Front porches have had a long and interesting history in “house architecture” since the early days of American settlement to the more modern “snoot” houses of the 20th century. Their presence or absence serve as images of changing social, economic and artistic patterns. They have gone from “eyes on the streets” to “cave entryways”. And, a lot of the history of porches is found in Kearney.

Hold on! We’re plunging into Nebraska’s climate history to investigate whether climate change is fact or just a tall tale. What will that mean for the future, if anything? Forget your crystal ball; we’ll compare the old-school wisdom of the Farmer’s Almanac and how that stacks up with predictions made by meteorologists.

All Americans know the Declaration of Independence and the significance of 1776, but many may not realize how truly significant the American Revolution was around the world. The American Revolution began a cascade of democratic revolutions across the globe, from France and Haiti to the decolonizing nations of the Global South, and even an abortive attempt by Ho Chi Minh to adopt from whole cloth our Declaration to create a democratic Vietnam. This presentation examines the global impact of the American Revolution, fittingly, as the U.S. celebrates its 250th anniversary by taking a look at the documents, imagery, and ideas that we all hold so dear.

Across America, local newspapers are shrinking or disappearing, leaving communities without the information they need to make decisions. In this course, we’ll explore the rise of nonprofit news, how communities like ours are building new local news models and why trustworthy journalism still matters in the life of towns, farms and families. We’ll look at real examples from Nebraska and discuss how everyday people can help rebuild strong local news.

Recent months have seen what seems to be a rash of airline accidents and incidents. Is this a trend? What is happening, and why? How does the Air Traffic Control system work and is there really a shortage of controllers? How can I best prepare to have a low stress and safe flight? These questions and yours will be addressed in this highly interactive session.

The Central Platte NRD maintains a groundwater quality monitoring program that collects water samples across the District annually. This is done to evaluate nitrate levels, which is the primary contaminant of concern. Established in 1985, the program designates high nitrate areas into phases that correspond to controls on nutrient application and educational efforts.

How can we make reading experiences with our children and/or grandchildren more impactful? In this presentation, we will explore the need for and value of cultural relevancy in literacy activities. Empower yourselves with the awareness, knowledge, and understanding of the role of culture and identity in the literacy process to enhance the cognitive and reading development of our younger (or older) relatives and/or friends.

If you’ve ever wondered how our county continues to grow and attract new opportunities, this three-part series is for you. We’ll take an accessible look at economic development in Buffalo County — including retail sales, housing, tourism, the operation of the Development Council for Buffalo County, and plans for the Good Life District.

Visual Illusions have been studied by psychologists for over 100 years. Not only have we learned much about the human visual system, but illusions have taught us lessons for automobile and airline pilot safety. In this course I will provide many examples of visual illusions and the lessons that each one teaches us.

Are you concerned about the current state of American democracy and where we might be headed? Me too! This course is about how we got here (a little), what is happening now, and what might work to prevent American democracy from withering away.

Join us for a clear, informative look at the history of the U.S. drug war, why it began, and how it has shaped communities over time. We’ll also discuss current reform efforts and what the future may hold. No prior knowledge needed — just curiosity and an open mind.