August 2013 – Page 9 – North Platte Post Archive

Fast-Food Strikes Set for Cities Nationwide

Posted on August 29, 2013

(AP) — Fast-food customers in search of burgers and fries on might run into striking workers instead.

Organizers say thousands of workers are set to stage walkouts in dozens of cities Thursday to push McDonald’s and other chains to pay higher wages.

It’s expected be the largest nationwide strike by fast-food workers, according to organizers. The biggest effort so far: About 2,200 of the nation’s millions of fast-food workers this summer staged a one-day strike in seven cities.

This follows a series of strikes that began last November in New York City, then spread to other cities. Workers say they want $15 an hour, which would be about $31,000 a year for full-time employees. That’s more than double the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour, or $15,000 a year.

UNL, USDA Release New Wheat Variety

Posted on August 29, 2013

(AP) — The University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the U.S. Department of Agriculture have released a new wheat variety that was developed for dryland farms.

Husker Genetics Brand Freeman is named for Daniel Freeman, who is recognized as the first person to file for a homestead under the Homestead Act of 1862.

UNL agronomist P. Stephen Baenziger says the wheat variety is particularly well-suited for dryland farmers throughout Nebraska and in states to the north and west.

Varieties developed by the UNL-USDA partnership typically comprise 60 to 65 percent of the wheat grown in Nebraska.

The Freeman variety is not recommended for irrigated production, because other wheat types are better for those conditions.

Nebraska Officials to Ask Businesses About Broadband

Posted on August 29, 2013

(AP) — Nebraska officials want to learn about how businesses are using broadband Internet technology so they can help the companies grow and become more efficient.

Lt. Gov. Lavon Heidemann announced Wednesday that the state is inviting businesses to participate in the new project. The Nebraska Broadband Initiative is launching a statewide survey in early September and giving up to 500 businesses a personalized scorecard.

The scorecards will include ideas on how to better use broadband technologies to earn a better return on the investment. Those businesses will also have the opportunity to work with a business broadband coach.

Businesses interested in participating should contact Jim Keeler, the University of Nebraska’s broadband business manager, at 402-472-4235 or jkeeler8@unl.edu.

Teens Arrested in String of Omaha Robberies

Posted on August 29, 2013August 29, 2013

(AP) — Police have arrested three teenagers and are looking for fourth suspected of robbing nearly a dozen people in Omaha.

The robbery reports started flowing in to police about 7:40 p.m. Tuesday and continued until around 1 a.m. Wednesday.

The victims reported being accosted while walking or running by two or more robbers. Guns were brandished in many of the robberies.

The robbers took wallets, cellphone and other personal items. Some minor assaults were reported as well.

Officers have recovered some of the loot.

Worker Crushed by Truck Axle in Alliance

Posted on August 29, 2013

(AP) — A 46-year-old man has been killed in a workplace accident in western Nebraska.

Alliance authorities say a preliminary autopsy report and investigation show that the death of Juan Vasquez was accidental.

His employer discovered Vasquez’s body in an Alliance garage on Monday afternoon. Police say the Hemingford man was working alone when he was crushed by a large truck axle. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

North Platte Weather August 29th-Ready for a Cool Down?

Posted on August 29, 2013

Today: Sunny and hot, with a high near 99. South wind 3 to 6 mph.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 64. East southeast wind around 6 mph becoming west southwest after midnight.
Friday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 99. West northwest wind around 6 mph becoming light and variable.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 64. East wind around 6 mph becoming calm after midnight.

Rockies’ Chacin Takes No-Hitter into 7th

Posted on August 29, 2013August 29, 2013

DENVER (AP) — Jhoulys Chacin did not allow a hit until there were two outs in the seventh inning and hustled for a crucial RBI to help the Colorado Rockies beat the San Francisco Giants 5-4 Wednesday night.

Vying for the second no-hitter in franchise history and second ever at Coors Field, Chacin (13-7) tied a season high with nine strikeouts. Brandon Crawford’s single to center field was the only hit Chacin allowed in seven innings. He also yielded an unearned run.

The crowd of 27,268 gave Chacin a standing ovation after Crawford’s hit.

Troy Tulowitzki and Wilin Rosario had two hits each for Colorado, which built a 5-1 lead through six innings.

Perez Homers Twice, Leads Duffy, Royals Past Twins

Posted on August 29, 2013

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Salvador Perez had four hits and two home runs, Danny Duffy pitched 6 2-3 shutout innings and the Kansas City Royals beat the Minnesota Twins 8-1 Wednesday night.

Perez hit two-run homers in the fourth and eighth innings to power the Royals to their fourth straight win.

Duffy (2-0) was called up from Triple-A before the game and replaced the struggling Wade Davis in the rotation. He allowed five hits and struck out seven in his third start for Kansas City since having elbow surgery last June.

The Twins struck out 10 times and set the club record for strikeouts in a season with 31 games to go. Minnesota batters have fanned 1,127 times, breaking the previous mark of 1,121 set in 1997.

NPCC Knights Defeat Concordia University JV

Posted on August 29, 2013

The North Platte Community College Lady Knights (5-0) took to the road for the first time this season to defeat the Concordia University Lady Bulldogs JV 3-1 (25-20, 25-19, 19-25, 25-11). The first three sets were tightly contested battles with the Lady Knights winning the first two sets before dropping the third. The Knights then dominated the fourth set to secure the victory.

Despite a slow start the Lady Knights were able to win the first and second game 25-20 and 25-19. In the third set the game was back and forth with neither team able to create separation. The Lady Knights were able to create a little breathing room at 15-12. However the Lady Bulldogs went on a 13-4 run to end the third set to claim the victory. In the fourth set the Lady Knights would leave no doubt as they raced out to a 9-1 lead and would never look back on the way to a dominating 25-11 victory and a 3-1 victory.

The Lady Knights were led by Sandrina Hallahan with 10 kills and three blocks. Kylie Wroot had 9 kills for the Lady Knights. Joli Hopping led the Knights with 19 assists and Laura Beckman had 17. Shannon Liewer led the Knights with 19 digs. Sabrina Hallahan and Beckman each had three service aces for the Lady Knights.

“I was a little disappointed in our slow start,” said head coach Sally Thalken. “We didn’t play with much discipline or enthusiasm tonight. We will need to change that to be competitive this weekend.”

The Lady Knights return to action this Friday and Saturday as they travel to Colby, Kan. to compete in the Colby Classic. The Lady Knights open up the Classic on Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. against Highland Community College then return to the court the next day at 10 a.m. to face the host Colby Community College. The tournament is concluded for the Lady Knights as they take on Trinidad State Community College at 12 p.m.

Woman Bitten by Black Rhino at Denver Zoo

Posted on August 28, 2013

(AP) — The Denver Zoo has indefinitely suspended a program that let visitors pay to touch and feed a rhino after a black rhinoceros bit a woman’s finger.

The zoo says the woman was taken to a hospital Wednesday after Mshindi the rhino bit her finger while she was feeding it. The woman’s condition wasn’t disclosed.

Zoo officials called the incident a “terrible accident” and said they don’t think the rhino was trying to harm her.

The zoo this year started offering a rhino “meet and greet” in which visitors who paid an extra $60 were offered a chance to touch and feed a rhino. Other zoos have had similar programs.

The Denver Zoo says it will report the accident to its accrediting agency, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.