(Scottsbluff, Neb.)- The Nebraska State Patrol conducted surprise commercial vehicle inspections today, Wednesday, June 20, in Scottsbluff/Gering.  The surprise inspections target commercial vehicles that might not travel outside the city or pass through weigh stations as part of their regular routes.

During the special enforcement effort, the Metropolitan Aggressive and Prevention Selective (MAPS) Teams conducted 53 inspections, discovered 236 violations, and took 20 vehicles out of service (not allowed to continue on the road).  Vehicles are placed out of service for a variety of reasons relating to bad brakes or tires, or other problems that pose immediate safety risks. In addition, five drivers were taken out of service (not allowed to continue driving) for No Commercial Drivers License (3), Driving Under Suspension (1), and No Log Book (1).  Officers issued a total of $2,525 in fines.

“The MAPS Team ensures truck operators who rarely leave the city limits are maintaining their vehicles and abiding by safety regulations,” said Colonel David Sankey, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “While most truck owners and operators share our concern for safety, we know some think they can ignore safety standards as long as they avoid the weigh stations. The MAPS Team extends our reach into cities and towns across the state.”

This was the 6^th MAPS Team event of 2012. Inspections have also been conducted in Lincoln, Grand Island, Sarpy County, Omaha & North Platte this year.  More surprise inspections are planned throughout the spring and summer in cities and towns across Nebraska.

The MAPS Team is funded largely by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Troopers check for compliance with federal safety regulations and enforce laws pertaining to weight, size, registration, dyed fuels, and permits associated with commercial vehicles. The MAPS Team was implemented in 1998 and consists of 36 troopers from the Nebraska State Patrol Carrier Enforcement Division. On average, 20-24 troopers work each MAPS event.

ALLIANCE, Neb. (AP) — A city official says a fuse problem required a cutoff of electricity for about three hours in Alliance.

Local media  says the outage began around 8:45 p.m. Wednesday.

City Manager J.D. Cox says a fuse problem cropped up at the Western Area Power Administration substation west of Alliance.

Cox says the utility had to disrupt power and shut down the substation in order to make repairs.

COLUMBUS, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Public Power District is cutting $15 million from its budget because mild weather led to lower electricity sales this year.

NPPD Chief Financial Officer Traci Bender told the local media that the cuts represent about 1.5 percent of the utility’s $950 million annual budget.

Bender says the mild winter and spring weather has reduced energy sales in Nebraska. And the low price of natural gas has reduced the market price for electricity sold outside the state.

NPPD doesn’t expect to lay anyone off. Instead the Columbus-based utility says it will leave some positions open, reduce outside consultants and delay some preventative maintenance and equipment purchases.

Bender says none of the proposed cuts will affect safety or reliability.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has awarded $8.3 million in contracts to restore the navigation channel along a nearly 120-mile stretch of the Missouri River in Iowa and Nebraska affected by last summer’s historic flooding.

The corps says the project is to repair a 300-foot-wide by 9-foot-deep channel between Sioux City, Iowa, and Rulo, Neb.

Dikes and other rock foundations are used to create the channel and prevent erosion along the bank. Many were damaged by the high water.

The repairs will take about 250,000 tons of rock and will involve cranes operating from barges. The project is in two sections — from Sioux City to Fort Calhoun, Neb., and from Fort Calhoun to Rulo.

Work is to begin within the week and be completed by September 2014.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Embattled Douglas County Election Commissioner Dave Phipps has announced a proposal to open another 27 polling places in the Omaha area for the November general election.

The move comes after Phipps endured scathing criticism for closing 180 of the county’s polling places before the May primary election.

The new plan announced Wednesday would also create another 30 precincts. Earlier this year, Phipps’ office had cut nearly half the county’s precincts to 185 from 354.

Phipps has said the cuts were made simply to save money, but critics charged that the changes would make it difficult for the poorest residents to vote.

Phipps’ office will gather public comment on the proposed changes through July 3.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Two years after voters in Fremont approved a controversial immigration ordinance, the rule remains mired in court and residents are still split about whether it addresses a serious problem or needlessly tarnishes the city’s image.

Residents say little has changed in the city since the ordinance was approved in June 2010 with 57 percent support.

Supporters say they pushed for the measure to compensate for lax federal enforcement of immigration laws. Opponents say the rule has created a lingering, painful divide in a city that has grown steadily in recent decades.

A federal judge rejected part of the ordinance in February that would have denied housing permits to illegal immigrants. But she upheld a requirement that businesses screen employees with federal E-verify software. The case is being appealed.

ALLIANCE, Neb. (AP) — Western Nebraska authorities continue investigating last week’s fatal standoff when a gunman wounded three officers and his pharmacist hostage before dying in a shootout with police.

Court documents say 27-year-old Andres Gonzalez told negotiators he killed 38-year-old Josh Bullock last December and told his girlfriend, 19-year-old Rose Siefke, he killed his father, 62-year-old Larry Gonzalez, before the June 12 standoff began.

Siefke is charged with helping conceal Bullock’s body. She appeared in court Tuesday, and is being held on $50,000 bond. Her attorney didn’t immediately respond to a message.

Box Butte County Attorney K.J. Hutchinson says autopsy results on Gonzalez and his father weren’t available Wednesday.

A grand jury will review Gonzalez’ death because police were trying to arrest him, but Hutchinson isn’t sure when that will happen.