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While most states rely heavily on three sources of taxes, many of the lowest-tax states for residents generate tax revenue in ways that do not financially burden those residents in a direct way.
While most states rely heavily on three sources of taxes, many of the lowest-tax states for residents generate tax revenue in ways that do not financially burden those residents in
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The sheer amount of solid competition gives consumers excellent options to choose from at a range of prices. Here are some of the best.
The sheer amount of solid competition gives consumers excellent options to choose from at a range of prices. Here are some of the best.
As U.S. health officials try to get COVID-19 vaccines to people more quickly, it’s already time for some to get their second shots. So who's keeping track to make sure you get the correct dose, and on time?
As U.S. health officials try to get COVID-19 vaccines to people more quickly, it’s already time for some to get their second shots. So who's keeping track to make sure
If you’re looking to shed holiday debt, boost your savings or simply manage your money better, a spending freeze can get you on track. Here’s how to embark on (and stick to) a no-spend month.
If you’re looking to shed holiday debt, boost your savings or simply manage your money better, a spending freeze can get you on track. Here’s how to embark on (and
It's not just your imagination — studies have documented that many people's food intake increases by about 90 to 200 calories per day during winter months. Here's why.
It's not just your imagination — studies have documented that many people's food intake increases by about 90 to 200 calories per day during winter months. Here's why.
Find out which states have administered the most vaccines, plus the pandemic's toll on health care workers, and more trends from this week's data with these nine charts.
Find out which states have administered the most vaccines, plus the pandemic's toll on health care workers, and more trends from this week's data with these nine charts.
It's been said that anything worth doing is worth doing badly — and comedy is no exception. Here's a look at the worst comedies of all time, according to IMDb and Metacritic.
It's been said that anything worth doing is worth doing badly — and comedy is no exception. Here's a look at the worst comedies of all time, according to IMDb
Watch the adorable video as a lion meets his cubs for the first time, see how speed golf is a more fast-paced and exciting version of the original game, how one college campus is giving out COVID tests using vending…
Watch the adorable video as a lion meets his cubs for the first time, see how speed golf is a more fast-paced and exciting version of the original game, how
Dozens have already been arrested and prosecutors across the U.S. have vowed to bring to justice those who stormed the U.S. Capitol, including several from the most prominent images of the siege.
Dozens have already been arrested and prosecutors across the U.S. have vowed to bring to justice those who stormed the U.S. Capitol, including several from the most prominent images of
Despite its challenges, 2020 proved how essential cars, our escape machines, have become. Here are 10 vehicles worth taking for a drive in 2021.
Despite its challenges, 2020 proved how essential cars, our escape machines, have become. Here are 10 vehicles worth taking for a drive in 2021.
You may amass hundreds of thousands of dollars if you start investing now. Here's how to succeed at it.
You may amass hundreds of thousands of dollars if you start investing now. Here's how to succeed at it.
Colonel Sanders is entering 2021 ready to rumble in the seemingly never-ending chicken sandwich wars.
Colonel Sanders is entering 2021 ready to rumble in the seemingly never-ending chicken sandwich wars.
An officer in Staffordshire, central England, labeled the thieves the "world's unluckiest burglars" and likened them to the ill-fated crooks in the movie "Home Alone."
An officer in Staffordshire, central England, labeled the thieves the "world's unluckiest burglars" and likened them to the ill-fated crooks in the movie "Home Alone."
As home jobs go, painting is one of the better ones to approach as a DIY job, but take care with the planning and execution. Here are some tips.
As home jobs go, painting is one of the better ones to approach as a DIY job, but take care with the planning and execution. Here are some tips.
Our second Athlete of the Week, sponsored by Grand Island Physical Therapy, this week is Grand Island Central Catholic's Rylie Rice.
Our second Athlete of the Week, sponsored by Grand Island Physical Therapy, this week is Grand Island Central Catholic's Rylie Rice. Rice scored eight 3-pointers in one game last week.
The Central District Health Department said Friday that 137 new COVID-19 cases were reported between Sunday and Wednesday in Hall, Hamilton and Merrick counties.
The Central District Health Department said Friday that 137 new COVID-19 cases were reported between Sunday and Wednesday in Hall, Hamilton and Merrick counties.
Here are some of the top photos of the week, as selected by the Associated Press.
