Latest Appearances of the University in the Media

The University Featured Around the Globe

In The News is an archive of stories from media throughout the U.S. and around the world. As such, the links to these stories may degrade over time as news websites outside of the university's control are updated. (Copyright law does not allow us to provide a 'snapshot' of someone else's website.) If you'd like to have us update a link to go to a new location for a story, just send us an email with the new address of the story in the body of the email.


Recent stories
Jun 1 2026
Grist: The fight to protect pollinators and people from neonics

Judy Wu-Smart, associate professor of entomology, was interviewed for a June 1 Grist article on the impact of neonicotinoid pesticides on pollinators and people. Wu-Smart discussed the AltEn ethanol plant near Mead, Nebraska, which processed much of North America’s surplus neonic-treated corn seed, contaminating surrounding ecosystems and causing near-total losses of nearby beehives until the plant closed in 2021. “We’re still seeing high amounts of neonics in the honey from our hives in the area,” she said. “I wouldn’t eat it.”

Jun 1 2026
Norfolk Daily News: Hooper student part of UNL team that won RFK journalism award

Grace Lewis of Hooper, Nebraska, a journalism major at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln who graduated in May, was part of a reporting team that took home the College Journalism Award at the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Book and Journalism Awards on May 20. The students investigated the overcrowding, understaffing and other multilayered issues confronting Nebraska’s prison system. The Norfolk Daily News ran a June 1 article on Lewis’ involvement in the project.

May 29 2026
National Hog Farmer: UNL team to target high-risk avian strains with new vaccine strategy

Backed by a $4 million, five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health, Eric Weaver, professor of biological sciences and director of the Nebraska Center for Virology, will advance a vaccine to protect against future flu pandemics by providing strong, long-lasting immunity across multiple high-risk avian strains. Articles on the research have appeared in KFAB, Nebraska Public Media and National Hog Farmer.

May 29 2026
Lincoln Journal Star: Local food showcase takes place at Beatrice Farmers Market

Buy Fresh, Buy Local, part of the university’s Department of Agricultural Economics, sponsored the Local Food Showcase May 28 at the Beatrice Farmers Market. The Beatrice Daily Sun published a May 29 article on the showcase. Skylar Falter, program coordinator in the department, was interviewed for the article.

May 28 2026
The Hechinger Report: As farming goes high-tech, universities grow new types of ag degrees

The university’s new agricultural systems technology major was featured in a May 28 Hechinger Report article. The major — one of only six such programs in the United States — blends hard science, data science, engineering and management to prepare students for the future of agriculture. Derek Heeren, professor of biological systems engineering; Joe Luck, interim chair of the Department of Biological Systems Engineering; and Cody Nieratka, a sophomore agricultural systems technology major, were interviewed for the article.

May 28 2026
Newsweek: Internal poll shows tight gubernatorial race in Nebraska

Kevin Smith, Olson Professor of political science, was interviewed for a May 28 Newsweek article on a new Democratic internal poll pointing to a close gubernatorial race in Nebraska between Republican Gov. Jim Pillen and Democratic challenger Lynne Walz. “Republicans are facing some stiff headwinds going into the fall elections, and Pillen is almost certainly going to feel that breeze, too,” Smith said. “That said, Walz has to be considered a pretty heavy underdog, and it would be a huge upset if she pulled off the win.”

May 27 2026
KHGI: Philbrick to present Governor's Lecture in the Humanities

Historian and best-selling author Nathaniel Philbrick will present the 31st annual Governor’s Lecture in the Humanities, “Revolutionary Ambition: America at 250,” at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 27 at the Lied Center for Performing Arts. The lecture will be presented by Humanities Nebraska and the university’s E.N. Thompson Forum on World Issues. KHGI published a May 27 article on the lecture.

May 27 2026
Nebraska Examiner: Nebraska Public Media adds 'dedicated' Omaha FM station

Nebraska Public Media is launching its own dedicated station in Omaha to expand its statewide reach and better utilize two recently added reporters in the state’s largest city, Nebraska Examiner reported May 27. The network purchased KOOO, 101.9 on the FM dial, and plans a June 15 launch. Stacey Decker, general manager and CEO of Nebraska Public Media, and Nancy Finken, chief content officer, were interviewed for the story.

May 26 2026
Nebraska Public Media: UNL scientists developing vaccine against high-risk flu strains

Backed by a $4 million, five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health, Eric Weaver, professor of biological sciences and director of the Nebraska Center for Virology, will advance a vaccine to protect against future flu pandemics by providing strong, long-lasting immunity across multiple high-risk avian strains. Articles on the research have appeared in KFAB, Nebraska Public Media and National Hog Farmer.

May 26 2026
Norfolk Daily News: Rural Nebraskans aware of, concerned about online algorithms, poll finds

Most rural Nebraskans are aware of the use of algorithms in online media and have some concerns about their use, according to results from the 2025 Nebraska Rural Poll. The Norfolk Daily News ran a May 26 article on the results.

May 21 2026
Nebraska Public Media: Ankerson discusses university's future after recent challenges

Interim Chancellor Katherine S. Ankerson was featured in a May 21 story on Nebraska Public Media. She discussed recent challenges for the university and what the future holds.

May 21 2026
Nebraska Public Media: Rainfall in eastern Nebraska provides slight drought relief

The U.S. Drought Monitor — produced jointly by the university’s National Drought Mitigation Center, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association and the U.S. Department of Agriculture — was cited in a May 21 Nebraska Public Media article on drought conditions in Nebraska. Drought conditions have slightly improved in much of southeast Nebraska following significant rainfall, according to the monitor.