We have a brand new updated website! Click here to check it out!

Month: September 2013

Nebraska Groups Promote New Insurance Marketplace

Posted on

enroll-nebraska(AP) — Health care advocates are launching a campaign to help Nebraska residents get health insurance under the federal health care law.

A new group, “Enroll Nebraska,” has formed to show residents how they can enroll through the new health insurance marketplace, which opens on Oct. 1.

Community health groups throughout the state have been hiring and training insurance “navigators,” to help guide residents through the process. The marketplaces allow consumers to comparison shop for health insurance and see whether they qualify for federal subsidies.

State Sen. Jeremy Nordquist of Omaha says the marketplace will allow thousands of people to gain access to health care and get help to pay for coverage.

Health care groups plan to speak about the enrollment process this week in Scottsbluff, Grand Island and Lincoln.

GPRMC Invites Public to ‘Sign the Steel’ Celebration Event

Posted on

great_plainsGreat Plains Regional Medical Center (GPRMC) will be celebrating the construction of its new patient tower at the Great Plains Sign the Steel event on September 28 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the hospital’s east entrance. The event is open to the public and offered free-of-charge.

“The construction of the new patient tower at Great Plains Regional Medical Center is one of the largest construction projects in the history of our community,” said Fiona Libsack, vice president of marketing and communications. “The positive impact it will have on the many patients we serve, the growth of our medical community and the local economy is staggering The Great Plains Tower Festival is just one way that we can celebrate the impact of this exciting project together with our community.”

In keeping with its name, the event will also give the community an opportunity to “sign the steel” that will be used to erect the new patient tower.

The event, which will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. on the east side of the hospital’s main campus, will feature live entertainment, Fun Jumpz inflatables for kids, a Java Junction balloon artists, Snowball Express snow cones and much more. The entertainment line-up includes:

  • Hospital bed races sponsored by Great Plains Health Care Foundation. From 1 to 2 p.m., attendees will be able to watch local businesses compete for the title of “bed race champion.”
  • Wellness demonstrations and performances.
    • 2:00 to 2:15 p.m.               North Platte High School Cheerleaders and Pacers
    • 2:15 to 2:30 p.m.               Kettlebell demonstration
    • 2:30 to 2:45 p.m.               Bling dancers
    • 2:45 to 3:00 p.m.               Yoga demonstration
    • 3:00 to 3:15 p.m.               The Stage dancers
    • 3:15 to 3:30 p.m.               Jazzercise demonstration
    • 3:30 to 3:45 p.m.               Hershey High School Swing Choir
    • 3:45 to 4:00 p.m.               CrossFit demonstration

Health awareness and tower project information booths will feature interactive activities and wellness-related information. Featured booth sponsors include Great Plains Pediatrics, Great Plains Heart & Vascular Center, Callahan Cancer Center, Great Plains Health Care Foundation, Great Plains Sports & Therapy, Great Plains Volunteer Auxiliary and the Great Plains Get Moving Club. The booths will be open to the public from 1 to 4 p.m.

“The Great Plains Tower Festival will offer our community, no matter what age,  a fun afternoon filled with local entertainment, wellness demonstrations, tower project information and health education,” said Libsack. “Our hope is that our community comes out in large numbers to celebrate the construction of the new patient tower and the part it plays in the transformation of local health care.”

Flooding Devastates Coloradans with No Flood Insurance

Posted on

sterling-flooding

(AP) — Thousands of people who don’t have flood insurance could face staggering costs to rebuild after last week’s devastating floods in Colorado.

And they may be dismayed to learn that aid from the government is limited, and focused primarily on getting them temporary help with renting a new place or paying for relatively minor repairs on their homes.

For residents who lack flood insurance to cover bigger, longer-term costs, their only option might be a low-interest government loan or community-based relief groups.

More than 7,200 homes and businesses were damaged or destroyed in Larimer and Boulder counties, the hardest-hit areas of Colorado. But the Federal Emergency Management Agency says fewer than 6,000 people in those two counties had flood insurance.

It’s unknown how many of the insured homes and businesses suffered flood damage.

Larimer County insurance agent Eric Weedin calls it heartbreaking.

Down the Drain: Grand Island Expects Big Hike in Sewer Rates

Posted on

city-of-grand-island(AP) — Sewer rates in Grand Island will likely soar for the next few years to pay for $73 million in improvements.

The City Council will likely approve 12 percent increases this year and next year, followed by a 6 percent raise in 2015 and 5 percent in 2016.

Councilman Mitch Nickerson says “the sticker shock on a project like this is alarming,” but it appears officials have little choice.

The improvements to the wastewater treatment plant and sewer collection system as well as billing process upgrades are long overdue.

Public Works Director John Collins says most of the sewer system is about 50 years old. Officials have postponed major maintenance projects for a decade and now, Collins says the system is in “theoretical structural failure.”

