Andrew Nelson
@nelson-aj.bsky.social
Omaha-based writer and journalist. Nebraska guy for Courthouse News Service. More words in Omaha Magazine and Flatwater Free Press. To be played at maximum volume.
An important story for anyone whose life involves aviation, which is to say most of us. www.wired.com/story/a-civi...
A Civilian Plane Crashed in New Mexico. Was the Military’s Tech to Blame?
Drone warfare is making the skies more dangerous, even for airplanes far from the battlefield.
wired.com
The Boys recording one of the greatest albums of all time — REVOLVER — at Abbey Road in 1966. This seminal album was released 60yrs ago today.
NEW: The EPA spent hundreds of millions on lead remediation in Omaha, home of the nation’s largest residential Superfund site. New soil tests by @flatwaterfreep.bsky.social and ProPublica show that years later, many yards still have harmful levels of lead.
The EPA Heralds Its Omaha Cleanup as a Success. But We Found Many Yards Still Have Toxic Levels of Lead.
The agency spent hundreds of millions on lead remediation in Omaha, Nebraska, home of the nation’s largest residential Superfund site. New soil tests by the Flatwater Free Press and ProPublica show th...
propublica.org
NBC News has called the race for El-Sayed, but the AP has not yet done so. michiganadvance.com/2026/08/05/m...
El-Sayed declares victory in Michigan’s Democratic U.S. Senate primary • Michigan Advance
As of 1 a.m. Wednesday, Michigan’s Democratic U.S. Senate primary is currently too close to call, with former Wayne County health official Abdul El-Sayed and U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Birmingham) cur...
michiganadvance.com
Missouri voters have rejected a ballot measure to eliminate the state’s individual income tax and authorize more state sales taxes.
Missouri voters reject measure making it harder to pass constitutional amendments
U.S. Rep. Wesley Bell has won a rematch in a Democratic primary against former U.S. Rep. Cori Bush. Bell’s primary victory Tuesday is likely to propel him to reelection in November in the heavily Democratic 1st Congressional District in St.
bit.ly
"...the people of Ord spoke out. They’re our constituents. That’s who elects us" www.wowt.com/2026/08/04/c...
City of Ord votes unanimously to remove its Flock cameras, a first in Nebraska
The Ord City Council voted to remove two Flock cameras from its city limits at its meeting Monday, becoming the first city in Nebraska to outright reject the technology.
wowt.com
Mary Mahoney's is one of the many great Mississippi restaurants I probably should have dined in but didn't when I lived down there. But if the menu says dinner is freshly caught and local, it should actually be freshly caught and local. www.courthousenews.com/diner-seeks-...
Diner seeks to revive lawsuit against famous Mississippi restaurant over fish fraud
Todd McCain is seeking to bring a class action against nationally lauded Mary Mahoney's in Biloxi, Mississippi, which in 2024 pleaded guilty to conspiring to sell cheap imported fish as expensive loca...
courthousenews.com
States Newsroom on Monday announced the hiring of veteran Nebraska editor Joan von Kampen as editor-in-chief of the Nebraska Examiner, the state’s leading government-focused nonprofit news outlet. Von Kampen started at the Examiner on Monday. buff.ly/IYDBJIR
Joan von Kampen named editor-in-chief of Nebraska Examiner • Nebraska Examiner
States Newsroom on Monday announced the hiring of veteran Nebraska editor Joan von Kampen as editor-in-chief of the Nebraska Examiner, the state’s leading government-focused nonprofit news outlet.
nebraskaexaminer.com
No you probably haven’t heard of it. Yeah so it’s a concept album. It’s about Anne Frank. Yeah. Yeah her. And it sounds like it was recorded inside of a tin can. No you’ll love it. You just gotta get past the part where he screams about Jesus for five minutes
China's escalation takes place in the wake of meetings between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, but also with the United States getting bogged down in the war with Iran. www.economist.com/asia/2026/07...
China bets that Donald Trump won’t mind it bullying American allies
It has stepped up its abuse of Australia, the Philippines and Japan
economist.com
“Some of these kids don’t get that in Alaska, you need a Plan B, a Plan C and a Plan D ... because no one is coming to rescue you.” www.nytimes.com/2026/08/02/u...
The Allure and Peril of Riding an Alaskan Wave for Six Miles (Gift Article)
The tidal bore that rockets up the Turnagain Arm south of Anchorage can carry a surfer for an hour; it can also kill. Now that the secret is out, how long will authorities allow surfers to catch the w...
nytimes.com
Not exactly the most cheerful reading to start your Saturday with: www.nytimes.com/2026/08/01/w...
In Iran, the U.S. Appears Headed for a Strategic Defeat, Allies Fear (Gift Article)
With none of President Trump’s aims accomplished and the Strait of Hormuz closed, U.S. allies see dysfunction and vulnerability from the war.
nytimes.com
If I remember correctly, this incident led to the call-up of the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team. www.courthousenews.com/father-and-s...
