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Hey Kearney, hope your week’s off to a good start!

In today’s wallet-friendly edition: Good Life District ballot question, Alice in Wonderland screening, and Birdnerd workshop + lots of fun things to do for free.

Today’s sponsor, American Hartford Gold, is helping folks around Kearney protect their savings as gold and silver continue to gain momentum. Their free guide explains what’s driving the surge… and what to know before adding precious metals to your portfolio. Grab your free copy here.

📰 In the news

Economic program decision ahead: Kearney City Council approved sending a Good Life District economic development question to the May 12 primary ballot, and voters will decide whether to authorize the council to create the program — get details on the ballot question.

Protect your money and data: Free anti-fraud class coming to Central Community College-Kearney on March 16, led by Ryan Sothan from the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office. Learn common scams and stay safe. Registration required — get all the details.

Nebraska’s next travel frontier: Agri-tourism takes center stage near Kearney as a workshop will gather at Rowe Sanctuary in Gibbon on March 12 to explore farm travel, with sunset Sandhill Crane viewing planned — learn what the workshop covers.

Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.

Highlights this week:

• Master bird calls with the Birdnerd
• Enjoy T-themed stories and rhymes
• Enjoy a community Lenten fish fry

🫶 We got your back

Upgrade your lunch game: Craving a toasted sammie that isn’t swaddled in corporate paper? At The Toasted Goat, hearty oven-baked sandwiches and cozy soups deliver maximum flavor with zero fuss, perfect for a quick bite before errands or a low‑key hang with friends.

Climb the tower: If your week needs a deep breath, Yanney Heritage Park delivers, with lakeside loops, an 80-foot observation tower and big-sky views, a splash pad for kids, and an amphitheater for summer nights. It’s the spot you plan for 20 minutes… and end up staying an hour.

Where play hits different: Locally owned in Kearney, CR Toys is packed with board games, puzzles, crafty kits, sensory fidgets, and kid-approved surprises. Count on curbside pickup and simple gift registries…ideal for last-minute birthdays or rewarding your tiny negotiator after bedtime theatrics.

Why your last diet didn’t work: Sustained weight loss is nearly impossible with diet alone. Your body literally fights back by making you hungrier the moment you start restricting calories. That’s why more doctors are recommending GLP-1s. The best part? Getting them has never been easier. We compared three programs to help you find the right fit. See which ones stood out →

Your data is for sale right now: There are over 400 websites selling your info to marketers, political campaigns, and scammers. They’ve got your phone number, home address, relatives’ names… you name it. That’s how robocallers seem to know everything about you before you pick up. You can remove your info one site at a time, or pay a service to do it for you. Here’s what we recommend →

📆 Free events worth checking out

Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →

All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.

🎨 Crafternoon: “Elbow Grease” @ Kearney Public Library | Tuesday (3/10) at 4:00 PM – Got a tiny gearhead at home? Miss Shawna reads Elbow Grease, the John Cena monster-truck tale about grit, then the kids make a craft. Free for ages 2–12, in-person or virtual, but the read-aloud is in-person. Register online, or call the library.

🖌 Watercolor Wednesday @ Kearney Public Library | Wednesday (3/11) at 10:00 AM – Need a midweek reset? Watercolor Wednesday eases you in with washes, layering, and other fundamentals, then nudges you toward a piece you’ll actually want on the wall. Low pressure, high satisfaction, and zero glitter to vacuum out of the rug.

📖 Preschool Storytime @ Kearney Public Library | Thursday (3/12) at 10:30 AM – Give your tiny human a library adventure with Preschool Storytime, featuring stories for ages 3 to 6. You can skip the rug circle, just stick around in the building, or join if you like. Free event, no registration, and just bring curiosity and a snack.

🐇 Alice in Wonderland (1951) @ The World Theatre | Thursday (3/12) at 6:30 PM – MONA Beyond The Lens is screening the 1951 Disney Alice in Wonderland for free, which is exactly our speed for a splurge that costs nothing. Bring the kids, your inner child, and a healthy respect for queens with anger issues.

🎬 Birding the Good Life: The Listers Film & Panel @ The World Theatre | Saturday (3/14) at 1:00 AM – Grab a seat at The World Theatre for a hilarious Big Year birding doc, then stick around while Nebraska’s most devoted listers spill sightings, tips, and war stories. It’s free, registration required, and maybe save the grandkids for crane season, not this screening.

🐦 Speaker Series: Nebraska Big Year: Chasing 350 @ Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary (Gibbon) | Saturday (3/14) at 11:00 AM – Need a little adventure without the blisters? Hear Lincoln software developer-turned-birder Tobin Brown recount his Nebraska “Big Year,” chasing 350 species from Niobrara to Lake McConaughy, and proving this state is more than corn, wind, and football. Free, registration required.

🥞 VFW Pancake Feed @ Kearney VFW | Sunday (3/15) at 8:00 AM – Stack up some flapjacks at VFW 759’s annual pancake feed, a Sunday-morning tradition where your free-will donation fuels their kitchen renovation. Swing by 2215 1st Ave in Kearney, catch up with neighbors, and remember, syrup tastes better when it’s upgrading a griddle.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Kearney report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 61°F – Low: 30°F – Precip: 1%

Mostly sunny, with a high near 61. North northeast wind 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Later: A chance of rain between 1am and 4am, then a chance of rain and snow. Partly cloudy. Low around 30, with temperatures rising to around 34 overnight. North northeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

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Tomorrow – High: 50°F – Low: 27°F – Precip: 25%

A chance of rain and snow before 7am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 50. North northwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 27. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph.

Are you quietly overpaying for car insurance? 🚗

Premiums have been climbing across Nebraska but most folks won’t notice until they’re hit with a higher bill when it’s time to renew.

That’s exactly what happened to me. I had the same policy for half a decade. Autopay was on, it was out of sight and out of mind. Turns out I was blindly paying way more than everyone else I knew.

If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too – here’s the comparison tool I used.

This house is wild

This ranch in Northeast Kearney on a cul-de-sac near Meadowlark School features tiled entry to dining and living room with gas fireplace, opening to a bright kitchen with stainless and a butler’s pantry. The primary suite adds a soaking tub and walk-in. Downstairs offers egress bedrooms and a family room. Outside is a fenced yard, deck, sprinklers, shed, and playset.

Take a peek inside →