Here are some of the top photos of the week, as selected by the Associated Press.
Grand Island police said they believe they had arrested the man who hopped into a running vehicle at El Tucanazo Auto Sales on Wednesday and sped away.
Grand Island police said they believe they had arrested the man who hopped into a running vehicle at El Tucanazo Auto Sales on Wednesday and sped away.
Let’s dig into some more comments and recommendations about the central Nebraska food scene.
Let’s dig into some more comments and recommendations about the central Nebraska food scene.
LINCOLN — Wendy Johnson, an Elba native, was promoted Tuesday to the rank of major general at the Nebraska National Guard’s Joint Force Headquarters in Lincoln. She becomes the first female general officer in the Nebraska National Guard to pin…
LINCOLN — Wendy Johnson, an Elba native, was promoted Tuesday to the rank of major general at the Nebraska National Guard’s Joint Force Headquarters in Lincoln. She becomes the first
During World War II, American forces began landing on the shores of Lingayen Gulf in the Philippines as the Battle of Luzon got underway, and more events that happened on this day in history.
During World War II, American forces began landing on the shores of Lingayen Gulf in the Philippines as the Battle of Luzon got underway, and more events that happened on
Read through the obituaries published today in Grand Island Independent.
Read through the obituaries published today in Grand Island Independent.
Here are some of the notable people celebrating birthdays today, including Dave Matthews, Deon Cole, Imelda Staunton, J.K. Simmons, Jimmy Page, Joan Baez, Omari Hardwick and more.
Here are some of the notable people celebrating birthdays today, including Dave Matthews, Deon Cole, Imelda Staunton, J.K. Simmons, Jimmy Page, Joan Baez, Omari Hardwick and more.
If someone is clipping along in a motorized vehicle on Grand Island’s hike and bike trails, he’s breaking the law.
If someone is clipping along in a motorized vehicle on Grand Island’s hike and bike trails, he’s breaking the law.
Here's a look back at sports happenings on this date in history, Jan. 9.
Here's a look back at sports happenings on this date in history, Jan. 9.
After playing on the road for the first nine games of the season, the Northwest boys basketball team looked more than happy to be at home on Friday.
After playing on the road for the first nine games of the season, the Northwest boys basketball team looked more than happy to be at home on Friday.
After losing three of its previous four games, Northwest gave itself a much-needed confidence boost Friday.
After losing three of its previous four games, Northwest gave itself a much-needed confidence boost Friday.
KEARNEY — For 13 minutes, Kearney Catholic did the unbelievable: shut out unbeaten and Class C2 No. 1-ranked Grand Island Central Catholic.
KEARNEY — For 13 minutes, Kearney Catholic did the unbelievable: shut out unbeaten and Class C2 No. 1-ranked Grand Island Central Catholic.
KEARNEY - Grand Island Central Catholic’s girls survived two layup attempts by Kearney Catholic’s Ashley Keck in the last 11 seconds to get away with a 38-36 victory Friday night to stay unbeaten.
KEARNEY - Grand Island Central Catholic’s girls survived two layup attempts by Kearney Catholic’s Ashley Keck in the last 11 seconds to get away with a 38-36 victory Friday night
State Surveyor Casey Sherlock, an Alliance native, spent his COVID-19 summer of 2020 scanning a complete set of statewide “patent plat maps” created for and used by Nebraska’s former U.S. General Land Office.
State Surveyor Casey Sherlock, an Alliance native, spent his COVID-19 summer of 2020 scanning a complete set of statewide “patent plat maps” created for and used by Nebraska’s former U.S.
Increasing global temperatures will bring changes to our environment, economy, and society, but one of the most pronounced effects will be the impact on sea level rise.
Increasing global temperatures will bring changes to our environment, economy, and society, but one of the most pronounced effects will be the impact on sea level rise.
There is no truth to the alleged "evidence" that Capitol rioters were antifa activists, nor is there any proof COVID-19 vaccines lead to autoimmune disease. Here are the facts.
There is no truth to the alleged "evidence" that Capitol rioters were antifa activists, nor is there any proof COVID-19 vaccines lead to autoimmune disease. Here are the facts.
Here's a look back at all of the well-known actors, actresses, athletes, musicians, and more who have died in 2020.
