April 2014 – Page 52 – North Platte Post Archive

Neb. Bill to Require Autism Coverage Advances

Posted on April 9, 2014April 9, 2014

(AP) — Nebraska lawmakers have advanced a bill that would require insurance companies to offer coverage for autism therapy.

The measure won first-round approval on Wednesday after several failed attempts to attach it to other bills in the final days of this year’s session. The sponsor, Sen. Colby Coash of Lincoln, said earlier this week that he wasn’t going to drop the issue even though the bill’s prospects looked bleak.

The proposal would allow for up to 25 hours per week of covered therapy, until the insured person turns 21 years old.

It also would also end a 2015 sunset date for a law that allows coverage for oral cancer drugs, and require coverage to pay for a special formula that treats a rare children’s digestive disorder.

Man Guilty of Murder in Death of 93-Year-Old Omaha Woman

Posted on April 9, 2014April 9, 2014

(AP) — A 20-year-old man has pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the rape and beating death of a 93-year-old Omaha woman in a deal that spared him the death penalty.

Sergio Martinez-Perez entered the plea Wednesday in Douglas County District Court and was immediately sentenced to life in prison.

Police say Perez broke into the south Omaha house Louise Sollowin had occupied for more than 70 years in July and raped and beat her. She died three days after the attack from her injuries. Prosecutors say Perez told investigators he attacked Sollowin because he was drunk and “angry with women.”

He was initially charged with first-degree murder, first-degree sexual assault, first-degree assault and burglary. Prosecutors had planned to seek the death penalty until his plea Wednesday.

National Walk at Lunch Day to Benefit Nebraska Trails

Posted on April 9, 2014April 9, 2014

LINCOLN – On April 30, Nebraskans from across the state will make time to walk for 30 minutes at lunchtime.

In doing so, they’ll take part in National Walk at Lunch Day, an annual event intended to encourage participants to engage in healthy lifestyle choices. Participants will also help raise money for the Nebraska Game and Parks Foundation.

For every organization that registers walkers for the annual event, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska will contribute $20 to the Nebraska Game and Parks Foundation and the Special Olympics Nebraska. The Foundation will use donations to develop and improve hiking and biking trails. The $8,000 generated last year for Game and Parks led to the construction of new trails at Platte River State Park.

“Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska is dedicated to promoting healthy living across Nebraska,” said Kathy Nellor, wellness business consultant at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska. “As a result, it makes sense to support the Nebraska Game and Parks Foundation and its biking and hiking statewide trails system.”

All together, the Game and Parks statewide system offers more than 1,200 miles of trails.

“The Game and Parks Foundation is grateful for the support of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska and this annual event,” said Roger Kuhn, Parks Division Administrator for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. “National Walk at Lunch Day helps enhance our trails, which in turn enhance our state park system.”

Schools, businesses, organizations and individuals can visit nebraskablue.com to register. Participants can choose a convenient time and place to walk – perhaps one of the state’s many trails.

In 2013, more than 57,000 Nebraskans registered to take a 30-minute walk at lunch. Most walked with their business or school, and in all, more than 360 organizations participated. This year, Blue Cross and Blue shield of Nebraska is hoping to register 62,700 walkers, a 10 percent increase from last year.

Walking is part of a healthy lifestyle that can lower the risk of heart disease, increase weight loss and improve sleep.

LeMahieu Leads Rockies to 10-4 Win over White Sox

Posted on April 9, 2014

DENVER (AP) — D.J. LeMahieu’s two-run single broke a tie in a six-run eighth inning, sending the Colorado Rockies to a 10-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday.

LeMahieu finished with three hits, including an RBI double in the sixth that tied the game at 4.

Colorado broke open the game in the eighth with its biggest inning this season. Justin Morneau started the rally with a single off Scott Downs (0-2). The Rockies sent 10 batters to the plate, with LeMahieu coming up with a big hit to center. Pinch-hitter Josh Rutledge and Michael Cuddyer added run-scoring singles, while Carlos Gonzalez hit a two-run double down the line.

