Stories from surrounding communities, closest first.
Western Nebraska Observer · Kimball, NE
Nearby: Kimball, NEFederal lead pipe mandate puts Kimball on the clock Kimball’s next major infrastructure challenge is buried beneath its streets and sidewalks. And finding the problem could be just the beginning of an expensive, years-long undertaking. During the Nov. 5 Kimball City Council meeting, City Administrator Annette Brower outlined federal requirements for identifying and replacing lead water service lines, a project that could eventually require digging up portions of streets and sidewalks throughout the city. “We are under EPA requirements. The entire state of Nebraska is, not just the city of Kimball,” Brower said. According to Brower, the city must complete an inventory of its service lines and submit it to the state by December 2027. Identifying the materials may require excavating around individual lines to determine whether they contain lead or galvanized materials. “After we do that, we have until 2037 to replace those lines. Mandatory. This is a non-funded mandate,” Brower said.
Western Nebraska Observer · Kimball, NE
Nearby: Kimball, NEA burned-out green traffic light, a bucket truck and a rumor that spread across Kimball have left city officials answering questions about surveillance cameras that simply aren’t there. At least five residents contacted Western Nebraska Observer staff asking whether Flock Safety cameras had recently been installed at the intersection of Highway 71 and Chestnut Street. After contacting the Kimball Police Department, mayor John Morrison, city electric foreman Taylor Brown and city administrator Annette Brower, the answer is unanimous: No cameras have been installed. “There are no Flock cameras, nor are there traffic cameras. There is nothing,” Brower said. Rachael Hudson, administrative assistant at the Kimball Police Department, confirmed that neither the department nor the city uses Flock cameras, which are commonly associated with automated license plate recognition. “ The police department does not have any cameras,” Hudson said, referring to the reported installation.
Western Nebraska Observer · Kimball, NE
Nearby: Kimball, NEThe Observer’s weekly Upcoming Events Calendar shows you what’s going on in Kimball and other nearby communities. Ongoing – Sundays, 2-4 p.m. The Banner County Museum in Harrisburg is open for folks to drop in, put puzzles together, play cards or enjoy some history. Everyone is welcome. Ongoing – Kimball Concert Association membership drive. Ticket information: Karen Morrison at (308) 235-5788 or Susie Abramson at (308) 235-6927. Ongoing – Kimball Public Library offers mobile internet hotspots, a virtual headset, movies to borrow, classes with WNCC, craft making and lots of reading material. Ongoing – 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays at New Hope Assembly of God Church, 413 E. 3rd, Kimball. The Christ-centered Celebrate Recovery program helps people recover from any kind of hang-up, hurt or habit. Details: 308-235-2854. First Tuesdays – 9:15-11:30 a.m. Kimball Food Pantry open at 519 W 5th. Second, third and fourth Thursdays – 5:15-6:30 p.m. Kimball Food Pantry open, 519 W 5th.
Western Nebraska Observer · Kimball, NE
Nearby: Kimball, NEThe following are preliminary Kimball County vote results available as of the Observer’s press deadline Nov. 3. Statewide and multi-county races reflect Kimball County votes only. All results remain unofficial until certified. For statewide and several multi- county results, we’re only including the most popular candidate in Kimball County. For more complete unofficial results you can visit the county’s website. Kimball Mayor Gabriel Miller: 444 Gregory J. Robinson: 338 Kimball City Council (2) Ron Buchart: 431 Nicholas Barp: 398 Aaron John Abraham: 325 Keith Prunty: 291 Kimball Proposition 1 ( Economic Dev. Plan) For-474 Against-317 Kimball Proposition 2, (Half-Cent Sales Tax) For-424 Against-378 Kimball County Commissioners (2) Elyse Schlake Lukassen: 1028 Rich Flores: 842 Write-in: 27 Assessor Sherry R. Winstrom: 1114 Write-in:27 Attorney Andy Taylor: 1129 Write-in:10 Clerk Josi Morgan: 1192 Write-in:5 Clerk of District Court Jamie Bright: 1180 Write-in:7 Sheriff Dave J.
South Dakota Searchlight · Cheyenne, WY
Nearby: Cheyenne, WYWhile Rapid City residents debate whether data centers belong in their backyard, a homegrown corporation is quietly anchoring some of the largest tech developments in the country — just across the state line. Back home, its South Dakota electricity customers face substantial rate increases. Meanwhile, Black Hills Corp. expects to earn $150 million annually by 2030 from supplying electricity to Google. That’s more than half the $291.6 million that Black Hills Corp. earned for shareholders in 2025. On Nov. 5, Google announced a $17 billion investment in a data center near Cheyenne, Wyoming. Rapid City-based Black Hills Corp., parent company of Black Hills Energy, has agreed to help power it. Black Hills plans to invest $1.8 billion in natural gas generating plants and coordinate electricity from other producers through a privately managed power system.
Montana Free Press · Cheyenne, WY
Nearby: Cheyenne, WYThe Air Force is exploring the reactivation of a north-central Montana nuclear missile field, roughly the size of Rhode Island, as part of the Department of Defense’s Sentinel project to replace the land-based arsenal of intercontinental ballistic missiles, or ICBMs. The area under consideration includes 50 missile silos that make up the 564th Missile Squadron, which spans the area between Dutton and Shelby and was officially deactivated in 2008. The proposed reactivation of the 564th has recently been included in a supplemental environmental impact statement being prepared by the Air Force. The proposal would be yet another expansion of the $140 billion Sentinel project, which has already seen delays and a pivot toward digging new silos after initially planning to use the original ones. A government review was ordered in 2024 after project costs grew by 81%. The U.S.