Nearly 200 Dropped from Nebraska Insurance Program

Posted on

DHHS(AP) — Nebraska officials have pulled nearly 200 people out of a state program that helps pay for private health insurance when doing so is cheaper than billing through Medicaid.

The decision by the Department of Health and Human Services followed a state audit that uncovered lax oversight of the Medicaid-related program. Department spokesman Russ Reno said Wednesday that 455 cases were reviewed by the first week of July.

Of those recipients, 240 were notified that there wasn’t enough information to show that it was cost-effective for Medicaid to pay their premiums.

Reno says 186 were deemed cost-effective. The remaining 29 were disqualified from Medicaid altogether.

Reno says 75 recipients have filed appeals. Of those cases, 52 were submitted in time for recipients to continue receiving payments while their case is reviewed.

Judge Approves Bankruptcy Plan for Archway Monument

Posted on

archway-monument(AP) — A bankruptcy judge has approved a debt-restructuring plan for the Great Platte River Road Archway in Kearney.

The judge in federal bankruptcy court said Wednesday that archway organizers must pay $100,000 to settle the more than $20 million owed to bondholders, creditors and vendors.

The foundation that runs the attraction requested those conditions as part of its reorganization plan. The next step will involve collecting community pledges to pay the debt. Officials want to use any remaining pledges to pay legal expenses, and later boost attendance and cover deferred maintenance.

The tourist attraction that spans Interstate 80 has struggled financially for years. Officials filed for bankruptcy in March.

 

Big Ten Defenses Under Aerial Attack

Posted on

Big-Ten-LogoThree weeks into the season, half of the Big Ten’s defenses are under aerial attack.

Six of the conference’s teams are allowing 250 or more yards passing a game.

Nebraska gave up big yards in a 41-21 loss to UCLA. Coach Bo Pelini said his defense looked good at times. But they gave up big yardage in the decisive third quarter.

Illinois coach Tim Beckman says his team failed to pressure Washington quarterback Keith Price in a 34-24 loss. Price threw for 342 yards.

Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald’s team is giving up 319 yards a game. He says he hopes weak defenses don’t mean an offensive explosion is ahead in conference play.

Statement from Tom Osborne, University of Nebraska Athletic Director Emeritus

Posted on
Tom Osborne (file photo)
Tom Osborne (file photo)

“I was asked for comments concerning the recent incident involving Coach Pelini by members of the press and felt that it was inappropriate to respond until University officials had reviewed the situation.

“After the comments were made public on Monday, I informed the Chancellor and Director of Athletics that I had become aware of the tape involving Coach Pelini last fall, about a year after the Ohio State game in 2011 when the comments were recorded.   After I had listened to the tape I visited with Coach Pelini about it and expressed my concerns. Bo had not heard the tape at that time.  I visited with all my coaches regularly about their conduct and language throughout my tenure as Athletic Director.

“While the comments were certainly not good, I realized that Bo had gone through an emotional week and an emotional game and was in a setting where he thought his comments were entirely private.  I visited with Bo on a weekly basis and did not find that his attitude toward the fans or the press as expressed by those comments were at all in keeping with what I knew his true attitude to be.  He understands that the most important asset the Athletic Department has is the amazing fan support that we enjoy.

“Bo’s academic record with the football team has been the best in my recollection.  The behavior of his players has been excellent for the most part, he has won three divisional championships and had one of the best win-loss records in college football for the past five years.  I recognize that there have occasionally been controversies but I have seen a willingness to change, reflect and improve in Bo over the years.  I am very hopeful that the players, coaches and fans will pull together as unity of purpose has been one of our major assets over the last 50 years.”

Statement from UNL Chancellor Perlman, Director of Athletics Eichorst

Posted on
UNLLincoln, Neb., Sept. 18, 2013 – University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor Harvey Perlman and Director of Athletics Shawn Eichorst issued the following joint statement today:
“The comments made by Head Football Coach Bo Pelini in 2011, published Monday, are unfortunate and deeply concerning to us, as they would be to anyone who loves this university. Our coaches, staff and student-athletes must be held to a high standard and Coach Pelini’s remarks were unfair to the legions of Nebraska fans and not what we expect from a representative of this university. Former Director of Athletics Tom Osborne became aware of these comments and the existence of a recording more than a year ago, and addressed the matter with Coach Pelini. We have observed, and many others have commented, that Coach Pelini’s demeanor has significantly improved since the time of this incident. Coach Pelini has given us his assurance that he understands the seriousness and inappropriateness of his comments. We believe he is sincere in his apology and in his regret. We are prepared to put the matter to rest. Our football student-athletes, coaches and staff deserve all of our support and we know the Nebraska faithful will be there for them.”
Copyright Eagle Radio | FCC Public Files | EEO Public File