Daily Minute: Pillen remains hospitalized; collecting Capitol ornaments; Huskers look ahead

By Lincoln Journal Star, Neb. (TNS)

Good morning, Lincoln. Here’s what you should know today.

Pillen remains hospitalized

Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen suffered fractures to a vertebrae and several ribs and sustained several other injuries deemed “serious but not life-threatening” after falling off a horse Sunday afternoon.

Pillen remained hospitalized at Nebraska Medicine in Omaha on Monday after undergoing a minimally invasive surgery, according to doctors who spoke at a news conference. He moved out of the intensive care unit to a step-down unit later in the day on Monday.

The 68-year-old was riding on horseback near Columbus with his daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter when he fell, the governor’s office said.

Officials said Pillen was likely to be in the hospital at least one more day.

Collecting Capitol ornaments

Since 2004, the Office of the Capitol Commission has used Christmas ornaments to commemorate aspects of the Nebraska State Capitol building while expressing the messages intended in its original design.

Each year, the commission releases an ornament designed around the Capitol’s architecture, offering the general public an opportunity to learn more about it.

Said, Roxanne Smith, the Tourism Supervisor for the commission: “We Nebraskans see the Capitol and come to the building, use the building, visit and tour it. But there’s so much artistic detail, and it is such a gem in terms of an architectural monument that sometimes there’s too much to see.”

Husker volleyball looks ahead

The goal this season for the Nebraska volleyball team was a national championship.

But at some point, the players and coaches will be able to balance the success of the season overall and the disappointment of how it ended.

Coach John Cook expects the Huskers to be highly competitive again next season.

Said Cook: “We got a great core coming back. “They’re all going to be a year older, and we got a great freshmen class.”

That’s it for Tuesday, Dec. 24. Stay in the know with Lincoln’s longest-standing news source at JournalStar.com and we will see you back here Friday.

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