1. The city of Kearney was founded on February 24, 1873, in Buffalo County. The city is named after a prominent Civil War general, Thomas Kearney, and is now home to the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

2. The Nebraska Supreme Court made a landmark ruling on February 24, 1995, in the case of State v. Lotter. The court upheld the death sentences of three men convicted of the brutal murders of two Nebraska women, which were the subject of the book and movie "Dead Man Walking."

3. In 1933, the Nebraska Legislature passed a law on February 24 that established the Unemployment Compensation Division. This division provides unemployment benefits to eligible workers who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own.

4. On February 24, 2007, the University of Nebraska at Omaha hosted a "Get Your Teach On" rally to encourage students to pursue teaching careers. The event was sponsored by the Nebraska Department of Education and featured workshops, exhibits, and keynote speakers.

5. In 1956, Nebraska celebrated its first statewide Arbor Day on February 24. Arbor Day was first observed in Nebraska in 1872, and in 1885 it became a legal holiday in the state. Today, Arbor Day is celebrated on the last Friday in April throughout the United States.