News

ANR readers have made their choice of the top 10 news stories of 2025

ANR readers have made their choice of the top 10 news stories of 2025

City’s budget woes top story of 2026

Kurt Johnson
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
The city’s auditor pulled no punches in March, advising city leaders that the ambulance service has all but drained Aurora’s cash reserves over the past five years, to the point that EMS or other departments will have to be cut in next year’s budget.
Ryan and Jen Ramaekers of Aurora pose for a picture in Uganda with Filda Lakite, Fig Tree and Vine vice president, who is leading the nonprofit in country.

Ryan and Jen Ramaekers of Aurora pose for a picture in Uganda with Filda Lakite, Fig Tree and Vine vice president, who is leading the nonprofit in country.

A village built for self-sufficiency

Elizabeth Hunter
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
“Everyone will sit under their own vine and under their own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid,” (Micah 4:4) is the motto that nonprofit organization Fig Tree and Vine strives to live by in its mission to grow a village that will become home to 3,000 Acholi people in northern Uganda.
A look back at the year that was

A look back at the year that was

'25 in review

News Staff
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
A new year is almost here, but before we close the book for  good on 2025 here is a look back at the events that made headlines on the local front. What follows is a week-by-week capsule summary of the top news stories as documented in the Aurora News-Register from January through June 2025.Jan.
Jamison Giddings

Jamison Giddings

Omaha man arrested on Christmas

Ron Burtz
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
Sheriff’s deputies checking on an unoccupied farm house in southern Hamilton County on Christmas Day led to the arrest of an Omaha man on multiple charges.
William Sisson

William Sisson

Search warrant results in arrest

Ron Burtz
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
The 900 block of 14th Street was a flurry of activity last Tuesday morning, Dec. 23, as officers from the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) SWAT Team and the Aurora Police Department executed a search warrant at a home located there.
While not making the list as a top 10 story, Aurora High School's production of the SpongeBob Musical brought a splash of color and music to the year

While not making the list as a top 10 story, Aurora High School's production of the SpongeBob Musical brought a splash of color and music to the year

2025: The year in pictures

News Staff
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
The year 2025 will be remembered in Hamilton County as a year of economic ups and downs, fiscal challenges and strategic planning for local governments, the loss of two historic buildings and the beginning of construction for a unique playground that will serve children of all ability levels.
Nebraska sees deer harvest decrease

Nebraska sees deer harvest decrease

Nebraska sees deer harvest decrease

Elizabeth Hunter
Wednesday, December 24, 2025
With the end of the November firearm deer season last month, Nebraska Game and Parks reported that deer harvest decreased by 7 percent compared to 2024.
Aurora Adopt-A-Pet volunteer Samantha Wize plays with some of the cats inside of the current community cat room.

Aurora Adopt-A-Pet volunteer Samantha Wize plays with some of the cats inside of the current community cat room.

Aurora Adopt-A-Pet to raise funds for expansion project

Elizabeth Hunter
Wednesday, December 24, 2025
Aurora Adopt-A-Pet is hoping to expand its shelter to accommodate rescued cats and dogs as they wait for their forever homes. The shelter is seeking to raise $400,000 to $450,000.
The street between the middle school and high school was cited as a safety concern during the district’s facility status review. Thus in each of the initial seven proposals discussed last week the street was either enclosed or a green space was created with the area blocked from traffic.

The street between the middle school and high school was cited as a safety concern during the district’s facility status review. Thus in each of the initial seven proposals discussed last week the street was either enclosed or a green space was created with the area blocked from traffic.

This week's featured stories

News Staff
Tuesday, December 23, 2025
With preliminary cost estimates for various options of the Aurora School District’s master plan adding up to tens of millions of dollars, the architectural firm hired to work with the district is advising that a phased plan be considered as a way to break the needed work up into stages over...