Good morning, Grand Island.

All Aboard for Stolley Park has raised about $705,000 toward its $750,000 goal to upgrade the park’s train and add park improvements using city funds—as volunteers rode the train on April 22, recalling childhood memories.

The group will host a concert by String Beans at Grand Island Senior High School on May 1 as part of the Go Big Give campaign to help reach the remaining amount for the $3 million project.

A northbound Kawasaki EX300 motorcycle lost control west of the intersection of S.

North Road and Stolley Park Road on April 22 at 6:48 p.m. when 21-year-old Jose Mendoza crashed into a power pole, was pronounced dead at the scene — police are investigating the incident.

Grand Island’s newest movie theater will open next week on May 1 at Conestoga Marketplace, announced by B&B Theatres’ Grand Island 7; it will offer 7 screens with heated recliner seating, a bowling alley, an arcade and pickleball courts—tickets can be bought online.

The complex will also have a new restaurant and full-service bar and will screen films like Thunderbolts and A Minecraft Movie.

The Tri-Cities Bookstore Crawl will take place on Saturday, April 26, with Bryant Books and Music in Hastings, Rooted Books and Gifts in Grand Island, and Sequel Bookshop in Kearney hosting special offers for Independent Bookstore Day—shoppers will collect card stamps with each purchase to win a final prize.

Earlier this month, over 50 students from Grand Island Senior High competed at the Nebraska State SkillsUSA competition and earned 14 medals in eight categories—showing the strength of the school’s career and technical education programs.

Grand Island Public Schools will pilot two new math curriculum options after six years of elementary results using one curriculum fell behind peer improvements + district officials say the change will address the widening achievement gap.

UNK’s Speech-Language and Hearing Clinic now offers free SPEAK OUT! therapy for Parkinson’s patients to help improve how they speak and swallow—clients in Kearney and nearby areas can join in person or via telehealth.

The program, funded by the Parkinson Voice Project, has held nearly 60 sessions since August and will continue to support patients and train future speech-language pathologists—ensuring ongoing care and education.

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.