Kearney, NE

[Coyote]

Regents approve UNK-UNMC project to address rural health care workforce shortage


A rendering of the UNK-UNMC Rural Health Education Building to be built on the University of Nebraska at Kearney campus.

LINCOLN – The University of Nebraska Board of Regents on Thursday approved the program statement and construction budget for Phase II of the UNK-UNMC Rural Health Education Building on the University of Nebraska at Kearney campus.

Construction of the $85 million facility is expected to begin in September 2023, with projected completion in July 2025. Thanks to approval from the state Legislature, the proposed facility received $50 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding for capital construction, plus $10 million for iEXCEL technology startup costs. Further, the Legislature has committed the necessary sustainable operational funds to support faculty and staff. The university has committed to raising $35 million in private funding for construction.

“Adding a second health science-focused building at UNK creates opportunities for students who want to both pursue – and practice – their health careers closer to home, which help us build a stronger rural workforce, increase access to rural care and help communities thrive,” said Dr. Jeffrey P. Gold, chancellor of the University of Nebraska Medical Center. “In short, it will transform lives for generations.”

Gold presented an overview of the current distribution of health care workforce across the 93 counties of Nebraska as well as future projections of need. The ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as other factors, demonstrates an increasing gap, particularly in rural communities.

[nativeomahan]

This is definitely a big enhancement to the UNK campus, and a win for both Kearney and rural Nebraska.

[Coyote]

Kearney Public Schools celebrating 150 years educating students

KEARNEY — With the start of a new school year, Kearney Public Schools will be celebrating it’s 150th year in the community. The celebratory year will be led by the school’s new superintendent, Jason Mundorf. “It is an honor to be the superintendent for the 150th year of Kearney Public Schools and celebrate the storied history of education in Kearney. We are proud to employ the most talented and dedicated teachers in the state and are humbled by the success of our amazing students,” Mundorf said.

[Coyote]

Denver Air Connection will soon soar out of Kearney

KEARNEY, Neb. (KSNB) - Denver Air Connection will soon take flight out of the Kearney Regional Airport. During Tuesday night’s city council meeting, council members approved a lease agreement with the Colorado corporation. Denver Air Connection is expected to begin commercial air service starting Nov. 1, 2022. As part of the lease agreement, it would be for a portion of the terminal building which includes the ticket counter area, baggage handling area, an office and storage. The lease will be for a two-year term and may be renewed thereafter. According to a council memo, Denver Air Connection would pay rent in the amount of $1,600 per month and this would increase by 3% each year of the lease.

[Coyote]

Barn dating back to early 1800's gets restored, preserving a part of Kearney's history

KEARNEY, Neb. — A barn built in the mid-1800s has stood the test of time. And, the owner of it is renovating and restoring it to keep a piece of Kearney's history alive. Owner Kyle Brown said he’s doing it to fulfill a promise he made to the man he bought the property from. “I told him I would do whatever it was in my power to save the barn and not let it come down,” said Brown. The first step was to find someone who could take on the challenge.

[Coyote]

Changes coming to Fort Kearny State Recreation Area and State Historical Park

KEARNEY, Neb. — A park that offers western history plus everything we are looking forward to doing outdoors; camping, fishing, swimming, biking, hiking and more, will be looking quite different in couple of years. The Nebraska Game and Parks put a master plan together in 2022 to make multiple changes and updates in the next five to 10 years to Fort Kearny State Recreation Area and Fort Kearny State Historical Park.

For the State Historical Park there are plans for a new entrance, a new visitor center with more technology, interactive exhibits, indoor classrooms, and more. Bob Hanover, Assistant Parks Division Administrator, with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission said the design of the new center isn’t complete yet but these are couple of the things they envision doing. Hanover said the technology at the current visitor center dates back to the 60’s and 70’s. Therefore, they are looking to do innovative projects and include exhibits where people can actually see and sense how Fort Kearny was back in the 1840’s and 1850’s using technology.

