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Posted: 05/20/13 09:33

Nebraska landowners who want to create or protect habitat for wildlife are invited to tour well-managed lands in the state. The Nebraska chapters of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever are hosting tours of 17 different locations in the state this spring and summer. The tours began Thursday with a cedar tree removal project near Linwood. The final event is a rangeland management workship on Aug. 16 in Holt County. The tours are meant to show habitat management practices in action and provide information on how landowners can take part in conservation programs. More details about the free tours are available online at www.nebraskapf.com .

Posted: 05/20/13 09:30

Authorities say tornadoes have touched down in Wichita, Kan., and a suburb of Oklahoma City but there are no immediate reports of injuries or significant damage. Officials say they are "very grateful" about the few reports of damage from the tornado that touched down near Wichita Mid-Continent Airport shortly before 4 p.m. CDT Sunday. A tornado also reportedly grazed the Oklahoma City suburb of Edmond before heading toward a sparsely populated area. There were reports of debris but no injuries or traffic crashes. The National Weather Service described the tornado as "large, violent and extremely dangerous" and said it was moving northeast at 30 mph.

Posted: 05/20/13 09:23

Hastings Utilities water rate increases for 2014 will be considered as long as results of a water rate study are in hand by budget time. At the May 2 meeting, the Hastings Board of Public Works discussed the idea of conducting a new rate study and if it would be possible to have the results back prior to the budget hearing in November. During Thursday's meeting, HU manager Marv Schultes said the firms he had spoke with about the proposal say that having the results in by October for budget preparation is a reasonable request. The issue before the board now is how much the rates will need to increase to cover the cost of a $45 million water treatment plan proposed by consulting firm HDR Inc. of Omaha

Posted: 05/20/13 09:25

A longtime faculty member at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln has been chosen as director of the Great Plains Veterinary Education Center in Clay Center. The university says Dr. Dale Grotelueschen served most recently as the managing veterinarian for beef cattle veterinary operations at Pfizer/Zoetis. He also served on the university's faculty, and was the director of the Panhandle Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Scottsbluff. Grotelueschen is a member of the Nebraska Veterinary Medical Association, the American Veterinary Medical Association and Nebraska Cattlemen. He will assume his new position on July 1.

Posted: 05/20/13 09:25

Eugene T. Mahoney State Park will be the site of a run to raise money for wildlife conservation next month. The 10K Run Wild trail run on June 1 will feature participants in a wild-animal costume. Registration fees for the race are $45 through Friday. The fees include a T-shirt and park entry for the day of the race, and proceeds go to the Nebraska Wildlife Conservation Fund. The fund helps thousands of nongame species that call Nebraska home. For more information or to register, visit the Run Wild site online at www.RunWildNe.org.

Posted: 05/20/13 09:27

Lawmakers are planning to review why few Nebraska students who receive free and reduced-price lunches also participate in the federal funded breakfast program. Of students who take part in the lunch program, the Food Research and Action Center finds only two states have fewer students who also eat free or reduced-price breakfasts. The group finds that four out of 10 students who participate in the lunch program aren't part of the breakfast program, even though the income requirements are the same. Sen. Bill Avery of Lincoln has asked legislative staff to study the matter to see whether there are barriers to participation. The Legislature's Education Committee will hear public testimony on the issue later this year. Depending on what's found, Avery said he might introduce legislation next year.

Posted: 05/20/13 09:22

Ag Processing Inc. of Omaha announced late Friday that the corn processing plant in Hastings will not be reopening. The corn processing plant that makes ethanol was put on a temporary shutdown Feb. 1 because of a slowdown in the economy, high corn prices and low oil prices that reduced ethanol consumption.
AGP stated Friday in a news release that it would be permanently shutting down the corn processing operation. Matt Caswell, vice president of corporate relations with AGP in Omaha, said the age and high utility costs associated with operation of the Hastings plant led to the decision. Most of the plant's 43 employees found jobs within AGP's other operations in Hastings. AGP also operates a soybean processing plant, vegetable oil refinery and an AminoPlus production facility in the city. APG says none of those facilities have been impacted by the ethanol plant's closure.

Posted: 05/17/13 08:13

On September 9, 2012, 13-year-old Seth Ostrander, a 7th grader at Adams Central, was diagnosed with a brain tumor located near his optical nerves. Surgeries will be done in stages, so his eyesight won't be compromised. The family just learned last week the Seth will have to go through chemotherapy treatments.  Michael Gennarelli is a part of team “SO Strong” who is putting on a benefit for Seth, and the Ostrander family. The benefit will be this Sunday, from 11am to 3pm at the Hastings City Auditorium. Gennarelli says that Seth is a very athletic and fun kid. He's full of life and hope for his future. 

