Tyler Sanne, a fourth-grader at Fredstrom Elementary School, checks a CPR dummy for signs of breathing. Photo: Carson Stokebrand, NewsNetNebraska

Basic Aid Training (BAT) is a national program for elementary school children organized by the American Red Cross. The program is funded locally by insurance company Lincoln Benefit Life.

"We work with Lincoln Public Schools to get this into every fourth-grade class, every year," said Susan Epps, chief operating officer of the Cornhusker Regional Chapter of the American Red Cross.

More than 100 Red Cross volunteers help teach the classes to 39 elementary schools in more than 90 fourth-grade classrooms throughout Lincoln. The American Red Cross also collaborates with Lincoln Fire and Rescue, nursing students and University of Nebraska-Lincoln students to help teach the classes.

"They [UNL students] enjoy doing it because interacting with kids is always fun," said Ryan Riley, a junior at UNL and the BAT committee chair for Campus Red Cross. "It's a hands-on experience for them. When you see kids having fun it's a hands on experience for you as well."

The studies say that only New York City is stranger, and Norfolk, Va., more innovative.

A Madison, Wis., company judged Lincoln based on the number of odd headlines coming out of the capital city.

At the same time, the Digital Cities Survey awarded Lincoln the No. 2 spot because of its Web site: http://lincoln.ne.gov/. Specifically, the site was cited for what it offers its visitors: On the site, a Lincoln resident can set up a tee-time, get a seasonal pool pass or pay to park for a Husker football game. Also known as InterLinc, the site entertains around 20,000 visitors a day and as many as 15 million page hits a month.

Like many non-profit organizations in Lincoln, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) functions entirely on volunteer support and donations. Kappa Alpha Theta's annual 5K Pace Race for Kids raises money to donate to the operating budget for Lancaster County's CASA organization. This year, the event raised more than $4,300 for CASA. Race organizer Rachel Mann and CASA volunteer Alex Ball explain the process of organizing the 5K and the effect this fundraiser will have on CASA.