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All of these articles are from the past 2 days.
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Private Conservation Land Opened To Ranchers
(Posted 07/24/2008.
Written by AP.
)
A federal judge in Seattle has cleared the way for an emergency program opening private conservation land to hay production and cattle grazing. Even though the USDA didn't conduct an appropriate environmental review before opening 24 million acres of private conservation land around the country to haying and grazing, it would be unfair to farmers and ranchers to stop the program because many were counting on using that land. That's the ruling by U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour. The land at issue is enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program. It's a $2 billion-a-year program which pays farmers not to plant crops in order to return fields to native vegetation.
HAGEL BACK FROM IRAQ
(Posted 07/24/2008.
Written by AP.
)
U.S. Sen. Chuck Hagel says gains made in Iraq are easily reversible if that nation's government can't take advantage and make political progress.
The Nebraska Republican, a harsh critic of President Bush's Iraq policy, accompanied Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on the trip. Hagel said he saw tactical gains in Iraq but that they came at a high price. Hagel said President Bush's decision last year to dispatch 30,000 more troops to Iraq has cost more than 1,000 American lives and billions of dollars. Asked how Republican Senate colleagues reacted to his traveling with the presumed Democratic nominee, Hagel said he hadn't really discussed it with them and, "I didn't ask their permission."
TAX BREAKS FOR STORM VICTIMS?
(Posted 07/24/2008.
Written by Sandy Conners.
)
Nebraska is included in a tax relief proposal introduced today in the Senate and House to help storm and flood victims in the Midwest. The nearly $4 billion measure would let disaster victims take money out of retirement plans without facing tax penalties. It also would give tax breaks to businesses that suffered losses and encourage more donations to charities. Other states included are Iowa, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin.
FORD LOSES BILLIONS
(Posted 07/24/2008.
Written by AP.
)
Ford has posted the worst quarterly performance in its history, losing 8.67 billion dollars in the second quarter. The company says it will retool two more North American truck and SUV plants to build small, fuel-efficient vehicles, and introduce six new small vehicles from Europe by the end of 2012.
MINIMUM WAGE INCREASES
(Posted 07/24/2008.
Written by Sandy Conners/AP.
)
Today is the day about 2 million Americans get a raise, because the federal minimum wage goes up 70 cents an hour. Here in Nebraska there are about 3-thousand people making the minimum wage. The raise -- from $5.85 to $6.55 per hour -- is the second of three annual increases required by a 2007 law. But the raise could mean you will pay more to go to the movies. That's because State Workforce officials say the lowest pay job here in Nebraska is in the motion picture business- or the people who take your ticket and sell you popcorn at the theatre.The other bad news may be that higher gas and food prices will likely swallow up that extra cash. Energy costs have soared nearly 25 percent. The price of food is up more than 5 percent. Then again, there's always next year: that's when another hike brings the federal minimum to $7.25 an hour.
POWERBALL JACKPOT GROWS
(Posted 07/24/2008.
Written by AP.
)
None of the tickets sold for the Powerball game Wednesday night matched all six numbers drawn, which were: 11-14-35-41-52 and the Powerball: 2.
Players matching all five numbers and the Powerball would have won or shared the $54.1 million jackpot. The prize goes to an estimated $64 million for Saturday. Tickets that match the first five numbers, but miss the Powerball, win $200,000 each, and there were three of those. They were sold in: New Hampshire (2) and Oregon. There were no Power Play Match 5 winners.
ARE SMALLER PICKUPS SAFE?
(Posted 07/24/2008.
Written by AP.
)
Safety questions are being raised about small pickup trucks, at a time when sales are up because of their improved gas mileage. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says several small pickups from the 2008 model year offer dismal protection in side crashes. Versions of the Chevrolet Colorado and its twin, the GMC Canyon, not equipped with optional side air bags earn the institute's lowest rating of "poor" in the side test. Several other pickups were judged "marginal," the second-lowest in the four-scale ratings. Safety institute president Adrian Lund says people thinking about buying a small pickup, "won't find many that afford state-of-the-art crash protection." A GM spokeswoman defends the vehicles. She says the institute's test simulates "a very severe crash," and says the Colorado and Canyon have performed well in other tests.
