will monitor space station operations throughout the flight from the Mission Control Center at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

NASA’s live coverage resumes at 1:15 p.m. Saturday on&nbsp;<a href="https://plus.nasa.gov/scheduled-video/nasas-spacex-crew-12-arrival-welcome-remarks/">NASA+</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/livetv/ref=atv_hm_liv_LRad2e3b_slct?serviceToken=v0_Cl0KJGUwMTYwNTQwLWU2NjMtNGE1OC05MDczLTZiMmRmYjI5NWMyNRDwyY266jIaLExpNitvL2dzaDBoR0NjVGdhVGdLTHptYkF6dHpuZ29zb2VJMDZ6YWhmZEk9IAESBmZpbHRlchgBIgRob21lKgRsaXZlWj8KDGxpbmVhckZpbHRlchIvCi1hbXpuMS1wdi1saW5lYXItbGl2ZV90YWItZmlsdGVyLWxlYXJuX2V4cGxvcmV6AIIBBjAAUABwAA%3D%3D">Amazon Prime</a>, and the agency’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/nasa">YouTube</a>&nbsp;channel with rendezvous, docking, and hatch opening. After docking, the crew will change out of their spacesuits and prepare cargo for offload before opening the hatch between Dragon and the space station’s Harmony module around 5 p.m. NASA also will provide coverage of the welcome ceremony aboard the space station shortly following hatch opening.

Learn how to watch&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nasa.gov/general/watch-nasa-programming/">NASA content</a>&nbsp;through a variety of platforms, including social media.

Meir, Hathaway, Adenot, and Fedyaev will join the Expedition 74 crew, including NASA astronaut Chris Williams and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev already aboard the orbiting laboratory, returning the space station to its standard seven crew members complement following the Jan. 14&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasas-spacex-crew-11-mission-returns-splashes-down-off-california/">departure</a>&nbsp;of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 mission.

During its mission, Crew-12 will conduct scientific research to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/nasas-spacex-crew-12-to-study-adaptation-to-altered-gravity/">prepare for human exploration</a>&nbsp;beyond low Earth orbit and to benefit humanity on Earth. Participating crew members will study&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nasa.gov/mission/station/research-explorer/investigation/?#id=9160">pneumonia-causing bacteria</a>&nbsp;to improve cardiovascular treatments, on-demand&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nasa.gov/mission/station/research-explorer/investigation/?#id=8593">intravenous fluid generation</a>&nbsp;for future space missions, and research on how physical characteristics may&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nasa.gov/mission/station/research-explorer/investigation/?#id=9473">affect blood flow</a>&nbsp;during spaceflight. Other experiments include automated&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nasa.gov/mission/station/research-explorer/investigation/?#id=9518">plant health monitoring</a>&nbsp;and investigations of plant and nitrogen-fixing microbe&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nasa.gov/mission/station/research-explorer/investigation/?#id=8301">interactions</a>&nbsp;to enhance food production in space.

Crew-12 is part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, which provides reliable access to space, maximizing the use of the station for research and development, and supporting future missions beyond low Earth orbit by partnering with private companies to transport astronauts to and from the International Space Station.

🎥New astronauts launch to Space Station after medical evacuation

The FBI is increasing its reward up to $100,000 for information leading to the location of Nancy Guthrie and/or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance, according to media release from the agency's office in Phoenix.

New identifying details about the suspect in the kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie have been confirmed after a forensic analysis of the doorbell camera footage by the FBI’s Operational Technology Division.

The suspect is described as a male, approximately 5’9” - 5’10” tall, with an average build. In the video, he is wearing a black, 25-liter ‘Ozark Trail Hiker Pack’ backpack.

We hope this updated description will help concentrate the public tips we are receiving. Since February 1, 2026, the FBI has collected over 13,000 tips from the public related to this case.

Every tip is reviewed for credibility, relevance, and information that can be acted upon by law enforcement. Threat Intake Examiners at the National Threat Operations Center (NTOC) and FBI personnel are supporting a 24-hour command post in which dozens of agents and investigators are assigned leads and tips to action each shift.

FBI releases description of Guthrie kidnapping suspect; reward increased

🎥Trump's EPA rolls back Obama-era climate change rules

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

By: Paxton Ritchie CSC Sports Information Director

CHADRON, Neb. – Redshirt freshman Jackson Schauer hit eight three-pointers, Jadon Cool scored 17 second-half points and Chadron State rallied from as many as 21 points down to stun MSU Denver 84-77 at home in the Chicoine Center. 