[ita]

The 10 Most Affordable Small Towns Where You’d Actually Like To Live, 2023 Edition

Even Wyloge
But here’s the news: It’s not too late to trade in big-city bustle for small-town serenity without busting your budget. The Realtor.com® data team found America’s most affordably priced, small towns that also have lots to offer residents. These aren’t just nice places with low-priced real estate. These are places where you might actually love to live.
...
To find these desirable small towns, the Realtor.com data team looked at real estate in every U.S. “micropolitan area,” the collection of counties with a population between 10,000 and 50,000. (With the surrounding areas included, a micropolitan area can technically have a population as large as 200,000, but we’re focusing on the core town within.) Then we pulled together U.S. Census Bureau data detailing the dining, entertainment, recreation, and quality-of-life business establishments in the area, and calculated their rate per 100,000. We ranked the towns using an equal combination of those categories, as well as home list prices.

We limited our list to places where the median list price per square foot is less than 150% of the national average, and we selected only the highest-ranking micropolitan area in any given state, to ensure geographic diversity.

Here’s our list of the most affordable small towns with big quality of life.
...
2. Kearney, NE
Median list price: $384,450

Located in the heart of the Midwest, Kearney is about 2.5 hours west of Omaha and 2.5 hours east of the Colorado state line.

Kearney (rhymes with “Barney”) began as a historic Army outpost, founded in 1848, along the Oregon Trail. It became an important stop for those wagons driving west during the expansion of the U.S.

Now, “it’s just one of the best places to live,” says Realtor Janssen,

She tries to tell people moving to Kearney not to be alarmed when people they don’t recognize wave at them, she says. “That’s just how friendly people here are.”

There are hiking and biking trails, parks, golf courses, and white water rafting on the Platte River bordering Kearney to the south. There are also affordable homes for sale.

[Ryan j]

Younes expanding again


https://central.newschannelnebraska.com ... in-kearney

[Bob from Omaha]

Younes expanding again


https://central.newschannelnebraska.com ... in-kearney

That guy is a gunner. Amazing

[nativeomahan]

Paul Younes is an amazing entrepreneur and a man absolutely in love with his city.

[swinquest]

Kent Boughton leaving NTV:

----

All good things must come to an end might be a cliché but it fits.
I will say goodbye to a job I have loved every day for nearly 24 years as I retire from NTV this Friday July 14th.
In a career that spans 51 years I have always felt that I work for the viewers, keeping all safe and informed with a dash of occasional humor.
Throughout the years I have been involved with many community events throughout Nebraska, from weather talks to emceeing or putting on hunting and fishing seminars. Announcing the stadium band competition for Harvest of Harmony has been a honor lasting decades. I’ve sat on and chaired the NWTF state and local boards helping to make a difference in conservation and a positive impact in the world around me. The hundreds of youth I have certified in hunter education, fishing and mentored hunts for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will continue.
I will miss presenting the Outdoor Files segment I created in promoting conservation and the world of fishing and hunting. I will make sure my family and friends don’t forget to take me, as one of the older folks, out hunting or fishing either!
Because of my chronic pain issues I have worked from the Grand Island Bureau three days per week making the 128- mile round trip to Axtell each Tuesday and Thursday. Next week NTV will vacate the Conestoga Mall and prepare a new facility which will take about a month to make broadcast ready.
I would not be able to drive to the studio in Axtell on a daily basis during that time with my pain issues.
Join me, Colleen and Dave along with special guest Seth Denney this coming Friday during Good Evening Nebraska from 6:30 to 7 PM as we look back and reminisce.
I retire from NTV with no regrets trusting the next chapter of my life because I know the author and becoming so busy doing fun things that I forget to check my phone.


https://www.facebook.com/NTVsKBoughton

[gisbuxfan]

Paul Younes is an amazing entrepreneur and a man absolutely in love with his city.