Father and son indicted in kidnapping of Forest Service workers
The men face a maximum of life in prison if convicted of kidnapping.
courthousenews.com
Eugene Christensen died in what is a sometimes forgotten aspect of World War II — the Aleutian Islands campaign. But he was not forgotten by his family. nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news...
'I never let up on them': Missing Nebraska WWII soldier's relative pushes for disinterment
Remains disinterred in Alaska and brought to Eppley Airfield may be those of 2nd Lt. Eugene Christensen, 21, of Fremont, who went down along with 15 others in a plane crash in 1942.
nebraskapublicmedia.org
It appears there will never be a 9/11 Commission style probe of COVID because our lawmakers can't cooperate to get one done. wapo.st/4h5Eo3t
5 takeaways from the Senate hearing where Fauci refused to answer questions
The hearing about covid origins became a Republican pile-on, with Anthony S. Fauci invoking the Fifth Amendment and Democrats defending him — mostly.
wapo.st
Rudy Giuliani is ‘very unhealthy,’ says his lawyer, explaining stall of sexual harassment case @uebey.bsky.social www.courthousenews.com/rudy-giulian...
Rudy Giuliani is ‘very unhealthy,’ says his lawyer, explaining stall of sexual harassment case
Giuliani, accused of forcing an employee into sex, is “confined to a wheelchair” with breathing issues, according to his attorney — despite recent international travel.
courthousenews.com
Today's poll also found 54 percent of voters think we aren't winning the war and 66 percent believe it hasn’t been worth fighting. Via @courthousenews.bsky.social: www.courthousenews.com/majority-of-...
Majority of voters think Iran war will last at least a year
A new Quinnipiac University poll also found support for the war has reached a record low, with six in 10 voters saying they oppose it.
courthousenews.com
Appleton and Menasha, Wisconsin, were hit hard by tornadoes today. apnews.com/article/torn...
Wisconsin tornado causes extensive damage and cuts power to thousands of homes
A tornado has struck northeastern Wisconsin, causing widespread damage and power outages. The National Weather Service confirmed Monday afternoon's tornado in Winnebago County.
apnews.com
I was outside for a little bit yesterday afternoon and felt sick. Please drink lots of water.
Forbes@forbes.com · 2w agoThe National Weather Service has forecast major and extreme heat risks for parts of the central U.S. through Monday.
“At the Museum of the Fur Trade near Chadron, Nebraska … Fur hats and pelts in the gift shop were not selling so hot.” You don’t say?
The Associated Press@apnews.com · 2w agoA heat dome is set to expand across much of the central United States, pushing temperatures above 100 degrees from Dallas to North Dakota.
Judge allows transfer of federal land along Dalton Highway to Alaska www.courthousenews.com/judge-allows...
Judge allows transfer of federal land along Dalton Highway to Alaska
A federal judge agreed with Alaska that, under the 11th Amendment, the state can't be sued by private parties in federal court.
courthousenews.com
Really good story here about City View Apartments, and how bad conditions got there before its out-of-state owners closed it. nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news...
‘Horrific’ conditions closed City View Apartments. A year later, questions of accountability remain
July 31 will mark one year since City View Apartments in downtown Omaha was shuttered. What remains is a vacant 200-unit apartment tower, questions of accountability and residents who were left to pic...
nebraskapublicmedia.org
The subpoenas may be withdrawn, but the investigation remains ongoing. www.courthousenews.com/ripped-by-ju...
Ripped by judge, DOJ drops subpoenas of New York Times reporters
Justice Department lawyers initially refused to withdraw the requests, despite admitting they were rife with “inadvertent errors.”
courthousenews.com
Nebraska gunowners insist parks aren't private property when it comes to concealed weapons @nelson-aj.bsky.social www.courthousenews.com/nebraska-gun...
Nebraska gunowners insist parks aren't private property when it comes to concealed weapons
The city of Lincoln argues its order on firearms in city parks and trails complies with a state "Constitutional Carry" law, while four gunowners say it exceeds the city's authority.
courthousenews.com
After Alaska tried to take his airplane for illegally carrying a six-pack of beer, an 82-year-old Air Force veteran says he’ll fight to protect against government overreach at the Supreme Court next term www.courthousenews.com/alaska-pilot...
“Six journalists killed in just over six months — how many have to die for the authorities to realize their response remains clearly insufficient?" www.courthousenews.com/press-freedo...
Press freedom groups rip Sheinbaum after latest journalist murder
As the Sheinbaum administration vows to look into the case of a sixth slain journalist this year, advocacy groups call her response to a pattern of violence insufficient.
courthousenews.com
A judge sentenced Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada García, one of the most powerful drug lords in the world and the Sinaloa cartel’s strategist, to a mandatory minimum of life in prison after Zambada pleaded guilty in a drug trafficking case. @ninapullano.bsky.social www.courthousenews.com/sinaloa-cart...
Sinaloa cartel leader gets life sentence
The 76-year-old cartel leader didn't try to ask for a sentence below the mandatory minimum, but requested a prison facility equipped to treat his medical conditions.
courthousenews.com