Rex Brothers (1-0), who got two outs in the eighth as the Rockies took two of three in the series from the White Sox.

Chicago lost right fielder Avisail Garcia after he jammed his left shoulder diving for LeMahieu’s low liner in the sixth. The teams said X-rays were negative for a fracture or a separation.

Family Fishing Events Scheduled for 2014

Posted on April 9, 2014

LINCOLN – Another spring and summer of family fishing fun is scheduled with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s Family Fishing Events.

Family Fishing Events provide opportunities for people of all ages who have never fished or have not fished in years to learn and enjoy the activity. Rods and reels, as well as bait and fishing instruction, will be available for free. Look for the Family Fishing Trailer at each site. Appropriate fishing and park permits are required.

All events are from 6-8 p.m., unless otherwise noted. The schedule is:

April 28 – Terry’s Pit, Scottsbluff, 5-7:30 p.m.; May 10 – Fort Kearny State Recreation Area (SRA), Kearney, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; May 28 – Lake Halleck, Papillion;May 29 – Holmes Lake, Lincoln

June 3 – Skyview Lake, Norfolk; June 4 – Pawnee Park East, Columbus; June 7 – Yanney Park, Kearney, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m.; June 10 – Fremont Lakes SRA No. 3, Fremont; June 11 – Benson Park Pond, Omaha; June 11 – Recharge Lake, York;June 17 – Walnut Creek Reservoir, Papillion; June 18 – Bowling Lake, Lincoln; June 21 – Carp-O-Rama, Pawnee SRA, Emerald, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.; June 24 – City Pond, North Platte; June 25 – Cottonmill Lake, Kearney; June 26 – Mormon Island SRA No. 1, Grand Island

July 8 – Johnson Lake, Fremont; July 9 – Holmes Lake, Lincoln; July 10 – Lake Halleck, Papillion; July 12 – Carp-O-Rama, Maloney Reservoir, North Platte, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.; July 15 – Skyview Lake, Norfolk; July 16 – Pawnee Park East, Columbus; July 22 – Bowling Lake, Lincoln; July 23 – Benson Park Pond, Omaha

Aug. 6 – City Pond, North Platte; Aug. 7 – Mormon Island SRA No. 1, Grand Island;Aug. 8 – Fort Kearny SRA, Kearney; Aug. 12 – Lake Halleck, Papillion; Aug. 13 – Holmes Lake, Lincoln; Aug. 14 – Recharge Lake, York; Sept. 20-21 – Missouri River Outdoor Expo, Ponca State Park, Ponca, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Gordon Homers, Drives in 4 as Royals Beat Rays 7-3

Posted on April 9, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Alex Gordon hit a three-run homer and matched a career high with four RBIs, leading the Kansas City Royals to a 7-3 rout of the Tampa Bay Rays in their series finale Wednesday.

Nori Aoki, Johnny Giavotella and Billy Butler also drove in runs for the Royals, who have struggled to find offense all season. They had only scored more than four runs once in their first seven games, and lost 1-0 to Tampa Bay the previous night.

Jeremy Guthrie (2-0) recovered from a sloppy start to hold the Rays to four hits over seven innings. The only run he allowed came on Desmond Jennings’ homer in the fourth.

The Royals broke the game open with a five-run fifth off Jake Odorizzi (1-1), who was part of the blockbuster trade in 2012 that brought James Shields from Tampa Bay to Kansas City.

The Royals went ahead on Butler’s RBI groundout and Gordon’s run-scoring single in the fourth inning.

Lorenzo Cain singled off Odorizzi to lead off the fifth, Aoki followed two batters later with a triple to right, and the flood gates were open.

Giavotella, recalled from Triple-A Omaha to replace injured second baseman Omar Infante, hit a sacrifice fly to make it 4-1. Hosmer and Butler followed with back-to-back singles, and Gordon popped a pitch to right-center that hung up long enough in the wind to land over the fence.

