Before we tell you about all the storm activity, let's start off with that animal cruelty story out of Torrington.

On Friday afternoon, May 29th, two Rottweiler dogs were out of their yard, and instead of contacting local police to report it, an individual unloaded a shotgun on these two animals with no cause. According to the family, whoever did this brutally murdered these dogs and dumped their bodies in the river. According to them, the Sheriff's Department just wants to let this go and are not conducting any further investigations.

A Change.org petition has been initiated, and the family is seeking your help. The petition's goal is to get the attention and cooperation from the Goshen County Sheriff's Department on this animal cruelty case. Severe weather season has begun early this year for Panhandle Scanner and our storm chasing team.

PETITION >>> https://www.change.org/p/cooperation-and-investigation-from-goshen-county-sheriffs-dept-animal-cruelty

Tornadoes have spawned in several places in the Panhandle and across the state. Most of the tornadoes reported thus far this season have not done any damage. However, the St. Libory Tornado on May 17th, 2026 in Nebraska, destroyed two homes completely, affected another, and had trapped two individuals in their basement that had to be rescued.

Another round of severe weather is in store for southeast Wyoming and western Nebraska today, damaging winds, flash flooding, and an isolated tornado or two, or even hail, all possible. Strongest storms should occur between 2 and 8 p.m. Be weather aware and make sure you have multiple ways to get warnings, including Panhandle Alerts and Panhandle Scanner.

For these stories and more, always just visit our Facebook page or our website panhandlescanner.com. And of course, that public record every Monday through Friday when available.

It's time for Scanner News and I'm your host Brian Hale. Brought to you by R&C Welding in Gering Nebraska. Now in their 4th year of sponsorship.

And speaking of 4ths, the 4th of July could look a little different this year for Scotts Bluff County. Keep an eye out for Monday's County Commissioners meeting for a likely decision on the fireworks this year.

The Nebraska State Patrol is investigating two serious crashes that resulted in one fatality, several injuries, and multiple closures on Interstate 80 on Saturday.

The first crash occurred at approximately 3.30 on Saturday near mile marker 226, where a semi had stopped in the head-to-head construction zone near Cozad and was rear-ended by another semi. The collision caused the second semi to catch fire and block both directions of travel on I-80. Two occupants in the first semi were transported to the hospital in Cozad with non-life-threatening injuries and the driver of the second semi was not injured.

During response to that crash, a secondary crash occurred involving another semi and an RV. The driver of the semi and five occupants of the RV were transported to Lexington Regional Health Center with non-life-threatening injuries. Interstate 80 was closed for approximately 2 hours during the response to the first set of crashes.

Then, at 5.10 p.m. Mountain Time or 6.10 p.m. Central, NSP received a report of a multi-vehicle crash near Brule at mile marker 118. Preliminary investigation shows that a dust storm occurred in the area leading to a crash that involved 16 vehicles, several of which caught fire. One driver was pronounced deceased at the scene, and five others were transported to Ogallala Community Hospital with serious injuries, one considered to have life-threatening injuries.

The deceased driver has been identified as Stephen Wichman, 56, of Pocahontas, Iowa. Our prayers and condolences for everyone involved.

That's going to do it for today's Scanner News.

Pip: Welcome back to the Hale Multimedia feed, where the news is local and the stakes are real — sometimes literally measured in meals.

Mara: Today we're covering a practical community resource guide from Panhandle Scanner: Free summer meal programs for kids across the Panhandle, with specific details for several local school districts.

Pip: Let's start with who gets fed and where.

Mara: When school ends, some kids lose reliable access to lunch — and this post maps out exactly what's available locally to fill that gap through USDA-backed summer meal programs.

Pip: The post lays out the access rule clearly: "any child ages 1–18 can access meals through participating summer meal sites, regardless of which school district they attend."

Mara: That detail matters. Families aren't locked into their own district's program — they can go to whichever location is most convenient for them. The only catch is that some sites require registration in advance.

Pip: So the barrier is low, but not zero — worth checking before you show up hungry.

Mara: Gering Public Schools kicks off May 28th with meal pack pick-ups requiring registration, plus walk-in meals at Lincoln Elementary with no registration needed. Two options, different logistics.

Pip: Scottsbluff runs four locations starting May 26th, and they've gone the extra mile by posting the full menu on the SBPS Child Nutrition Facebook page. Snacks run from nine to nine-thirty at three sites, and a Grab and Go pickup option launches June 22nd on Mondays and Thursdays — that one does require advance sign-up.

Mara: Adults can participate too at Scottsbluff sites — meals are available for $5.75, snacks for $3.60. The post also notes participation is open regardless of race, color, national origin, gender, or disability.

Pip: Minatare keeps it simple: no registration, no cost, May 26th through June 26th, Monday through Friday. Breakfast at seven-thirty, lunch at eleven-thirty, at Minatare Elementary on 7th Street.

Mara: And Morrill Elementary runs through July 2nd — the longest window of the group — serving breakfast and lunch for kids one through eighteen. The district office number is listed for questions: 308-247-3414.

Pip: Four districts, slightly different rules, same basic promise: kids eat.

Mara: The national Summer Food Service Program information is available at the USDA website, and Nebraska-specific site locations were set to go live in the finder around May 26th once the state approves them.

Pip: If you're in the Panhandle and wondering whether your neighborhood qualifies, that finder is the place to start.

Mara: Real, local, actionable — that's what community coverage looks like when it's doing its job.

Pip: More of the same next time. Don't miss it.