Posted: 05/17/13 08:13

A House committee has approved a sweeping farm bill that would trim the $80 billion-a-year food stamp program. Democrats wanted to keep the program whole. The legislation would cut about $2.5 billion a year from the domestic food aid program, which is used by 1 in 7 Americans. Congressman Adrian Smith made the following statement regarding passage “Passage of a responsible, long-term Farm Bill is among my highest priorities and this weeks markup in the Agriculture Committee was a step in the right direction. Smith goes on to say I look forward to reviewing the details of the bill passed by the committee and allowing the legislative process to work.  Given the importance of farm policy to our agriculture economy, it is critical we not only pass a bill, but also to ensure we get the policy right.” Senator Mike Johanns has grave reservations about the Farm Bill approved by the Senate Agriculture Committee. Johanns told colleagues on the committee the bill doesn't save the money it claims and takes a step backward in farm policy.

Posted: 05/17/13 08:14

The carcasses of hundreds of dead fish have floated to the surface and collected along the banks of Lake Hastings in Hastings. Parks superintendent Terry Brown is blaming Mother Nature, saying, "We don't have a clue." Only shad carcasses have been seen, although there are bass, carp, catfish and crappie in the lake.
Brown says his staffers won't be collecting the carcasses, letting Mother Nature run its course. He says some people have been using the carcasses as bait for other fish.

Posted: 05/17/13 08:15

A Missouri man convicted of killing a Nebraska woman more than 20 years ago has lost his bid for a new trial. Judge Karin Noakes ruled against the appeal filed by John Oldson. His filing said there was new evidence to consider. In February, a Howard County jury found the 46-year-old man from Randolph, Mo., guilty of second-degree murder. He was charged with killing 31-year-old Catherine Beard, a waitress from Ord. She disappeared in 1989. Her remains were found outside Ord in 1992. Oldson, who used to live in Ord, was interviewed in 1989 but not arrested. He was arrested a year ago in Missouri, based on new evidence and information from witnesses.

Posted: 05/16/13 08:48

The Stuhr Museum Foundation announced a recent $1 million gift to the “Gem of the Prairie” Capital Campaign from Sharon and Lanny Martin of Denver, Colorado. This gift brings the total of the “Campaign to Rejuvenate the Gem of the Prairie” to nearly $6 million with a goal of $7 million. The money is being raised to renovate and restore the historic Stuhr Building, designed by world renowned architect Edward Durell Stone more than 50 years ago. Significant work is needed to address the building’s failing systems and to update the museum’s main exhibit building and visitor’s center to the 21st century.

Posted: 05/16/13 08:49

Lawmakers have given final approval to a funding bill that divides state aid among Nebraska's large and small public schools. The 47-0 vote on Wednesday followed a series of contentious debates in the Legislature. The funding is intended to fill the gap between school-district needs and their local resources. The formula includes funding allowances for districts that offer longer school years and more highly educated teachers. Smaller, rural districts will receive that funding even if property values and their tax levies prevent them from qualifying for other state aid. The bill is now headed to Gov. Dave Heineman.

Posted: 05/16/13 08:50

State lawmakers have advanced the budget to final reading, but not until they once again discussed the governor's plane. Earlier, lawmakers rejected spending 2-point-2 Million dollars to buy a King Air from the University of Nebraska Foundation, opting instead to study the issue. Senator Galen Hadly of Kearney sarcastically suggests to colleagues that perhaps they are micro-managing a bit and sees nothing wrong with the proposal to purchase the plane from the University of Nebraska Foundation. Governor Heineman had proposed, and the Approrpriations Committee accepted, buying the plane from the foundation. The state currently pays the foundation 10,000 dollars a month to rent the plane.

Posted: 05/16/13 08:51

Motorists in Hall County can expect DUI checkpoints and high visibility patrols during a special Nebraska State Patrol enforcement effort focused on reducing the risk of alcohol related crashes. “We all know drinking and driving is a dangerous combination,” said Captain Chris Kolb, Troop C Commander. “Through special enforcement efforts such as the one planned this weekend we hope to raise awareness of the need for voluntary compliance as we work together to save lives on our roads.” The special enforcement paid for thanks in part to a $2,375 grant from the Nebraska Office of Highway Safety (NOHS), is planned for Friday, May 17.