UNFIT TRUCK DRIVERS
(Posted 07/24/2008.
Written by AP.
)
Congressional investigators say there's a problem of unfit truck drivers on the road. A study expected to be released at a House Transportation Committee hearing today says it's so easy for truckers to fake a medical certificate that there's almost no incentive to get a real one. Officials from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will be on hand to explain why they haven't fully implemented recommendations made nearly seven years ago to keep medically unfit bus and truck drivers off the road. Statistics show that seizures, heart attacks and other ailments have been factors in thousands of serious truck accidents. No database or central repository exists allowing state inspectors to verify the legitimacy of a medical certificate.
FREMONT BAN ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS
(Posted 07/24/2008.
Written by AP.
)
A proposed law that would prohibit renting to or harboring illegal immigrants in Fremont, Neb., would now ban hiring as well. The revised ordinance under consideration by the Fremont City Council now calls for businesses in the city to use an Internet-based system to verify they aren't employing illegal immigrants. Under the proposal, the council would have the authority to revoke a business license, permit or contract or recall a grant or accelerate loan payments of a business found in violation. The ordinance is scheduled for discussion at the council's meeting Tuesday. A final vote is scheduled for August 26th.
SETTLEMENT FOR OFFICER'S TAINTED FOOD
(Posted 07/24/2008.
Written by AP.
)
The owner of a restaurant that served food tainted by an employee's spit and urine has agreed to pay $40,000 to a Sidney police officer and his family who ate the food. A Cheyenne County jury awarded the money to officer Keith Andrew and his family earlier this month. The restaurant had served them food in October 2005 that a Taco Bell employee had urinated and spit in. Initially, a spokesman for North Platte-based Mid Plains Food and Lodging, which owns the KFC/Taco Bell, said the company might appeal. One of Andrew's lawyers, Maren Chaloupka, says that the company and its insurer had decided to pay the judgment. The worker who prepared the tainted food for Andrew's family was later fired for missing work.
BLOOD DONORS NEEDED
(Posted 07/24/2008.
Written by Sandy Conners.
)
The cupboard is low. So Joyce Halverson with the Lincoln Community Blood Bank is requesting help. She says the blood types most needed (critically / dangerously low levels)are:
-B (positive & negative) at 1/4 of normal inventory
-O (negative) at 1/3 of normal inventory
She says maintaining a balance between the number of people willing to donate and the needs of the community is a daily challenge. If you can help, there are four locations, open as early as 6:15 am and as late as 7:30 pm depending on the day and location. Two locations (Fletcher & 84th) open Saturdays, 8 am -Noon.
Donor Requirements:
-17 years of age or older
-115 pounds or more
-in general good health
-Bring photo ID (driver’s license, passport, military ID, etc.)
The four locations are:
-2917 Pine Lake Road
-131 S. 13th
-84th & “O” Streets (open until 7:30 pm, Monday-Thursday)
-27th & Fletcher.
The appointment Line: 486-9414
Website: www.don8bld.org
BEEF TROUBLES
(Posted 07/24/2008.
)
The Nebraska Department of Agriculture has issued importation embargoes for beef cattle and bison entering the state from California and New Mexico. The embargoes are due to recent discoveries of animals with tuberculosis. The embargoes will require beef cattle and bison entering Nebraska from the two states to meet some standards set by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture. To learn about the standards, contact the state ag department by calling 800-572-2437
State Veterinarian Dr. Dennis Hughes said the embargo goes into effect immediately and that it should help safeguard the state's livestock.
FORMER TEACHER OUT ON BOND
(Posted 07/24/2008.
Written by AP/Sandy Conners.
)
A former middle school teacher from Omaha accused of having sex with a student years ago has turned herself in to police. A 21 year old man told police that he and Stephanie Draper had a sexual relationship more than six years ago when he an eighth-grader at Millard Middle School. The 35 year old Draper resigned last year after being questioned about the relationship.
REWARD
(Posted 07/24/2008.
Written by AP.
