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Humanities Desk

Nebraska Public Media

A special collection of Signature Stories that looks at life and culture in Nebraska through history, literature, religion, and art. This feed is updated continuously.

society & culture

All Episodes

1:04

State Sen. John Cavanaugh launches campaign for Congress

Humanities Desk ·

2025/06/26

State Sen. John Cavanaugh kicked off his bid to become the next congressman for Nebraska’s Second District Tuesday night. In a speech to several hundred supporters gathered at Omaha’s Firefighters Union Hall, Cavanaugh vowed to stand up to President Donald Trump and work to protect Medicaid, social security and public lands.

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7:15

Eastern Nebraska’s bur oak trees dying due to...

Humanities Desk ·

2025/06/25

Bur oak trees are some of the most common native Nebraska trees that shade many city parks and congregate in the state’s eastern deciduous forests. They’re hardy trees, known to withstand a range of stresses, including Nebraska’s harshest weather. But they’re dying en masse due to years of devastating drought.

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1:08

Effort to ban some hemp products like Delta 8 falls...

Humanities Desk ·

2025/05/30

A proposal banning certain forms of hemp and so-called synthetic cannabis was passed over Friday before a vote could be taken. The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Kathleen Kauth, made the decision after it appeared there would not be the votes necessary to overcome a filibuster attempt. Progressives filed motions to stop an amendment clarifying that the bill wouldn’t supersede the medical marijuana initiatives Nebraskans passed in November from being added to the bill. Sen. Ben Hansen, who voted for the bill

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1:06

LPD and counselors care for people in crisis, one...

Humanities Desk ·

2025/05/22

This Mental Health Awareness month, the Lincoln Police Department is celebrating a successful start to its co-responder program -- a team-up with mental health professionals that could decrease the use of jails and emergency medical services. Lincoln announced plans for the co-responder program in September, with a partnership between LPD and CenterPointe, a mental health and substance abuse care clinic that conducts street outreach and crisis response. It began in early March.

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5:10

A house built for magic

Humanities Desk ·

2025/05/22

A house near the intersection of Center Street and 35th Street, sits a house that, unknown to many, was built for a very specific purpose: to create magic. With the recent purchase of the house by the Omaha Magical Society, plans have been laid to preserve and unearth the rich history of the Abbott house.

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5:37

A house built for magic

Humanities Desk ·

2025/05/22

A house near the intersection of Center Street and 35th Street, sits a house that, unknown to many, was built for a very specific purpose: to create magic. With the recent purchase of the house by the Omaha Magical Society, plans have been laid to preserve and unearth the rich history of the Abbott house.

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1:09

Bill defining male and female for sports...

Humanities Desk ·

2025/05/15

Sen. Kathleen Kauth’s Stand with Women Act, LB89, made it through the second round of debate in the Nebraska Legislature Wednesday evening, but not before an amendment stripped it of a key provision. Sen. Kathleen Kauth’s Stand with Women Act, LB89, made it through the second round of debate in the Nebraska Legislature Wednesday evening, but not before an amendment stripped it of a key provision. Sen. Merv Riepe was one of 33 senators to vote for the bill on the first round of debate, but he said he

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1:14

Auditor warns of 'exorbitant' cost of state office...

Humanities Desk ·

2025/05/05

State auditor Mike Foley says Nebraska is spending too much on leasing commercial office space. In a letter he sent to the Legislature’s Performance Audit Committee Monday, Foley highlighted the 37% increase in the amount the state paid for commercially leased space over the last five years. He said the state should consider buying or building new properties to save money long term, since the cost per square foot is significantly cheaper at state-owned buildings.

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1:20

Law professors send letter urging Congress to defend...

Humanities Desk ·

2025/05/02

Law professors at the University of Nebraska sent a letter to Nebraska’s congressional delegation this week, citing concerns over what they say is the Trump administration’s lack of respect for the rule of law. The letter reads in part, “We are concerned that the rule of law is in peril, and we urge you to be vigilant in its defense.” The letter cites the administration’s revocation of student visas, the lack of due process for immigrants prior to deportation and the failure to comply with federal

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0:57

Diverse candidates line up for Lincoln City Council race

Humanities Desk ·

2025/05/02

Five of the six candidates for Lincoln City Council are people of color, one is an immigrant, and two identify as LGTBQ. Incumbent Sandra Washington says she can't remember a time the candidate pool was this diverse.

