Hello Kearney! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: Student research headed to the International Space Station, a new lakeside hangout, and Kids Night Out: Taylor's Version + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.
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01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
Downtown building makeovers: On Monday, the City of Kearney announced 2026 Downtown Rehabilitation Grant awards for ten projects, including $16,250 for fire suppression upgrades and $10,000 to Kearney Coin Center for HVAC efficiency -- see the full grant list.
A new lakeside destination: Younes Landing is bringing breweries, a golf driving range, and nine new restaurants and bars to Kearney, adding local businesses and entertainment with lakeside views for a fresh hangout hub -- read the full story.
Student science goes orbital: Kearney’s UNK was selected for a national program sending student research to the International Space Station. One experiment will launch in spring 2027, with students designing microgravity studies across disciplines -- learn more about the program.
Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.*
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03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Throw, splatter, smile: When cabin fever hits, round up a couple friends and play lumberjack at Axe Holes, then trade the bullseye for their glow-in-the-dark paint splatter room. There are cold drinks, goofy bragging rights, and just enough adrenaline to make Tuesday feel like Saturday.
Back-pocket park pick: Centennial Park is the go-to when you need low-stress plans fast, with a tree-filled vibe, a disc golf course, lighted tennis courts, sand volleyball, and a zero-depth pool that keeps kids happy while you sneak one more picnic snack. Keep it simple, keep it local.
Plant joy this week: With Nebraska-savvy plant advice, landscape design help, and a greenhouse full of everything from houseplants to hardy perennials, Steinbrink Landscaping and Greenhouses is an easy win for sprucing up beds or planning that patio. Drop in for inspiration, leave with a car that smells like spring.
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04 — Our recommendations
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Home insurance premiums jumped 12% last year alone: That's on top of years of increases that have outpaced inflation. Before you blindly renew with your current insurer, a free comparison tool matches your home with top-rated insurers so you can see quotes side by side, in about two minutes. Some homeowners find hundreds in savings, and if you don't find a better policy, you stay put knowing you checked. *See your options →
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Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
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05 — The event calendar Fun for the famOur favorite upcoming kid and family-friendly events. All events are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🐾 KACM Little Sprouts: Animal Kingdom @ Kearney Area Children's Museum | Wednesday (6/24) at 9:00 AM – Got a kid who only travels by crab walk and roars at cereal? KACM’s Little Sprouts turns that energy into museum play, outdoor classroom fun, animal rescues, and a relay where monkey moves are a plus. Perfect for tiny zoologists, and yes, scholarships exist.
🎆 Flashy Firework Craft @ Kearney Public Library | Wednesday (6/24) at 2:00 PM – Your fridge art gallery is getting a shiny new exhibit. The library’s free craft time lets kids 6–11 build a paper rocket to hang proudly, plus a straw-powered twirling firework shooter that whooshes crepe paper skyward, no fire hazards, no glitter, just big grins.
🦖 KACM Little Sprouts: Dino Day @ Kearney Area Children's Museum | Thursday (6/25) at 9:00 AM – The Children’s Museum is going full Jurassic with a morning of dinos, museum play, and time in the outdoor classroom. Your little sprouts get lessons in sharing, friendship, and T. rex facts, while you enjoy coffee, sanity, and someone else’s cleanup.
📚 Toddler Storytime @ Kearney Public Library | Thursday (6/25) at 9:30 AM – Lap-sit storytime for ages 0–2 and their grown-ups, where tiny ears catch the rhythms of language and you get screen-free bonding. Think early literacy wrapped in giggles. No registration, just you, your wiggly sidekick, and the requirement that adults actually stay.
🎺 Kearney Municipal Band Concert Series - 2026 @ Harmon Park | Thursday (6/25) at 7:00 PM – Thursday nights in June mean live tunes in Harmon Park with the Kearney Municipal Band. They kick off with the national anthem, then slide into toe-tappers and nostalgia, ideal for lawn chairs, grandkids, and politely judging who claps on the twos and fours. Small-town perfection.
🎤 Kids Night Out: Taylor's Version @ Kearney Area Children's Museum | Friday (6/26) at 6:00 PM – Summer break calls for outsourcing the Cruel Summer loop. The children's museum is hosting Kids Night Out, Taylor's Version, with singalongs, DIY record design, and dance parties, while your Swiftie burns energy and you savor an actual conversation, or at least a hot coffee.
🦒 Platte River Safari Camp - Art and Nature Week @ Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary (Gibbon) | Monday (6/29) at 9:00 AM – Art and Nature Week at Rowe Sanctuary means your grades 2-5 kid gets muddy, learns science, history, and art, then comes home bragging about birds. Think a day camp of wetlands, prairies, Platte River channels, upgraded fridge art, and a quieter house for you.
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — From our sponsor Heads up for pet parentsTogether with our sponsor Lemonade. Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving. As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Pet Insurance. It was too late for me, but you could save thousands on your next vet bill with *Lemonade. |
07 — The Kearney report Weather forecastToday — High: 77°F — Low: 57°F — Precip: 9%
Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. Northeast wind around 5 mph. Later: A chance of showers and thunderstorms between 7pm and 1am, then showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Tomorrow — High: 69°F — Low: 55°F — Precip: 80%
Showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 69. East northeast wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible. Later: A chance of rain showers before 7pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. This house is wildThis meticulously maintained property spans two generous lots and pairs fresh 2026 flooring with a roomy 2017 family room addition. Covered and open decks from 2021 extend the living space outdoors, while the heated detached garage, complete with a floored attic, stair access, and built-in workbenches, is a hobbyist’s dream. A fenced yard, updated baths, and a custom play area round it out.
Take a peek inside → |
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