A January 17, 2008 videotaped conversation dubbed Covering the New Nebraska was moderated by Kathleen Rutledge, former editor of the Lincoln Journal Star. Panelists were Kent Warneke, editor of the Norfolk Daily News; Josh Wolfe, editor of the Crete News; and Dr. John Wunder, Professor of History at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, who brought the historical perspective to the conversation. Contributing by mail were Steve Frederick, editor of the Scottsbluff Star-Herald and Lindsey Tederman, editor of the Lexington Clipper-Herald. read more >>>

"We have a long history of immigration in Nebraska; every one of us came from somewhere else. Even the American Indians migrated here from somewhere else." said Dr. John Wunder, Professor of History at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. And during the years since then, there have been issues of acceptance. read more >>>

Crete Public Schools enrolled its first non-English speaker in 1989. The student was Vietnamese. Now, 40 percent of students in the Crete Public Schools are minorities and 99 percent of that group is Hispanic, according to Kyle McGowan, Superintendent of the Crete Public Schools. About 1,700 K-12 students are enrolled in the system, with another 180 children enrolled in the system's preschool. A new middle school was built in 2004, but the growing student population has McGowan thinking about an addition to the building. read more >>>

Todd Chessmore has been at the helm of the Lexington Public Schools for just two years, but his positive attitude and belief in the potential of all children is spreading throughout the school system.

"I tell people I think Lexington is a model for figuring out how to have immigrants come into a city and into a school system," he said. "We have well-kept facilities; the kids are respectful; they're in class; we have kids that are very successful." read more >>>