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1:24

Bill regulating medical marijuana advances to...

Humanities Desk ·

2025/05/01

In November, Nebraska voters approved initiatives legalizing possession of up to 5 ounces of medical marijuana. Thursday afternoon, a bill to regulate it advanced from the Legislature’s General Affairs Committee.

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1:17

Balloon launches return to Omaha NWS Office,...

Humanities Desk ·

2025/04/25

Last month, weather balloon launches at National Weather Service offices near Omaha, North Platte and Rapid City, South Dakota were scaled back or stopped entirely due to low staffing levels. Meteorologists say that without the weather balloons, forecasting becomes less accurate. The Omaha office has been down five of its 13 forecasters for the past three years.

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5:02

Otoe-Missouria tribe plants indigenous garden in...

Humanities Desk ·

2025/04/25

A few years ago, the Otoe-Missouria Tribe was welcomed back to their ancestral lands in Nebraska. A new milestone being unveiled Saturday (4/26) hopes to continue that reconciliation.

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1:11

Gov. Pillen urges Nebraskans to get vaccinated...

Humanities Desk ·

2025/04/11

More than 500 measles cases and two deaths have been reported in Texas this year, and the outbreak is spreading to other parts of the country. As of Friday, Nebraska does not have any reported cases, but neighboring states Kansas and Colorado do. At a press conference Friday afternoon, Gov. Jim Pillen said the virus’ arrival in Nebraska is not a matter of if, but when.

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1:04

Record Store Day expected to be biggest yet

Humanities Desk ·

2025/04/11

This Saturday, vinyl fans will be lining up outside their favorite music shop and celebrating Record Store Day- a day when people support their local record store, while also buying limited release records.

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3:43

Remembering Operation Babylift

Humanities Desk ·

2025/04/07

April 1975, as the Vietnam War was ending, President Ford authorized Operation Babylift where thousands of Vietnamese children were flown out of the country to be adopted in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Florida. At refueling stops at Hickam Air Force Base near Honolulu Nebraska native Gwen Phalen helped care for infants. She recorded a letter April 8, 1975 to her grandmother in Orleans, Nebraska recounting the experience.

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1:10

Nebraska ag leaders share how Trump tariffs will...

Humanities Desk ·

2025/04/07

President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order to enact a minimum of 10 percent tariffs on all foreign goods. Many countries, including China, India and Japan, will face tariffs more than double that. John Hansen, president of the Nebraska Farmers Union, says the move will make it harder to find new markets for the state’s agricultural goods while hurting existing export markets.

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1:08

Federal funding for Santee water pipeline dries up

Humanities Desk ·

2025/03/31

A continuing resolution Congress passed to keep the government from shutting down also dried up funding for several water projects in Nebraska. That includes more than $8 million for a pipeline connecting the Santee Sioux Reservation in northeast Nebraska with clean drinking water – something the tribe hasn’t had in nearly 6 years. Tribal vice chairman Kameron Runnels says the setback is frustrating, but he has faith that the project will eventually be funded.

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1:09

Inheritance taxes could be ended under constitutional...

Humanities Desk ·

2025/03/12

A constitutional amendment to end inheritance taxes in Nebraska was discussed in the Legislature Wednesday afternoon. Nebraska is one of five states that has inheritance taxes, and the only state where it is collected exclusively at the county level. Sen. Bob Hallstrom, who introduced the amendment, said the change would help the state be more competitive.

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0:53

State organization reacts to federal education...

Humanities Desk ·

2025/03/12

The U.S. Department of Education announced mass layoffs on Tuesday, cutting almost half of the department’s employees. Nebraska State Education Association officials even if they aren’t immediate, changes at the federal level can trickle down to the state education system.

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599 results

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