Friday the 13th 👹

Happy Friday Ledgers,

To all the IBS warriors and Celiac kings and queens out there, take heart! Moxie’s Cafe, located in Selleck Hall on the UNL campus, is now open to the public. This entirely gluten-free cafe, which recently earned a gold rating from Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE), is the only restaurant in Lincoln that can proudly boast a 100% gluten-free menu.

So, whether you're grabbing a quick bite or planning a date night with your favorite gluten-intolerant friend, Moxie's has you covered.

But here's a thought to keep you up tonight: with gluten intolerance on the rise, could we be facing the end of Strawberry Frosted Mini-Wheats (the GOAT of adult cereals) as we know it?...

In this week’s issue:

• Buss Pass: LPS adds funding for student bus passes.

• What To Do: Pumpkin spice beat drop.

• Sportz: Puttin’ in the reps.

• Neighborhood Watch: Spanish stunner.

If you’re reading this, it means you’ve survived over half of Friday the 13th. To keep your luck intact, please consider pushing all crosswalk buttons and perhaps postponing any kite-flying ambitions until tomorrow.

- Landon

TRANSPORTATION

LPS adds funding for student bus passes to support low-income families 🚌

This week, Lincoln Public Schools (LPS) announced an additional $30,000 in funding to provide 3,700 more StarTran Student Bus Passes for low-income students. This decision follows public feedback at the final budget hearing in August, where community members urged LPS to expand its bus pass program to better serve students in need.

What’s going on?… Under current Nebraska state law, LPS is only required to bus students who live four or more miles away from school. This leaves many students outside the service area without affordable transportation options. While LPS currently offers 1,200 bus passes, funded through donations from organizations like the Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools and the Citizens for Improved Transportation, it’s clear this isn’t enough to meet the needs of Lincoln’s growing student population.

A step in the right direction… The additional bus passes aim to help more students in need, but this is a genuinely sticky problem. LPS relies heavily on property taxes for funding (which, let’s face it, isn’t popular), hiring bus drivers is tough, and public schools are still facing financial constraints. While this step won’t solve all issues, it is a move toward making school more accessible for everyone.

📌 Why it’s important
Without reliable transportation, students are at higher risk of truancy, which means missing out on critical education. And missing school isn’t just a bad day—it can lead to bleak futures. Ensuring every child can get to school is essential to ensuring the next generation's success.

Sources:
Lincoln Journal Star - LPS adds $30,000 to proposed budget to buy 3,700 StarTran student bus passes | Jenna Ebbers

WHAT TO DO

Pumpkin spice beat drop 🪅

Another beautiful weekend is ahead, with perfect weather for a lineup of fun activities.

🎧 DJ Pauly D at The Grove:
Tonight, it’s all about gym, tan, laundry—and thicc beats. Get to The Royal Grove early to snag a prime spot for the former reality TV king’s set at 9:00 PM. Plan to pregame this one, and be sure to line up a designated driver.

🎃 Roca Berry Farms’ 44th Season Opening Day:
Get your fall fix on Saturday at Roca Berry Farms. Bring along a little pumpkin of your own (preferably a child, you know), sip some cider, and pick out the perfect gourds for your porch. There’s no better way to dive into autumn than a day at the pumpkin patch.

🦬 Buffalo Run:
Looking for a low-commitment weekend adventure? Sign up last minute for the annual Buffalo Run, a 5-mile race winding through Pioneers Park. Registration is open through Saturday (check the website for details), and the race starts bright and early at 8:00AM on Sunday. Pro tip: don’t forget your glide stick.

SPORTZ

Sporting headlines from around the capital.

• 🏀 Basketball: Nebraska Basketball opening night will be held outside in The Railyard on October 4th at 7:00PM.

• 🏐 Volleyball: Nebraska Volleyball beat Creighton in five sets, and takes on Arizona State tonight at 7:00PM.

• 🏈 Football: NU landed four-star linebacker recruit Christian Jones.

• 📺 Ratings: Last weekend’s football matchup against Colorado drew 6.3 million viewers. 

NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH

1000 N 148th St #B, Lincoln, NE 68527

Spanish stunner. 🇪🇸

Let's be honest—we all crave a little slice of European summer. The kind where you sip a crisp, chilled white wine in your Gucci slippers while discussing the latest drama at the regatta or debating which fashion house reigns supreme. If you’ve developed a newfound appreciation for leisurely after-lunch siestas and a delightfully relaxed approach to punctuality, this home might just be your dream come true.

Situated just east of Lincoln, this Spanish-inspired stunner brings the warmth and charm of the Mediterranean countryside straight to Nebraska’s rolling plains. With its sun-washed stucco exterior, terracotta tile floors, and expansive arches, this villa-style retreat feels like it was plucked right from the hills of Tuscany or the coast of Catalonia. And with over 5,400 square feet of living space, you can host your friends and family for extended stays, all while enjoying the peace and quiet of not actually having to see them in the vastness of this home.

And let's not forget the pièce de résistance: a private 6-acre lake, perfect for swimming, kayaking, or simply enjoying the serene view with a glass of something sparkling in hand. It’s all about the Dolce Vita right here in the Midwest.

The Details:

• 5 beds, 4 baths

• 5,458 sq/ft

• Built in 1981

• Includes a secret ladder that leads...somewhere (we’re intrigued)

• 6-acre private lake for all your outdoor escapades

❤️ KEEP: The timeless, iconic arches in the windows, doors, and fireplaces, the built-in bookshelves that add a touch of classic elegance, the dreamy spiral staircase that leads who knows where, the stucco exterior that transports you straight to a European villa, and yes, those terracotta tile floors—they're back in style and we're all for it.

🗑️ TOSS: The drop-down ceilings (this home deserves better), the outdated red carpet (a design crime), the tired kitchen cabinets, and the entire interior color palette could use a reboot—think cool whites, warm earth tones and pops of Mediterranean blues to elevate the space.

CHECKLIST (FALL EDITION 🍂)

An over-ambitious weekend to-do list.

• Purchase a hay bale for your front porch fall décor.

• Make a scarecrow with some old clothes (again for the décor).

• Pick up your first (and maybe only) pumpkin spice latte.

• Restock your inventory of yard bags (Costco is typically the way to go here).

• Purchase a few candles to keep the fall vibes high.

• Invest in a new cozy blanket to curl up in.

HEADLINES

More news from around the capital.

• Tax Increment Financing: Is this tool being abused? One Nebraska auditor thinks so.

• Education: The Nebraska Department of Education received a $55M grant to improve student literacy.

• Malone Center: The Malone Center broke ground on new facility and has raised $14M of the total $23M needed for its new building.

• Playground: Mahoney Park playground will close while the city of Lincoln builds a new inclusive playground.

🐯 Weekly Wildcard:
One headline (or post) we never saw coming.

• FBI: A secretive church under investigation by the FBI held its annual convention in York, NE.