Just spent an evening with my kids at the Crown Plaza Hotel. Younes has done an amazing job developing the hospitality industry in Kearney. Coming from GI just down the road, Kearney is light years ahead in this arena. Kearney is doing a lot of right things attracting people and businesses.

[Coyote]

'Want to try to grow rural nebraska' designs for unmc-unk rural health education building approved



designs for unmc-unk rural health education building approved

Regents approve UNK-UNMC project to address rural health care workforce shortage


A rendering of the UNK-UNMC Rural Health Education Building to be built on the University of Nebraska at Kearney campus.

LINCOLN – The University of Nebraska Board of Regents on Thursday approved the program statement and construction budget for Phase II of the UNK-UNMC Rural Health Education Building on the University of Nebraska at Kearney campus.

Construction of the $85 million facility is expected to begin in September 2023, with projected completion in July 2025. Thanks to approval from the state Legislature, the proposed facility received $50 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding for capital construction, plus $10 million for iEXCEL technology startup costs. Further, the Legislature has committed the necessary sustainable operational funds to support faculty and staff. The university has committed to raising $35 million in private funding for construction.

“Adding a second health science-focused building at UNK creates opportunities for students who want to both pursue – and practice – their health careers closer to home, which help us build a stronger rural workforce, increase access to rural care and help communities thrive,” said Dr. Jeffrey P. Gold, chancellor of the University of Nebraska Medical Center. “In short, it will transform lives for generations.”

Gold presented an overview of the current distribution of health care workforce across the 93 counties of Nebraska as well as future projections of need. The ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as other factors, demonstrates an increasing gap, particularly in rural communities.

[Coyote]

Shovels signal construction start for $95M medical school in Kearney

Ceremonial shovels broke ground Tuesday for the $95 million Rural Health Education Building in Kearney, where a three-story, 110,000-square-foot medical school is soon to rise and then open in early 2026. Leaders of the University of Nebraska at Kearney and Omaha-based University of Nebraska Medical Center led the event signaling the construction start of the facility aimed at growing the state’s rural health care workforce.


Artist’s rendering of the medical school poised to rise at the University of Nebraska at Kearney (Courtesy of UNK)

“Our goal is to harness UNMC’s world-class skills to transform rural Nebraska through a unique endeavor not seen elsewhere in the United States: educating health care workers and professionals in rural areas,” said UNK Chancellor Doug Kristensen. He called the project a “game-changer” in helping to fill shortages in all medical professions across the state. UNMC estimated attendance at Tuesday’s event at more than 300.

The center will launch new programs to train physicians, pharmacists and public health professionals in Kearney, while also expanding the presence of other existing health and nursing programs. It will contain state-of-the-art classrooms, laboratories for pre-clinical education and complex clinical scenarios and primary care practice spaces.

[Louie]

Where is this going to be situated on campus?

[ricko]

I’ve read at least 4 articles about the new med school. Maybe I’m not familiar with ‘med-school’ lingo, but is this going to be a comprehensive medical school that awards M.D. degrees as well?

[Coyote]

Kearney Cinema 8 closing its doors on Thursday

KEARNEY, Neb. (KSNB) - Kearney Cinema 8, a longtime staple in the Kearney community, announced Tuesday that it will close its doors after final showings on Thursday, May 16. In a release posted on the movie theater’s Facebook page, Kearney Cinema LLC Managing Member William Pollack said it was an incredibly difficult decision. Pollack said the movie theater industry has been severely impacted by the pandemic, competition from streaming services, the writer’s and actor’s strike, lack of blockbuster releases and spiraling costs. He said through the years, the theater has enjoyed wonderful support from Kearney and central Nebraska.

[Renovator2559]

I was there a few months ago. Sad to see it go but the theater is in an inconvenient area, right next to i80 and away from the city of Kearney. I'm sure most people opt for the one in downtown Kearney.