Chadron State is now 6-17 overall and 4-11 in the RMAC after the Eagles outscored the Roadrunners 55-32 in the second half. MSU Denver dropped to 7-16 and 5-10 in the RMAC after leading by 16 points at halftime.

Schauer finished with 26 points, nearly doubling his previous career high of 14. The South Dakota native hit four triples in each half and accounted for eight of CSC's 13 total makes by himself. 

Cool made 12 of 14 free-throw attempts, the last two with a bloody mouth after a hard foul with 3.8 seconds left, and finished with 22 points for his fifth 20-point game of the season.

Zach Smith tied a career-high with 37 minutes logged and made plays all night long, chipping in 10 points to go with game-high totals of five assists and four steals. Isaiah Randolph (12 points), Blessing Adesipe (10) and Smith gave the Eagles five double-figure scorers.

Two weeks after shooting 70 percent from the field in the second half of their most recent win, the Eagles again found another several gears out of the locker room. After halftime, Chadron State sunk 59.3 percent of its total attempts and 61.5 percent of three-pointers (8-13). Over the same stretch, the Roadrunners shot 30 percent from the field and 8.3 percent (1-12) from deep.

An inauspicious start set the stage for CSC's dramatic comeback. The Eagles trailed 13-2, 21-5 and 31-13 and shot only 28.6 percent in the first half while the Roadrunners made 9 of 16 threes. 

CSC's largest deficit of the night came with under three minutes to go in the first half, when the cherry on top of a 6-0 MSU Denver run made it 42-21, Roadrunners. The visitors led 45-29 at the break. 

Still, there were signs in the first half of what was to come. Schauer, who came off the bench, took his first three-point attempt with 6:57 remaining in the first half and missed. He would make his next four before the end of the half, providing both a spark and a healthy chunk of CSC's entire point total, then missed an off-balance heave at the buzzer.

In the second half, MSU Denver turned it over on its first two possessions, then missed seven of its first eight field goal attempts. CSC used those empty possessions to chip away – Smith and Adesipe tallied five points while Cool had four on a 17-4 run across the first six-and-a-half minutes. 

Then, Schauer took over. Every time the ball rippled through the net, the Eagles' momentum, player emotions and the volume from fans inside the Chicoine Center intensified, starting with murmurs and growing until it reverberated into an unstoppable tidal wave of energy. 

Schauer's first three of the second half cut the deficit to just two points at 51-49. His second three came a minute later, halting a mini 4-0 Roadrunner run. His third three gave the Eagles a 58-56 lead, their first of the game after Cool had tied it at 55 with a three of his own. 

His fourth three brought the lead up to five points at 63-58, and the perimeter opened up for other options. Cool hit a stepback three and Luka Djurovic blew by a defender for a layup, and suddenly, it was 70-59 Eagles, an incredible 41-14 scoring reversal since the start of the half. 

The game grew more physical after halftime as teams attacked the paint (a category in which MSU Denver did lead, 34-22). There were only 10 total free throws in the first half, all by the Eagles, but the two teams combined for 40 in the second half with the visitors taking 21. 

The Eagles were better from the line to maintain their cushion down the stretch, hitting 23 of 29 attempts (79.3 percent) while the Roadrunners made 13 of 21 (61.9 percent). Cool (12-for-14), Isaiah Randolph (4-for-5) and Smith (3-for-4) accounted for most of the free throw damage.

This is the only matchup between Chadron State and MSU Denver this season. The previous matchup was just as wild, with the Eagles coming back from an 11-point halftime deficit but losing 73-71 after a made halfcourt shot by Chadron State was ruled to be after the buzzer. 

The Eagles will try to corral their positive momentum into another key showdown against Colorado School of Mines this Saturday. The Orediggers (13-13, 9-6 RMAC) lost to Black Hills State on Thursday. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.

​Chadron State—Jackson Schauer 26, Jadon Cool 22, Isaiah Randolph 12, Zach Smith 10, Blessing Adesipe 10, Luka Djurovic 3, Jovan Jovanovic 1. Totals: 24-55 FG (13-31 3PT) 23-29 FT. 84 points, 29 rebounds, 14 assists, 11 turnovers.

​MSU Denver—Logan Threatt 18, Amare Bethel 15, Quave Propst-Allison 14, Adam Hackett 11, Daniel Thomason 10, Brian Unachukwu 4, Nathan Macadory 3, Jacob Barker 2. Totals: 27-62 FG (10-28 3PT) 13-21 FT. 77 points, 38 rebounds, 12 assists, 16 turnovers.

Eight threes on Schauer's career night push CSC past MSU-Denver in epic comeback

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).

The Eagles will compete at the SDSU Indoor Classic in Brookings, South Dakota next Friday and Saturday.

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