Alyssa Johnson

What a year!

'Dancing with the Stars' coming to Nebraska with 2026 tour The stars wrapped up the 34th season finale on Tuesday with conservationist Robert Irwin taking home the Mirrorball Trophy.

Cue the music: ABC’s hit show “Dancing with the Stars” is bringing its tour to Nebraska!

Read more here:

journalstar.com/news/local/a...

Stories of courage: Journal Star salutes veterans for their service In a year of celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Armed Forces and 80 years of since the end of World War II, there have been countless stories of veterans

In a year of celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Armed Forces and 80 years of since the end of World War II, there have been countless stories of veterans

Lincoln business picking up pieces after car crashes into building Beatrix Mather, who purchased the metaphysical gift shop in January, is left picking up the pieces of her shop with hopes to return to business soon.

A car crashed into Bodhi Imports, a metaphysical gift shop on 17th Street, Friday afternoon. #LNK

One of the drivers involved in the crash was taken to a hospital.

From @ajohnsonljs.bsky.social:

journalstar.com/news/local/a...

“Every time I am out there, I just feel so connected and grounded,” Krista Starr said. “Even when it feels chaotic in the moment, I leave feeling more peaceful.”

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce fans celebrate fairytale romance In the blink of a crinkling eye, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce announced their engagement, and fans are going wild as she enters her wedding era.

As a lifelong Taylor Swift fan, the excitement I'm feeling is like I'm getting married all over again.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce fans celebrate fairytale romance journalstar.com/news/local/a...

WATCH: Husker punter's tears win hearts across the nation The Husker’s freshman punter became a viral sensation overnight after breaking down in tears during his first-ever media session at Nebraska news conference.

The Husker’s freshman punter became a viral sensation overnight after breaking down in tears during his first-ever media session at Nebraska news conference.

I’m working on a story for @journalstar.com regarding the Texas Floods. Has anyone with ties to #LNK or #Nebraska been affected by the floods? DM, reply or email me (ajohnson2@journalstar.com)

Lincoln police look for family of child found near 24th and C streets Police said the boy was found at about 9:10 a.m. in southeast Lincoln, near South 24th and C streets.

Police said the boy was found at about 9:10 a.m. in southeast Lincoln, near South 24th and C streets.

The orange cones are here. One Lincoln intersection in particular is drawing drivers' ire Since May 16, the Lincoln Police Department has issued about 40 citations for drivers disobeying traffic rules at this intersection.

Since May 16, the Lincoln Police Department has issued about 40 citations for drivers disobeying traffic rules at this intersection.

Making my monthly visit to Bluesky to share this cool news:

Next stop, the live stage: Lincoln's Jadyn Olesen earns a spot in ‘The Voice’ semifinals Jadyn Olesen is on to the live rounds of NBC's "The Voice" following Monday's pre-recorded knockout round. About 100 of her fans cheered her on at the Bourbon Theatre.

Jadyn Olesen is on to the live rounds of NBC's "The Voice" following Monday's pre-recorded knockout round. About 100 of her fans cheered her on at the Bourbon Theatre.

A tree for Eric: Friends, family honor former Nebraska Wesleyan track athlete A year after Eric Smoyer, 36, died from cancer, those who knew and loved him planted a tree at Nebraska Wesleyan University to honor the former student athlete.

Eric Smoyer was a good teammate and student athletic trainer at NWU who was taken too early. A tree has been planted in his honor by his friends and teammates. @ajohnsonljs.bsky.social wrote about it here: journalstar.com/news/local/a...

'Heartbreaking': Lincoln family deals with burglary weeks after fire destroys home Less than a month after watching their home destroyed by a fire in central Lincoln, a family of six is now dealing with a burglary of the few items left.

Less than a month after watching their home destroyed by a fire in central Lincoln, a family of six is now dealing with a burglary of the few items they had left.

Read the story here:
journalstar.com/news/local/c...

Coming to the rescue: Nebraska Task Force 1 welcomes new recruits At the end of February, Nebraska Task Force 1 welcomed 13 new recruits. “I’m just glad that the task force is allowing me to be a part of the team.”

At the end of February, Nebraska Task Force 1 welcomed 13 new recruits. “I’m just glad that the task force is allowing me to be a part of the team.”

UNL professor creates map tracking local journalism in Nebraska Jessica Walsh, an assistant professor of journalism at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, created an interactive map to track what local journalism in Nebraska looks like – and where it's lacking.

Jessica Walsh, an assistant professor of journalism at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, created an interactive map to track what local journalism in Nebraska looks like – and where it's lacking.

How are those king cakes made for Mardi Gras? A Lincoln cottage baker gives an inside look For the past four years, Erin Odem has been making the traditional French desserts after noticing a lack of freshly made king cakes in the community.

For the past four years, Erin Odem has been making the traditional French desserts after noticing a lack of freshly made king cakes in the community.

Dave Bundy, Lincoln Journal Star editor, tackled cancer twice with grace, grit Dave Bundy battled a rare bile duct cancer, called cholangiocarcinoma, which has a five-year survival rate of under 20%, but he survived more than eight years. He died Sunday.

On Friday, Dave told a group of us that what we do is good work. He did the absolute best work and the newsroom is not the same without him. Dave, thank you for taking a chance on me and for making sure I ended up right where I am supposed to be.

journalstar.com/news/local/d...

Valentino's Premier Catering calls Aramark Memorial Stadium deal 'disappointing' The head of Val's catering services is expressing concern after the University of Nebraska picked a different company to provide concessions, leaving the future of Val's pizza at the stadium

The head of Val's catering services is expressing concern after the University of Nebraska picked a different company to provide concessions, leaving the future of Val's pizza at the stadium

Burning love for the King: Elvis lives on at Nebraska tribute competition Thank you very much. The Nebraska Elvis Festival kicked off Friday in Lincoln with nine tribute artists performing at The Graduate Hotel.

Thank you very much. The Nebraska Elvis Festival kicked off Friday in Lincoln with nine tribute artists performing at The Graduate Hotel.

Launching a starter pack for people looking for Nebraska news. I'll keep it updated as more people come around. Let me know if there's anyone I missed. go.bsky.app/H4vLz4m

Nebraska's favorite feline - Cameron the Capitol Cat - gets his own T-shirt The hottest fashion at the Capitol this session may feature Nebraska’s favorite feline.

This is spectacular, give me 14 of them
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'The whole street was just rubble' — Nebraska natives flee Los Angeles fires Cyndy Frederick Ufkes, who moved to Los Angeles from Lincoln with her husband in 2002, are among the thousands of people who have lost their homes in the recent fires.

California's fires are reducing people's homes to rubble. @ajohnsonljs.bsky.social talked to victims and people who have evacuated with connections to Nebraska.

journalstar.com/news/local/t...

'Anything is possible' — Nebraska man leaned on his faith after traumatic brain injury Sixteen years after he suffered a traumatic brain injury playing football in Malcolm, Derek Ruth has published a book to share his story of survival and the power of faith.

Sixteen years after he suffered a traumatic brain injury playing football in Malcolm, Derek Ruth has published a book to share his story of survival and the power of faith.