)
An anonymous donation of $20,000 has been made to help find out who killed a 21-year-old woman in Kearney. The organization Crimestoppers now has $30,000 to reward someone with key information on the death of Kelcey Fike. Police say her body was found June 17 in her burning home. Authorities will not release details on how Fike died, but they say the violent nature of her death indicates she knew her attacker. Police say they do not have a suspect. Fike moved to Kearney from her hometown of Monroe, Wis., about a year ago.
RAILROAD INDUSTRY DOING WELL
(Posted 07/24/2008.
Written by AP/Sandy Conners.
)
Higher energy prices aren't impacting the railroad industry. Union Pacific says its second-quarter earnings rose 19 percent, beating Wall Street's expectations. The Omaha-based company earned 531 million dollars. That's compared with 446 million dollars, or 82 cents per share, a year earlier. Revenue rose 13 percent, to 4.57 billion dollars, from 4.05 billion dollars in the 2007 second quarter. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial expected profit of 92 cents per share on revenue of 4.51 billion dollars.
TB IN OMAHA
(Posted 07/24/2008.
Written by AP/Sandy Conners.
)
An Omaha resident has been diagnosed with active tuberculosis, which is contagious. So state health officials are working with Douglas and Sarpy County health agencies on the case. Ten of the infected person's co-workers have been tested and have showed no signs of the disease, which can be spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. TB symptoms include a low-grade fever, night sweats, fatigue, weight loss and a persistent cough.
THAT'S A LOT OF GAS!
(Posted 07/24/2008.
Written by AP/Sandy Conners.
)
The U.S. Geological Survey says some 90 billion barrels of oil and nearly a third of the world's undiscovered natural gas sits untapped under an area north of the Arctic Circle. The area accounts for about a fifth of the world's undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and natural gas reserves. The oil is considered "technically recoverable" using existing technology. However, the cost of overcoming obstacles to drilling, such as permanent sea ice or deep ocean waters, isn't taken into consideration in the report. The USGS estimates about 84 percent of the undiscovered oil and gas is offshore, but most of it is still close enough to land to fall under national territorial claims. Much of the oil is off the coast of Alaska or in Russian provinces.
INTERSTATE POT BUST
(Posted 07/24/2008.
Written by Sandy Conners.
)
A pot bust on the interstate just after midnight this morning. A trooper stopped a Michigan man's eastbound SUV for speeding near mile marker 406. A search of the vehicle led to the seizure of 22 pounds of marijuana. The single bale of marijuana was located in a black duffel bag in the cargo area of the vehicle.The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, 45-year-old David Delacruz of Holt, Michigan was lodged in the Lancaster County Jail on a charge of Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Deliver.
Man in custody after hitting parked cars
(Posted 07/24/2008.
Written by Dale Johnson.
)
A 22 year old intoxicated Lincoln man turned himself into Police early Thursday morning after hitting five parked cars. Aaron Flowers hit the first car in the 2200 block of Dudley and just kept glancing parked cars until he hit one hard several blocks later. Around 3 Thursday morning, Flowers walked into a McDonalds at 27th and "W" and asked for police. The final impact disabled his 1994 Plymouth Caravan. Damages are estimated at over $11-thousand dollars. He was cited for DUI, Suspended License, no Seat belt, no Insurance, Careless Driving, and Leaving the Scene of an Accident.
Human case of West Nile confirmed
(Posted 07/24/2008.
Written by Dale Johnson.
)
It was only a matter of time. West Nile Virus has been confirmed in a Merrick County man. Grand Island health officials are checking out a possible case. Mosquitos have tested positive for West Nile in Lancaster County.
New Police and Fire Chiefs in Omaha
(Posted 07/24/2008.
Written by Jeff Motz.
)
Omaha has a new police chief and new fire chief. Eric Buske heads up police and Mike McDonnell runs the Fire Department. Buske has been interim police chief since Thomas Warren retired in January. McDonnell has been interim fire chief since Robert Dahlquist retired in December.
NUN RETHINKS JAIL
(Posted 07/23/2008.
Written by AP.
)
A 73-year-old Omaha Catholic nun sentenced to three to five years for theft is now saying she wants to withdraw her plea. Sister Barbara Markey says she wants a new trial or to receive a new sentence. Prosecutors say Markey embezzled more than $250,000 from the Archdiocese. She was fired as director of the archdiocese's Family Life Office in January 2006 after irregularities arose during an audit. Her attorney, Bill Gallup, says she did not enter her plea knowingly. Gallup also says a letter from the archdiocese may have influenced the judge's sentence.