It was a rough way for Odorizzi to return to Kauffman Stadium, where he made his big league debut with the Royals in 2012. He allowed all seven runs on 10 hits and a walk in five innings.

The Royals squandered a scoring chance with runners on first and second and one out in the second inning when Mike Moustakas struck out and Gordon was thrown out heading to third.

Royals manager Ned Yost trundled onto the field and challenged the call. After a review of 2 minutes, 10 seconds, the ruling made by third base umpire Quinn Wolcott was upheld.

It hardly mattered the way the Royals were swinging — and the way Guthrie was pitching.

The right-hander, who turned 35 on Tuesday, was coming off a rough start against the White Sox. But Guthrie navigated trouble in each of the first three innings, leaving five Rays on base, and then retired his final 12 batters to hand the lead to his bullpen.

Kelvin Herrera gave up two runs in the ninth for Kansas City.

Notes: The Royals activated RHP Louis Coleman (bruised finger) from the DL and optioned RHP Aaron Brooks and LHP Donnie Joseph to Omaha prior to the game. … Rays 3B Evan Longoria reached base three times. … The Rays visit Cincinnati for a three-game set this weekend. They’ve never won at Great American Ball Park. … Kansas City plays 13 of its next 16 on the road beginning Friday night in Minnesota.

Committee Approves Bill Naming Peak After Reagan

Posted on April 9, 2014

(AP) — About the only thing former President Ronald Reagan doesn’t have named after him is a mountain, not one recognized by the federal government anyway.

Now, Republican Rep. Joe Heck of Nevada is pushing a bill that would name a part of Frenchman Mountain, located just east of Las Vegas, after the nation’s 40th president.

The House Natural Resources Committee approved Heck’s bill by voice vote Wednesday, but not before some Democrats had fun with the issue.

One suggested that Yucca Mountain, site of a proposed nuclear waste depository, be named after Reagan. Another suggested the whole planet.

The bill is likely to pass the House but stall in the Senate. A spokeswoman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says he has higher priority land bills for Nevada, his home state.

UNL’s Behlen Observatory Set Free Viewing Night

Posted on April 9, 2014

(AP) — The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Behlen Observatory will be open free for public viewing on Friday night.

Provided the sky is clear, visitors will be able to see several celestial objects with the observatory’s 30-inch telescope and with smaller telescopes set up outside. Objects include the moon, Jupiter, a star cluster and double stars.

The evening’s events begin at 7:30 p.m. A member of the observatory staff will present a program starting at 8 p.m.

The observatory is in the eastern Nebraska town of Mead. More information can be found on the observatory website, https://astro.unl.edu/observatory .

Fremont Ready to Enforce More Immigration Rules

Posted on April 9, 2014

(AP) — Fremont police will begin issuing occupancy licenses on Thursday as part of the city’s ordinance aimed at combating illegal immigration.

Fremont is one of only a handful of cities trying to restrict illegal immigration and, like those other cities, has found itself mired in court fights because of the regulations. City leaders put the ordinance on hold after the 2010 vote while courts reviewed it. A portion requiring employers to use the federal E-Verify system already has been implemented.

In February nearly 60 percent of voters decided to keep the housing portion of the ordinance.

Police Chief Jeff Elliott said that each rental property occupant 18 or older must obtain an occupancy license. The ordinance doesn’t affect people living in rentals before Thursday.

Changes to Neb.’s Language Arts Standards Require Deeper Thinking

Posted on April 9, 2014

(AP) — Officials say the proposed revisions in state language arts standards would require deeper thinking from Nebraska students.

Tricia Parker-Siemers of the Nebraska Education Department says the revisions would require students “to do deeper thinking and to explore that thinking either verbally or in writing and to support their thinking with research and facts.”

The revisions would update the 2009 standards for kindergarten through 12th grade, spelling out what skills students must master in reading, writing, listening and speaking.

The Nebraska State Board of Education on Tuesday approved releasing the proposals for public feedback.

Another focus of the updates is strengthening standards on the use of digital technology and social media.