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Neb. Senator Wants Minimum Wage Ballot Measure

Sen. Jeremy Nordquist
Sen. Jeremy Nordquist

(AP) — A state senator is working on a possible ballot measure to increase Nebraska’s minimum wage.

Sen. Jeremy Nordquist of Omaha issued a call for supporters Thursday to help gather the 80,000 signatures needed by early July. Nordquist has launched a website, ValuingWork.com, as part of an effort to place the issue on the November ballot.

A bill that would have raised Nebraska’s minimum wage from $7.25 to $9 an hour died in the Legislature in March, after lawmakers fell five votes short of the support needed to advance it through a first-round vote.

Nordquist says a ballot measure would propose raising the wage to at least $9 an hour. He points to a January poll of Nebraskans, in which 60 percent of respondents said they favored raising the wage.

Man Removed from Plane in Omaha Pleads Not Guilty

gavel-and-scale(AP) — A man removed from a Southwest Airlines aircraft in Omaha after he allegedly tried to open a door during the flight has pleaded not guilty to charges and will undergo a psychiatric evaluation.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas Thalken says a federal grand jury returned an indictment against 23-year-old Joshua Carl Suggs, of Sacramento, Calif. He will be evaluated then returned to federal court for a competency hearing.

Suggs has been charged with interfering with a flight crew in connection to the April 13 incident. The California-bound flight was diverted to Omaha after Suggs allegedly pushed his way past a flight attendant and tried to open a door. Several passengers helped restrain him.

Suggs’ attorney, James Martin Davis, requested the evaluation. He says his client needs help.

Amazon Launches Grocery Service for Prime Members

amazon(AP) — Amazon is taking aim at grocery stores and discounters like Wal-Mart with a grocery service that lets its Prime loyalty club members fill up to a 45-pound box with groceries and get it shipped for a flat rate of $5.99.

The mega online retailer says the service, called Prime Pantry, will offer Prime users an expanded selection of items that they usually pick up in grocery stores, in addition to larger in-bulk groceries more commonly ordered online, at competitive prices. Some items now available are single boxes of Cheerios, a six-pack of Bounty paper towels and Coca-Cola fridge packs.

Amazon has been bulking up services for its Prime membership program since it increased the annual membership price to $99 from $79 in March to help offset rising shipping costs.

Omaha Daycare Owner Pleads No Contest in Baby’s Death

ne-supreme-court-gavel(AP) — An Omaha day care owner accused of failing to report child abuse has pleaded no contest.

Jennifer Schmaderer, owner of Grow with Me Day Care, entered the plea Thursday.

Schmaderer is accused of failing to report the actions of Sarah Cullen, a former employee at the day care. Cullen was found guilty in March of child abuse resulting in death. A child under her care in late February 2013 died after suffering a fractured skull and massive bleeding.

Prosecutors in court presented incidents where questionable actions by Cullen at the day care were not reported by Schmaderer.

The no contest plea means Schmaderer does not admit guilt, but concedes there’s enough evidence to convict her. She will be sentenced on July 24.

Dawson Co. Traffic Stop Nets 206 Pounds of Pot

POT-BUSTA traffic stop on Interstate 80 in Dawson County led to the seizure of 206 lbs. of marijuana and two arrests.

Around 9:30 a.m., Thursday, April 24, a trooper stopped an eastbound 2013 Chrysler minivan about two miles west of the Overton exit on I-80 for lane departure/failure to maintain lane. A Dawson County Sheriff’s Department canine indicated the odor of drugs coming from the vehicle. A search of the vehicle led to the seizure of 206.3 lbs. of marijuana. The marijuana in vacuum sealed bags was contained in six trash bags in the cargo area of the minivan.

The driver of the vehicle, Mailee Xiong, 44, and a passenger in the vehicle, Xou Vang (M), 43, both of St. Paul, Minnesota, were both lodged in the Dawson County Jail each on a charge of Possession with Intent to Deliver.

Residents of Wyoming Town Allowed to Return

explosion(AP) — Residents of a small town in southwestern Wyoming are being allowed to return home nearly 22 hours after an explosion at a natural gas processing plant forced their evacuation.

No injuries were reported in the explosion at about 2 p.m. Wednesday in Opal (oh-PAL’). The town of about 95 people about 100 miles northeast of Salt Lake City was evacuated as a precaution against further explosions and smoke.

Lincoln County spokesman Stephen Malik said that the evacuation order was lifted shortly after 11:30 a.m. Thursday.

Malik says a fire is still burning at the plant but authorities say it and the smoke no longer pose a risk.

There’s no immediate word on what caused the explosion.

Known for Glove, Nolan Arenado Improving at Plate

Nolan Arenado Colorado RockiesDENVER (AP) — Already known for his hit-robbing glove, Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado is working on becoming more of an all-around player.

He sends Troy Tulowitzki batting practice video for evaluation and has cool hitting conversations with Justin Morneau in the cold tub.

The education of Arenado as a hitter is coming along quite well, with the second-year player off to a sizzling start at the plate. He’s in the midst of a 14-game hitting streak that’s elevated his average to .290 and his place in the batting order to the second spot.

Colorado opens a three-game trip to Los Angeles on Friday with a chance to take over first place in the NL West.

Government to Review Northwestern Bid to Unionize

northwestern-universityWASHINGTON (AP) — The National Labor Relations Board has granted Northwestern University’s request that it review its ruling that football players at the university are essentially employees of the school with full collective bargaining rights.

It said a previously scheduled vote by Northwestern football players on whether to unionize could go forward Friday but ballots would be impounded for now.

The Chicago office of the National Labor Relations Board ruled on March 26 that Northwestern scholarship football players are essentially employees of the school — and thus have the right to form a union and exercise full collective bargaining rights. Northwestern is appealing the potentially far-reaching decision, insisting that its scholarship athletes are students first and don’t have collective bargaining rights.

The full five-member federal board is now weighing the appeal request.

Ex-Nebraska Medical Student Loses Appeal

ne-supreme-court(AP) — The Nebraska Supreme Court has again dismissed an appeal by a former University of Nebraska Medical Center student who says the school discriminated against him when it kicked him out.

The student filed the lawsuit after he was dismissed in 2006 for poor performance. He filed anonymously as John Doe and served as his own attorney, accusing UNMC, various staff members and the university Board of Regents of breach of contract, fraudulent concealment and violating the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.

Doe says he told officials he was chronically depressed, but school officials denied that.

The state’s high court previously rejected Doe’s breach of contract and fraudulent concealment claims. On Friday, it found that a lower court was right to dismiss Doe’s remaining discrimination claim.

Public Service Commission Gives Warning to Neb. Ridesharing Companies

uber ridesharing(AP) — The Public Service Commission has sent warnings to two ridesharing companies that they need the commission’s permission to offer services in Nebraska.

On Monday the commission issued letters to Lyft and Uber, two San Francisco companies that use smartphone applications to link motorists and people who would pay for rides. Passengers pay through the app and can even tip electronically.

Uber operates in more than 70 cities around the world. Lyft, which is known for pink mustaches on front bumpers, does business in more than 20 U.S. cities.

Commission director Mark Breiner said during a hearing Tuesday that the companies have advertised on Facebook and Craigslist for drivers in Omaha, Lincoln and Columbus. The commission didn’t take any action at the hearing, and company representatives didn’t appear.

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