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Northwestern to Appeal Players Union Ruling

northwestern-universityEVANSTON, Ill. (AP) — Northwestern University has confirmed it will appeal a federal agency’s ruling that its football players can create the United States’ first union of college athletes.

In a statement Friday, Vice President for University Relations Alan Cubbage says Northwestern “believes the decision overlooked or completely ignored much of the critical testimony supporting the University’s position that student-athletes are not employees.”

He also says the decision “applied incorrect legal standards.”

A regional director of the National Labor Relations Board ruled Wednesday players at the Big Ten school qualify as employees under federal law and therefore may unionize.

Union lawyers argued players are part of a commercial enterprise that generates huge profits.

The Evanston, Ill.-based university says it will file a request for review to the full board by April 9.

Selig Says MLB Revenue Could Top $9 Billion

mlb bigBRISTOL, Conn. (AP) — Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig says the sport’s revenue could top $9 billion this year.

Major League Baseball reached $8 billion for the first time in 2013, up from less than $2 billion when Selig became acting commissioner in 1992.

Selig also said a new drug agreement with the players’ association is imminent. The deal will increase penalties for first and second drug-testing violations but would allow an arbitrator to reduce penalties for some banned drugs if a player can prove a positive test was caused by unintentional use.

Lincoln Man Gets Jail for School Fracas

jail(AP) — A 19-year-old man has been given nearly a year in jail for trying to force his way into Lincoln North Star High School last year.

Online court records say William Holloway pleaded guilty to assault, trespassing and disturbing the peace. Prosecutors dropped three other charges in exchange for Holloway’s pleas. He was sentenced on Thursday in Lancaster County District Court.

Prosecutors say Holloway and two friends fought with two guards and a school administrator on March 1, 2013, while trying to enter the school. The school was put on lockdown for a time.

Holloway was on parole for robbery, so he was returned to prison for 11 months.

Lincoln Transit System Acquiring Natural Gas Buses

city-of-lincoln(AP) — A Lincoln transit system official says a third of its bus and minivan fleet will be running on compressed natural gas within two years.

StarTran manager Mike Davis said five new buses that run on compressed natural gas should arrive and be in service by early August.

StarTran plans to buy eight more compressed natural gas buses and 11 compressed natural gas vans as replacement vehicles. Eventually, a third of its 75 vehicles will fuel up on compressed natural gas.

Brandy Johnson of Black Hills Energy says greenhouse gas emissions from compressed natural gas buses are 20 percent to 30 percent cleaner than the most efficient diesel bus.

 

Neb. Woman Makes Deal in Perjury Case

gavel-more(AP) — A Milford woman has made a plea deal and been convicted in a perjury case.

Betsy Smith pleaded no contest earlier this week to attempted perjury. Prosecutors had lowered the charge in exchange for her plea. Her sentencing is scheduled for May 12.

Prosecutors say Smith had sought a protection order against a York man, saying he was going “to slit her throat.” She later acknowledged under oath that the man had never threatened to hurt her.

Prosecutors also say Smith lied in a deposition for a criminal case and provided police with false information so they’d start a criminal investigation.

Wisconsin Woman Sues Neb. Strip Club Over Wages

lawsuit-settlement(AP) — A Wisconsin woman is suing an eastern Nebraska strip club where she dances, saying the owner of Shakers of Waverly has not paid her or other dancers an hourly wage or overtime in the three years she has worked there.

Elizabeth Mays says in the lawsuit filed Thursday that the strip club considers its exotic dancers independent contractors to avoid paying hourly wages and overtime.

Vince Powers, an attorney for Mays, says she and other dancers fit the legal definition of employees, because the strip club regulates when and how long they will work, what they wear, how long they dance. He says the dancers are even required to clean the bathrooms.

Powers also points to a 2001 Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Court ruling against Shakers that found dancers are employees.

Omaha Police Give Details of Bus, Vehicle Crash

bus-accident(AP) — Authorities have released more details about a collision in Omaha involving a school bus and a vehicle.

The Omaha Police Department says a vehicle driven by 19-year-old James Jones struck a school bus Thursday afternoon. Jones is accused of driving at a high speed when his vehicle rear-ended the bus.

A police report says Jones told authorities his brakes failed. He and a passenger in his vehicle, 18-year-old Kahla Barnes, were taken to a local hospital.

A driver and several children in the bus were not injured. The report says Barnes suffered facial lacerations. Additional information about the injuries was not released.