TAKE IT TO THE BEACH
(Posted 07/23/2008.
Written by AP.
)
Nebraska coach John Cook backs a proposal that would put sand volleyball on track to become an NCAA-sanctioned sport. The Committee on Women's Athletics recently voted to recommend sand volleyball be added to the list of emerging sports. It would take 40 schools to sponsor the sport before it can become an NCAA championship. More than 40 schools already participate in spring sand volleyball tournaments. The American Volleyball Coaches Association proposes that teams consist of five doubles teams that would be ranked No. 1 through No. 5 - much like singles and doubles in college tennis. The team winning at least three matches would win. Cook says sand volleyball would replace the existing spring exhibition season.
STILL ON THE RADAR SCREEN
(Posted 07/23/2008.
Written by AP.
)
Bo Pelini says he's seen no indication that Nebraska has fallen off the radar screen in college football. The first-year Nebraska coach said there have been warm receptions wherever he and his assistants have traveled around the country. It's been a decade since the Cornhuskers have won a national title. Pelini says he realizes that 10 years seems like a long time to a 17-year-old prospect. Pelini said it helps that the parents and coaches of high school players are well aware of the history and tradition of Nebraska football. Pelini says he and his assistants have a great product to talk about with kids, whether discussing academics or athletics.
Fire damages truck rental shop
(Posted 07/23/2008.
Written by Jeff Motz.
)
Employees just getting to work at Penske Truck Rental near NW 40th and West "O" Streets Wednesday morning, saw black smoke inside the building. Firefighters got to the scene about 20 minutes before 8 and had some trouble finding where the fire was at. They quickly found it in one corner of the building and put it out within 15 minutes. Deputy Fire Chief Bruce Sellon told KFOR News at the scene they're still trying to find out what started it, but the fire did $45,000 in damage. No one was hurt.
STATE CASH RESERVE IS A BIG ONE
(Posted 07/23/2008.
Written by AP.
)
Legislative leaders will learn about state government's financial position during a meeting at the Capitol that is expected to be upbeat. Higher than expected tax collections has the state sitting on a $574 million cash reserve, its largest in state history. During the fiscal year that wrapped up at the end of the June, net tax receipts were $117 million more than projected.
UNADILLA MAN KILLED
(Posted 07/23/2008.
Written by AP.
)
A 55-year-old Unadilla man is dead following a one-car crash three miles west of Unadilla. Authorities say Harry Kempkes was driving west on state Highway 2 around 12:25 yesterday afternoon when he drove off the right side of the road and into a creek. Otoe County Sheriff's investigators say Kempkes was the only person in the car. He was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.
JUNKYARD BATTLE
(Posted 07/23/2008.
Written by AP.
)
Although an Ashland junkyard owner won't have to pay the big fine, he'll still have to abide by local ordinances. The Nebraska Appeals Court this week squashed the fine of more than $106,000 levied against Arlo Remmen. It sent the case back to Saunders County District Court for further proceedings. The Appeals Court said Remmen, who owns Ashland Salvage, didn't violate state environmental laws but had broken a local nuisance ordinance. The new decision could mean a new trial on the state issue, but that decision has not yet been made. Remmen and his lawyer also are considering their next legal steps. The city and the state Department of Environmental Quality sued Remmen, alleging the violations since 2003.
Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey |
NEW PUBLIC SAFETY LEADERSHIP FOR OMAHA
(Posted 07/23/2008.
Written by AP.
)
Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey has named Eric Buske the city's new police chief and Mike McDonnell the new fire chief. Buske had been interim police chief since Thomas Warren retired in January. McDonnell had been interim fire chief since Robert Dahlquist retired in December. The 46-year-old Buske was a finalist during Fahey's 2003 search for a police chief. The 42-year-old McDonnell previously was president of the fire union. Buske was chosen over Pitmon Foxall, Mark Sundermeier and Dave Baker. Assistant fire chiefs Perry Guido, Joe Fuxa and Anthony Lang also were in line for the fire chief's job.
ARSON FIRE ARRESTS
(Posted 07/23/2008.
