Police in Kentucky say they arrested a 23-year-old Nebraska man this week after finding 55 pounds of methamphetamine wrapped up like Christmas presents.
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Top Journal Star photos and videos for December 2025
Kathy French, left, spins her glaskolben while receiving directions from instructor Matt Losee as she creates a Christmas ornament during an ornament-making class at Lincoln Hot Glass on Monday. Glaskolben is a German term for glass bulb. In glass work, it refers to a hollow glass cylinder with a blowpipe, which is used to shape the glass over a flame.
Several dozen attendees hold candles as they listen to speakers during a Longest Night Prayer Vigil on Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, at the Lancaster City/County building in Lincoln. Hosted by Justice in Action—a coalition of more than two dozen faith communities— attendees aimed to maintain a continuous vigil from noon to midnight, praying for incarcerated individuals and their families, with the goal to highlight existing county diversion programs and call for their expansion.
Nebraska's AJ Ferrari pops into the splits to the delight of the crowd after his defeat of North Carolina's Mikey Calcagno on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, at Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln.
Ava Schepers from Roca, lets her miniature horse enjoy some of the grass on the church lawn before the start of a live nativity outside of Southern Heights Presbyterian on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Lincoln. The long standing tradition, which has been ongoing for the over the last 30 years, features holiday music and live cast members and animals. The church will also hoist a Christmas eve service at 7:00 PM. Southern Heights encouraged visitors to the free vent to bring food donations for the Little Free Pantry and mittens, gloves, hats and scarves for the Peoples City Mission.
Nebraska's Braden Frager (5) comes down with a rebound over North Dakota’s Greyson Uelmen (3) with additional defense by Eli King (2) on Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln. Nebraska beat North Dakota 78-55.
A pair of bundled up walkers withstand mighty gusts of wind as they make their way along the N Street bridge over the Billy Wolff Trail on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, in Lincoln. Lincoln could be in for wildfire danger Friday with strong winds expected to persist. Winds could gust as high as 32 mph on Friday.
Sideshow Spirits owner Cody Schmick peeks between the curtains in the secret entryway to Sideshow Speakeasy on Dec. 16. Schmick "really wanted to make that secret door" to the speakeasy-style bar in the basement of Bierhaus Maisschäler.
Milford's Ashlynn Miller (33) attempts a shot under defense by Norris’ Ize Tidball (40) on Tuesday in Milford.
Nebraska’s Bergen Reilly (2) and Teraya Sigler (11) wipe away tears as they leave the court during an NCAA women’s volleyball regional final on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, at Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln. Nebraska fell to Texas A&M 3-2 in the fifth set to end their season.
Bill Hawkins loads up donations he collected at The Hub Café on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, in Lincoln. "Our community and local business really step up with their donations, and that is why I am still here doing this," Hawkins said as he gathered up clothing that still had the tags attached. Bags stuffed full of donations fill the back of his pickup, but he is still hoping for more donations. Hawkins is expecting to make the delivery trip before Christmas, and hopes he can raise $1,200 to cover the transportation costs and purchase additional coats and blankets.
Former state Sen. Lynne Walz of Fremont addresses a crowd during a listening tour stop at the IBEW Local 265 office on Saturday.
Nebraska’s Rebekah Allick (5) celebrates during an NCAA regional semifinal game on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, at Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln. Nebraska swept Kansas 3-0 to advance to the regional final.
Chef Lachy Gonzalez prepares meat and veggies for a dish on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, at The Golden Chickens, a Peruvian charcoal chicken restaurant, in Lincoln.
Nebraska's Berke Büyüktuncel (9) roars as he subs out with a busted lip on Wednesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Two squirrels peek out from a knot in a tree on Thursday at Holmes Lake Park. Lincoln saw a high of 37 degrees on Thursday, but residents may need to burrow down soon. After a forecast high of 33 on Friday, Saturday is expected to only reach 17 degrees with a low of just 1. There is also a chance of snow Saturday.
Patty, a 7-year-old American bison, front, is playfully chased around the enclosure by other bison at Pioneers Park on Wednesday.Â
AltEn looks dramatically different on Tuesday following an intense remediation project led by six ag industry giants in partnership with the state of Nebraska to transform the site near Mead.
Brett Daugherty, interim Capitol administrator, right, climbs into the Capitol Christmas tree to remove ropes that were used to lift it up in the Rotunda on Tuesday.
Nebraska's Berke Büyüktuncel (9) takes a foul by Creighton’s Jasen Green (0) with additional defense by Isaac Traudt (41) on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln. Nebraska beat Creighton 71-50.
Members of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's American Association of University Professors chapter and alumni march outside Memorial Stadium as part of a New Orleans-inspired jazz funeral Wednesday lamenting looming program cuts.
Nebraska's Eliza Maupin (21) celebrates two by Alanna Neale (00) on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln. Nebraska beat Bradley 92-53.
Undergraduate students (from left) Logan Menke, Andrew Schmitz, Zinedine Guecioueur and Kathryn Johnson present their cohort’s AI bot system to vice president of community and government relations Luis Sotelo (right) on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025, during an AI showcase at the Perry Campus Center at Doane University in Crete. Students from two upper-level university classes spent the afternoon and early evening presenting their projects and research, in addition to demonstrating their AI bots designed to support various departments across campus.
Light shines through icicles hang form a tree on the University of Nebraska City Campus on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Lincoln.
Lincoln Southwest student fans, including Thatcher Shelton (0, Celtics) Owen Helkenn (1, Duke) and Jackson Mowitz (light blue suit), celebrate a victory against Lincoln East on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, at Lincoln Southwest High School in Lincoln. Lincoln Southwest was up 35-23 going into halftime.
Lincoln North Star's Ani Leu (15) and Lincoln Southeast's Leslie Garcia (5) dive for a loose ball during the first half on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025,at Lincoln North Star High School .
Volunteer Sarah Watson (left) and director of operations Jennifer Olson (right) write cards to donors on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, at Foster Care Closet of Nebraska in Lincoln. The donor-driven nonprofit offers local children in the foster care system a chance to pick out new clothing items (alongside other essentials) with an aim of “restoring dignity to youth in crisis†by providing a “a voice through choice.â€
From left, Theresa Catalano, a professor in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Department of Teaching, Learning and Teacher Education and Department of Educational Administration professor Sarah Zuckerman hold cardboard coffins as they wait to join a jazz funeral on UNL's City Campus on Wednesday. The New Orleans-inspired procession lamented looming cuts to academic programs.
Drivers cautiously navigate Capitol Parkway as snow blankets the city Monday.  Lincoln notched about 1.9 inches on Monday, adding to the nearly 4 inches that fell Saturday.
