Margaret Reist

3 weeks ago | journalstar.com | Margaret Reist

The city’s nine pools will be closed Tuesday because temperatures dipped below 70 degrees, Parks and Recreation officials said. City policy requires a high temperature of at least 70 degrees for pools to open. Staff assesses weather conditions daily. Cool weather delayed the opening of the city's pools for three days last month. And today's temperature — which hovered in the 50s Tuesday morning and was accompanied by rain — made it a less-than-perfect swimming day, regardless of city policy.

3 weeks ago | journalstar.com | Margaret Reist

The city wants to increase wages for emergency communications dispatchers and offer a $4,000 retention bonus — a move union officials said they support but that doesn’t go far enough. “(The union) strongly believes more can be done,” Michele Selvage, president of the Lincoln City Employees Association told the City Council on Monday.

3 weeks ago | journalstar.com | Margaret Reist

The city of Lincoln has a podcaster in its midst — an urban planner, architect and history buff who combines those interests in a podcast called “Booked on Planning.”Stephanie Rouse, who not long ago became community development manager in the city's urban development department, began her work with the city in 2021 when she helped take over the job of longtime historic preservation planner Ed Zimmer — well-known for his knowledge of the city's history.

4 weeks ago | journalstar.com | Margaret Reist

City-County Planning Department Director David Cary will serve as the city's interim building and safety director when the current director leaves June 27. Building and Safety Director Chad Blahak is leaving to become a project assurance leaders at Olsson. “David’s decades of experience supporting growth and development in Lincoln and Lancaster County make him the right choice to lead both departments during this transitional period,” said Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird.

4 weeks ago | journalstar.com | Margaret Reist

Lancaster County residents who want to protest their 2025 property valuations, take note: you’ve got from Sunday to June 30 to do so. Lancaster County Clerk Matt Hansen said his office will begin accepting protests Sunday. Protests filed or postmarked after the June 30 deadline will not be accepted, according to a news release. Protests can be filed online, by mail, or in person following the instructions found at lancaster.ne.gov/propertyprotest.