Written by AP.
)
Two Aurora teenagers are charged with intentionally setting fire to Aurora's historic Fidelity Building. Juvenile court documents say 15-year-old Darrin Enderle and 14-year-old Jason Galvin were charged yesterday. Deputy Hamilton County Attorney Ross Luzum says the language in the charge is the same as second-degree arson, a felony when filed in adult criminal court. The teenagers had already confessed to starting the fire. The three-story building was destroyed by flames on July 10th. It was built in 1905, occupying a prominent spot on Aurora's downtown square. Fire officials say the building was valued at more than $87,000 and is a total loss.
GOVERNOR TO CHAIR NATIONAL COMMITTEE
(Posted 07/23/2008.
Written by Governor's Staff.
)
Governor Dave Heineman has been named chairman of the Education, Early Childhood and Workforce Committee of the National Governors Association (NGA) for the 2008-2009 year.
“I appreciate the opportunity to lead efforts in this area,” Gov. Heineman said. “Ensuring Nebraska students receive a quality education has been a priority for me since taking office. We’ve addressed several areas of school reform in recent years and this is an opportunity to continue discussions about the future of our nation’s education system. I’m eager to work with my fellow governors on the issues before this committee.”
The selection was announcement last week during the NGA’s 100th annual meeting in Philadelphia.
The Education, Early Childhood and Workforce Committee is one of the NGA’s four standing committees charged with addressing issues impacting early childhood, elementary and secondary education, as well as higher education.
ART DISPLAY OPENING
(Posted 07/23/2008.
Written by UNL Staff.
)
"Hinterlands," an exhibition of gelatin silver prints by Lincoln photographer Michael Farrell opens Aug. 1 at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Great Plains Art Museum. The landscape series runs through Oct. 31 and includes photographs from Nebraska, Wyoming and Colorado, and focuses on remote locations that the artist has visited numerous times over the years.
"The photographs displayed here are all from places characterized by very low population density, stark but striking landscape, relative inaccessibility, and not much conventional or commercial tourism appeal," Farrell said. "These are parts of Nebraska, Wyoming and Colorado where you can spend an entire day on back country roads or trails and not see another person. These places, even though they appear rugged or harsh, are also fragile environments that may not survive, as we experience them now, too far into the future."
Visitors are invited to a First Friday reception 5-7 p.m. Sept. 5. Farrell will also present a Paul A. Olson Seminar in Great Plains Studies, "Plain Speaking and Straight Shooting: Documentary Art in Flyover Country," at 3:30 p.m. Oct. 15. Both events are at the museum and are free and open to the public.
The Great Plains Art Museum, 1155 Q St., Hewit Place, is open to the public 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1:30-5 p.m. Sundays (closed Mondays, holiday weekends and between exhibitions). There is no admission charge.
Taco Bueno Robbed
(Posted 07/23/2008.
Written by Jeff Motz.
)
Police are looking for, who they describe, two black men in dark clothing who robbed the Taco Bueno near 84th and Leighton just before midnight. Captain Joe Wright tells KFOR News one of the men was armed with gun and both of them took off with some cash.
More jobs and company expansion coming to Lincoln
(Posted 07/23/2008.
Written by Dale Johnson.
)
It's true...Perot Systems of Dallas IS building a new office in the University of Nebraska Technology Park. The $23 million expansion would make it one of the company's largest, bringing 150 jobs on top of 1,000 already in Lincoln.
First Human Case of West Nile????
(Posted 07/23/2008.
Written by Dale Johnson.
)
A suspected human case of West Nile Virus in Grand Island would be the state's first this year. By this time last year, there were 10 cases. Last year, 146 human cases of West Nile were reported in Nebraska, resulting in 3 deaths.
LPS Test scores are about the same, with some changes
(Posted 07/23/2008.
Written by Dale Johnson.
)
Third grade reading and math test scores have increased 10 percentage points since 2002 in Lincoln's public schools. 5th grade reading scores haven't changed at all in the last 6 years. 7th grade reading scores have actually gone down 2%. Associate Superintendent for Instruction, Marilyn Moore, points out one big challenge is more students in poverty, more students with disabilities and more students not speaking English.
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