Posted: 05/15/13 08:21

Today supporters of LB 577, the bill to adopt the Affordable Care Act’s new Medicaid program in Nebraska, will hold a public rally at the Nebraska State Capitol to call for an up-or-down vote on the bill. A small group of state senators are preventing this bill from coming up for a vote. The rally will be held on the west steps of the Capitol at 5:30.

Posted: 05/15/13 08:21

U.S. Sen. Mike Johanns a former Secretary of Agriculture, voted against advancing out of committee a farm bill that he says relies on budget gimmicks and outdated policy. Senator Johanns believes our country needs a long-term, reform-minded farm bill, especially in the midst of a prolonged drought, and looks forward to opportunities to offer fixes during the amendment process. Despite his opposition, the bill passed in the committee by a vote of 15-5.

Posted: 05/15/13 08:22

Gas prices have spiked again going up more than ten cents over the last day, and it could happen again. Prices on the futures market and wholesale gas price have spiked violently in the Midwestern markets. Prices in Hastings yesterday were averaging around $3.69 a gallon, and it could go up another 20 cents over the next week or so. Experts say some of the price hike is speculators looking for money in the markets. Some of it also comes down to a switch to summer gas blends.

Posted: 05/15/13 08:18

A proposal to abolish the death penalty in Nebraska is dead for the year. Supporters failed to muster the 33 votes needed to force an end to debate in the Legislature. The vote was 28-21 to cut off a filibuster. The failure to reach a vote on the bill pushes it to the bottom of the Legislature's agenda. The measure was introduced by longtime Sen. Ernie Chambers, who has fought for nearly four decades to end capital punishment. Chambers says he will introduce a repeal measure again next year. Nebraska has 11 men on death row. The last inmate executed in Nebraska was Robert E. Williams, who was electrocuted in 1997.

Posted: 05/14/13 09:44

A "test vote" in the Legislature suggests that a majority of Nebraska lawmakers want to abolish the death penalty, but there may not be enough support to overcome a filibuster. Supporters of the repeal measure initiated the procedural vote on Monday to publicly gauge their backing. The vote suggests that 26 of the 49 state senators support the repeal, while 18 want to keep the death penalty in place. Five did not vote. The vote came after roughly four hours of emotional debate. The repeal measure was introduced by longtime state Sen. Ernie Chambers, who has fought for decades to end capital punishment. Lawmakers would need at least 30 votes to override Gov. Dave Heineman's veto, and 33 to force an end to debate.

Posted: 05/14/13 09:45

A Seward man has stepped forward to claim his $2 million Powerball Power Play prize. Lonnie White learned Thursday that he'd won. White says he stopped at the Gas N Snaks store on Jackson Avenue in Seward to check the results from Wednesday's drawing. White says that when the store clerk told him how much the Powerball ticket was worth, White said "Holy cow! I won!" The numbers were 21, 22, 26, 30, 57 and Powerball 27. White's ticket matched all but the Powerball number. The lottery says this is the second $2 million Power Play Powerball ticket sold in Nebraska since the game was upgraded in January 2012. Mark Davies, of Bennington, won a $2 million prize in August 2012.

Posted: 05/14/13 09:45

A Seward man has stepped forward to claim his $2 million Powerball Power Play prize. Lonnie White learned Thursday that he'd won. White says he stopped at the Gas N Snaks store on Jackson Avenue in Seward to check the results from Wednesday's drawing. White says that when the store clerk told him how much the Powerball ticket was worth, White said "Holy cow! I won!" The numbers were 21, 22, 26, 30, 57 and Powerball 27. White's ticket matched all but the Powerball number. The lottery says this is the second $2 million Power Play Powerball ticket sold in Nebraska since the game was upgraded in January 2012. Mark Davies, of Bennington, won a $2 million prize in August 2012.

Posted: 05/14/13 09:41

Last night the Hastings City Council voted unanimously to pursue the proposal Mayor Vern Powers will present to obtain the Veterans Home. The Veterans Home is currently located in Grand Island but is in need of repair. Hastings is currently competing with Grand Island, Kearney and North Platte for the project. The Veterans Home would house about 225 vets and 400 employees. Mayor Vern Powers is confident that Hastings will present the best proposal that would be best for our veterans. The deadline to submit the proposal is in June.