1. On November 16, 1886, the first African-American member of the Nebraska Legislature, Robert Franklin Leeper, was born in Kentucky. He served in the Legislature from 1919 to 1923 and was an advocate for civil rights and education reform.

2. On November 16, 1937, the deadliest tornado in Nebraska history struck the town of O'Neill, killing 27 people and injuring over 100. The tornado was one of several that hit the state that day, causing widespread damage and destruction.

3. On November 16, 1948, the first television station in Nebraska, KMTV, began broadcasting in Omaha. The station was an affiliate of CBS and quickly became a popular source for news, entertainment, and sports programming in the region.

4. On November 16, 1960, the first woman elected to public office in Nebraska, Helen Boosalis, was sworn in as a member of the Lincoln City Council. Boosalis went on to become the first woman mayor of Lincoln in 1975 and was a prominent leader in the state's Democratic party.

5. On November 16, 1993, Nebraska became the first state in the country to impose a ban on affirmative action programs in hiring and admissions. The move was controversial and sparked debate over issues of race and diversity in the state's public institutions.