Jones received a citation for driving too fast for the conditions, and not having proof of car insurance. He has a court appearance scheduled in April.

Omaha Lawyer Disbarred in 2008 Reinstated

ne-supreme-court(AP) — An Omaha attorney disbarred six years ago after a client lodged a complaint against him is now able to practice law again in Nebraska.

Stephen Smith filed a petition for reinstatement last March, and the Nebraska Supreme Court granted the request on Friday. The state’s high court said Smith’s failure to respond properly to the disbarment charges was due in part to depression.

The high court noted that Smith sought treatment and has taken a course in trust account management. Several letters of recommendation also called for Smith’s reinstatement, and the state’s Council for Discipline did not object.

Smith’s reinstatement is subject to 2 years’ probation, during which time he must retain — at his own expense — an accountant to audit his trust account every six months.

NSP Seeks Help in Finding Quadriplegic’s Stolen Wheelchair

state-patrol-logoThe Nebraska State Patrol is asking citizens for help in finding a wheelchair stolen from its owner as he traveled through Nebraska.

A 29-year old Minnesota man called the Nebraska State Patrol on Wednesday, March 26, to report that his wheelchair had been stolen from outside his parked vehicle. The man, who is a quadriplegic, was traveling with two friends from Colorado to Minnesota on March 21.  They parked to rest overnight on a frontage road just south of the Interstate 80, Alda Exit in Hall County.  The wheelchair was placed outside of the car to allow for the seat to recline. On the morning of March 22, when they went to get the chair, it was gone.

The wheelchair, a TiLite brand, black, custom Aero Z model with spingergy rims, is valued at $5,000.

“We’re hoping someone can help us return this chair to its owner,” said Lt. Dennis Leonard, Troop C-Grand Island.  “If anyone has heard anything or has perhaps seen an online ad matching the description of the stolen chair, we ask that they give us a call.”

Anyone with information that could help in the recovery of the stolen wheelchair is asked to contact the Troop C –Grand Island Headquarters at 308-385-6000.

Bruno Wegner


Wegner Bruno

Bruno Wegner, age 69 of North Platte, passed away Wednesday March 26, 2014 at his home.
Bruno was born on April 23, 1944 in Smiegel-Keis Kosten (Wartegan), Poland to Edward and Ottilie (Friske) Wegner. He was one of seven children born to the couple. He lived several miles east of Berlin, Germany through the summer of 1946 then moved to Bodenheim and Hamburg, Germany. Sponsored by a church, the family immigrated to the United States in early 1952. They worked on a ranch near Kingman, KS and in November of 1954 the family moved to Windsor, CO. While in school, Bruno was granted US citizenship. He graduated from high school in 1964 then served in the US Army for 3 years. After leaving the service Bruno worked for Weld County (CO) Highway Department in Greeley, CO for 31 years until retiring in 2002. He then drove truck for 6 years, retiring completely in 2008. On August 2, 1970 Bruno married Gloria Williams in Johnstown, CO. To this union Bruce and Dale were born. Bruno and Gloria divorced in 1992. On March 22, 1996 Bruno married the love of his life, Beverly “Bev” J. Kautz, in Elwood, NE.
Bruno is survived by his wife Bev; sons Bruce Wegner of Aurora, CO, Dale (Gloria) Wegner of Kersey, CO; stepchildren Marian Randall of Stapleton, NE, Kenneth (Lynette) Winters of Nebraska City, NE, and Bruce (Trish) Winters of North Platte; grandchildren Misty (Jarrett) Winters-Smolarkiewicz of Hays, KS, Kenneth (Ashley) Winters, Jr. of Worthington, MN, George (Fiancé Macy) Winters of Lincoln, NE, Rick (Amanda) Winters of North Platte, Jordan Winters of Centralia, WA, Ryan, Faith and Hope Winters of North Platte; great grandchildren Ajoni and Kiros Smolarkiewicz, Landon, Anthony and Jesse Winters, Carter Eagle Road, and Elizabeth Sue Winters; 2 sisters Selma and Laura; as well as numerous other family members and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings Paul, Helmut and twin sisters Anna and Olga; grandson Roy Lee; and brother-in-law Ernie.
Memorials are suggested in his name and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com. Funeral services will be 7:00 p.m. Monday March 31, 2014 at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home with Pastor Dean Bailey presiding. Cremation was chosen and those wishing to do so may sign the register book on Monday from 9:00 a.m. until service time at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.

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