Here's a look back at all of the well-known actors, actresses, athletes, musicians, and more who have died in 2020.
Timeline Photos
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One of Grand Island's oldest businesses didn't actually get its start in Grand Island.
What is now The Grand Island Independent began as The Platte Valley Independent in 1869.
Publisher Seth P. Mobley moved the paper to Grand Island after an angry mob gathered in front of the newspaper's North Platte office. The group was upset over columns that had been written about the Union Pacific Railroad.
As part of a peace agreement between the railroaders and Mobley, he and his editor, Maggie Eberhart, had to leave town. Around the same time, a group of Grand Island businessmen were looking for a newspaper proprietor and welcomed The Independent to town.
The first edition of the weekly Independent in Grand Island was printed on July 2, 1870. Mobley and Eberhart were married the next year. By the end of the decade, the Mobleys were feuding with just about everyone in town. They faced financial difficulties but did have one major advertiser, Fred Hedde.
In 1881, Maggie Mobley, who was the first female newspaper editor in Nebraska, directed criticism at Hedde's wife, and the Mobleys' relations with their last major supporter were damaged. The paper was put up for sale.
"Since (The Independent's beginning), other papers sprouted to serve various political leanings or ethnic customers," the late editor, Bill Dunn said. "There have been papers that served Republicans, Democrats and other parties as well as several German-language newspapers. Free enterprise being what it is, the financial pressure of the publishing business eventually caused most of them to fold after a year or two."
The Independent was saved from being a mere history-book description when J.A. McMurphy bought it in 1883. He only owned the paper for a week before selling it to Hedde, who renamed the paper The Grand Island Daily Independent.
Hedde converted the paper to a daily in 1884. During the late 1800s, there were as many as eight newspapers in Grand Island, but a severe depression, drought and grasshopper infestations destroyed the city's economy in the early 1890s and nearly wiped the newspaper out of business. In 1894, The Independent's circulation dwindled to just 360 households.
Prior to the depression, The Independent had already become much more than just a newspaper to Grand Island.
"Many do not realize the importance of The Platte Valley Independent to the initial growth and eventual success of Grand Island," Dunn said. "At one point, The Independent and the Union Pacific Railroad went together to Germany to recruit settlers to the Platte Valley. That resulted in the large German population that moved into the area to farm and establish businesses."
By 1900, Hedde's health was failing, and he turned ownership of the paper over to several Grand Island businessmen, including August Buechler, J.R. Fullerton, Fred G. Baldwin, Gus E. Neumann and Charles E. Fralick.
Oscar Stauffer purchased The Independent in 1930 and owned it until the newspaper was purchased by Morris Communications, a family-owned corporation, in 1995.
The newspaper has seen a number of changes over the last several decades, including computerization in the 1970s, adding a Sunday publication in 1979, switching from afternoons to mornings in 1992 and launching a Web site in 1996.
The word "daily" was dropped from the name of the paper on Nov. 13, 1989.
The Independent has also called a number of buildings home. In its beginning, the newspaper was housed in a small frame building behind a hardware store owned by Hedde. It was then moved to the Hedde Building on the corner of Third and Locust streets, where it remained until 1910. That year, the business moved to 113 N. Locust St., where Equitable Bank is today.
In 1957, it moved to its present location, 422 W. First St., a building that was constructed specifically for the newspaper. The building covers 23,370 square feet on the first floor and has a partial basement.
The Independent bought other buildings on the block in 1989 and, by the time the main building was remodeled in 1993, the newspaper owned the entire block.
Dunn said the paper's mission hasn't changed much in its history.
"The role of The Independent in the Central Nebraska community is to be the primary information center for our readers," he said. "In addition, as the largest news-gathering operation between Lincoln and Denver, we are committed to a role as the watchdog over government and the seeker of truth in our coverage area. With the introduction of the Internet, The Independent's role is increasingly becoming a center for community conversation, where people can share opinions about their community.
"With one of the largest reader penetration rates in America, we appreciate the trust that readers place in The Independent, and we work hard every day to validate that trust," Dunn said. "As the media evolves and technology allows us to present the news in faster and more complete ways to our readers/viewers, The Independent has become even more vital in the lives of our customers. The transformation of electronic and print media that The Independent has undertaken means that readers/viewers will look to The Independent even more than ever.
