Jurgensen named Outstanding Teacher of American History by Nebraska DAR

Barry Jurgensen, a 2002 graduate of Denison High School and now a history teacher with Arlington Public High Schools in Arlington, Nebraska, was named the Nebraska Outstanding Teacher of American Hist

Robert Booker: Railroad history includes cruelty

In my column of Dec. 27, 2005, I wondered about those men who did the hard labor in building our railroads. Did we have Chinese workers here as in other places? How many slaves were used to build the roadbeds and lay the tracks into Knoxville? How did they fare against the elements? Were there problems with American Indians who opposed the coming of the "iron horse"?

Taco books are suddenly a growth industry

Kevin Roderick: Last month the editor of OC Weekly, Gustavo Arellano, began readings around the country and got an interview in the New York Times for his new book, "Taco USA: How Mexican Food Conquered America." Now comes Jeffrey M. Pilcher, a professor of history at the University of Minnesota who for 20 years "has investigated the history, politics and evolution of Mexican food, including how ...

Today in History 05.17.12

Today is Thursday, May 17, the 138th day of 2012. There are 228 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On May 17, 1937, Teddy Hill and His Orchestra recorded "King Porter Stomp" for RCA Victor's Bluebird label in New York; making his recording debut was trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie. On this date: In 1510, Early Renaissance painter Sandro Botticelli died in Florence, Italy; he was ...

Commercial rocket will fly to the space station

For the first time, a private company will launch a rocket to the International Space Station, sending it on a grocery run this weekend that could be the shape of things to come for America's space program.