Cottonwood Fire grows to more than 131,000 acres in central Nebraska

Firefighters continue working to contain the Cottonwood Fire

March 17, 2026Updated: March 17, 2026

By News Channel Nebraska

Regional

Healthy Kids Day draws crowd at Norfolk Family YMCA

Healthy Kids Day draws crowd at Norfolk Family YMCA

Nucor Community Scrap Day returns Saturday

Nucor Community Scrap Day returns Saturday

Norfolk first responders adopt program to locate missing individuals faster

Norfolk first responders adopt program to locate missing individuals faster

O’Neill hospital named among top 20 critical access hospitals in U.S.

O’Neill hospital named among top 20 critical access hospitals in U.S.

State

Creativity and business meet at Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge

Sidney hosts multi-department fire training with Dalton, Gurley crews

Fire from unattended burn spreads to debris piles near Sterling

Tower work to temporarily affect 98.7 FM signal in Sidney area

Potter Volunteer Fire Department honors members, reports 2025 activity

Red flag warning in effect through Monday for extremely dry, breezy conditions

Sports

Lowery, Akins lead Chadron State College to win

Colorado sports notes: Forward Logan O'Connor caps long comeback with a Game 1 goal to help Avalanche hold off Kings 2-1

WNCC softball splits conference games with Lamar

Colorado sports notes: Murray, Jokic lead Nuggets to 116-105 win over Timberwolves in physical opener to 1st-round series

WNCC baseball drops doubleheader to Southeast

Clutch hitting gives Columbus win over rival Norfolk

Ag & Outdoor

Outdoor notes: Spring shotgun turkey season opens

Outdoor notes: Bighorn sheep regular lottery applications begin April 20

Outdoor notes: NGPC offering pastures, hay tracts to those affected by wildfires

Outdoor notes: Work to begin soon on Smith Lake WMA Aquatic Habitat Project

Outdoor notes: Game and Parks urges caution when recreating outdoors due to wildfires

Outdoor notes: Temporary closure of Clear Creek WMA for safety