Good morning, Grand Island.

Grand Island nonprofits signed up for the 12th Annual Go Big GIVE to help support vital services in Hall, Hamilton, Howard, and Merrick Counties.

Donors can give early through Pre-Give from April 21 to April 30 by joining Dine Out events and trivia nights — with Hy-Vee letting customers round up purchases until May 1 — to boost funds for causes like animal care, arts, education, and health care.

The Stolley Park Train will return on May 3 and run on weekends, letting local families enjoy two trips around Central Nebraska's only life-size garden scale railroad and visit nearby Kids Kingdom.

Community members are raising funds for a $3 million project—adding more tunnels and a new play structure—while tickets will be $4 per single rider.

The Grand Island Public Library, the Parks and Recreation Department + the Platte Valley Astronomical Observers will hold a free star party at Camp Augustine on May 3.

The event begins at 8 p.m. with an indoor educational program, and weather cancellations will be posted online by 1 p.m.

The Stolley Park Railroad returns on May 3 for its first season in 2025 with rides on weekends from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through May 18 and then on Friday through Sunday starting May 23 until it returns to weekend-only service on August 9 — tickets cost $4 for single riders with free rides for kids 2-and-under and punch cards available from Grand Island Parks & Recreation.

A Honduran man was arrested in Grand Island for forgery on Saturday, April 19 after police said he tried to cash a fake check at a Western Union location and used a fake Arkansas ID (his true name was Abraham Mendieta Endara).

Nebraska lawmakers are tracking key bills this session that cover taxing candy and soft drinks, banning lab-grown meat, restricting minors' social media access and regulating deepfakes.

Several proposals have been heard by committees yet remain under review for changes in education, health and public safety policies — updates are released weekly as the session unfolds.

At a meeting on April 18 at Eugene T.

Mahoney State Park, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission approved staff recommendations for 2025 deer, antelope and elk hunting seasons, cutting permits and setting new season dates. The changes will help meet management goals—using data and public input—and the commission also reorganized its regulations and moved its October meeting to Niobrara State Park.

Grand Island will host the free one-day MLB Pitch Hit and Run Program on April 30 at 4:30 p.m. at Webb Road Fields for children ages 7 to 14—scores in pitching, hitting, and running will give winners a chance to advance to MLB championships and earn an all-expenses paid trip to the World Series.

Trainer Stetson Rushton raced his filly Runnin On Promises in the Bold Accent Stakes at Fonner Park against older mares—Tennessee Moon won by over four lengths, but Rushton was encouraged by his filly's strong finish.

The three-year-old won an allowance race on March 16 and is now 3-1 on the morning line as she prepares to run in the Pepsi Stakes Saturday at Fonner Park—her next race against other fillies.

La Sonora Dinamita Concert

9 PM — Bamboo — Get your tickets (boletos) online — Enjoy a night of lively music with La Sonora Dinamita.

Running of the Wieners

1-2:30 p.m. — Stuhr Museum — $25 for public, $10 for members — Watch adorable dachshunds race in costumes and enjoy a fun-filled day at the museum.