April 2014 – Page 66 – North Platte Post Archive

Nebraska Anti-Discrimination Measure Faces Criticism

Posted on April 4, 2014

(AP) — A bill that would protect Nebraskans against job discrimination based on their sexual orientation is facing resistance in the Legislature.

Lawmakers began debating the issue on Thursday before adjourning for the weekend.

The measure would ban employee discrimination based on the sexual orientation or gender identity. It would apply to public employees, government contractors and private companies with 15 or more workers. Religious organizations, including schools, would be exempt.

Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln, who introduced the bill, says no one should be fired for who they are or who they love.

Sen. Beau McCoy of Omaha says it could force companies to violate their own religious beliefs, or risk losing their business.

Debate resumes on Monday.

2nd Man Convicted in Omaha Triple Slaying

Posted on April 4, 2014

(AP) — A second man has been convicted of first-degree murder in the 2012 shooting deaths of an Omaha man and his two teenage sons.

Timothy Britt was recently found guilty of three counts in connection to the July 2012 deaths of 44-year-old Miguel Avalos, 18-year-old Miguel Avalos Jr. and 16-year-old Jose Avalos.

Another man, Anthony Davis, was found guilty of three counts of first-degree murder and other charges in March. Witnesses testified during a two-week trial for Davis that the men went to the Avalos home to steal drugs and money.

Davis was sentenced to life in prison. Sentencing for Britt has been scheduled for May 29.

Police: Equipment Stolen from Ex-Husker’s Trunk

Posted on April 4, 2014April 4, 2014

(AP) — Police say a former Nebraska defensive end had more than $1,300 in Husker football equipment stolen from the trunk of his car while he was away playing for the Cleveland Browns.

Eric Martin told police his white Nebraska football helmet, more than 13 jerseys, three pairs of game pants and a pair of football cleats were missing from his 2003 black Ford Focus.

Police Capt. Danny Reitan says Martin, who played for Nebraska from 2009 to 2012, left the car with a friend in Lincoln around May 27 while he was in Cleveland.

The car was ticketed several times and ultimately towed from a restaurant parking lot on Jan. 9. Martin reported the items stolen Thursday.

North Platte Weather-Weekend

Posted on April 4, 2014April 4, 2014

Today: Sunny, with a high near 54. Northwest wind 7 to 13 mph.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 29. South wind 6 to 13 mph.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 61. South wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34. South southeast wind 8 to 11 mph.
Sunday: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 56. South wind 6 to 9 mph becoming north northeast in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Sunday Night: A chance of showers, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 54. Breezy.

Fun Tournament, Cloudy Future for NCAA

Posted on April 3, 2014

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The tournament that began with the lure of a billion-dollar bracket will come to a close at a billion-dollar stadium outside of Dallas.

Big as March Madness and the Final Four have become, they’re not big enough to blot out the storm clouds on the horizon. The NCAA has issues looming — among them, the possible unionization of players and a lawsuit challenging the NCAA’s ban on paying players.

If the NCAA loses either case, it would threaten almost everything. That includes its most lucrative and intoxicating event: The basketball tournament, which is celebrating best-in-a-generation TV ratings, a record number of overtime games and a staple of big-name programs — Florida, Wisconsin, Connecticut and Kentucky — that made it through hours of entertaining action en route to the Final Four.

Body Found Near Omaha Shopping Mall

Posted on April 3, 2014

(AP) — A body was discovered near Omaha’s Westroads Mall, and police are investigating.

The body was found Thursday in some bushes near an office building northwest of the mall.

The body was reported to police shortly before 2 p.m.

Few details about the body were released immediately.

Ethanol Producers Complain About Rail Service

Posted on April 3, 2014

(AP) — Ethanol producers say clogged rail lines and other shipping problems have forced them to reduce production of the fuel and contributed to higher prices.

The Renewable Fuels Association criticized railroads Thursday and triggered a strong response from the Association of American Railroads.

RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen says railroads should take the blame for ethanol prices jumping more than $1 a gallon between early February and late March.

AAR CEO Ed Hamberger acknowledges rail traffic slowed in certain areas, but he says it’s preposterous to suggest the rail network is in disarray.

Hamberger says railroads have done their best to deal with an exceptional winter, sizeable grain harvest and increased coal demand.

Railroads have hauled 6.8 million carloads this year — about 2 percent more than last year.

Dodge County Shorts Tax Disbursements by $2.3 Million

Posted on April 3, 2014

(AP) — Officials say a computer glitch led to 44 entities in Dodge County being shorted about $2.3 million in tax disbursements in 2011 and 2012.

Representatives of Terra Scan, the software provider for the county treasurer’s office, told county officials Wednesday that a miscommunication between their software and the county assessment office’s software led to the problem.

The problem came to light last month when Logan View and North Bend Central school districts said they were shorted nearly $900,000 over 2011 and 2012. Since then, the county has learned of 42 others that did not get the tax money they were due.

County Treasurer Cathy Dill says she will send letters to each affected entity, and the money owed will be dispersed in May.

Neb. Man Pleads Not Guilty to July 4 Blast Charges

Posted on April 3, 2014

(AP) — A 63-year-old David City man has pleaded not guilty to charges in connection with a pipe bomb explosion during a July 4 celebration that seriously injured a teenage family member.

Russell Hilger pleaded not guilty Wednesday to second-degree assault, misdemeanor assault and five counts of criminal mischief. The charges carry a maximum combined sentence of 22 years in prison.

Hilger is accused of stuffing a 2-foot steel pipe with gunpowder and towels and lighting it at a family gathering at Ernst Lake. The pipe blast sprayed shrapnel that tore into the abdomen of 14-year-old Lauren Campbell of David City.

She lost her spleen and part of her pancreas, but has otherwise recovered.

A trial date for Hilger has not been set.

Stanton Rallies Marlins Past Rockies 8-5

Posted on April 3, 2014

MIAMI (AP) — Giancarlo Stanton singled home the go-ahead run with two outs in the eighth inning, capping a comeback to help the Miami Marlins beat the Colorado Rockies 8-5 Thursday.

Casey McGehee had two hits and three RBIs for the Marlins, who scored 27 runs while winning three of four games in the season-opening series. Miami finished last in the majors in runs and batting last year and lost 100 games.

The Marlins were 1 for 15 with runners in scoring position for the afternoon before Christian Yelich made the score 5-all in the eighth with a two-out RBI single off Matt Belisle (0-1). Yelich stole second — with the call confirmed by a replay review — and Jeff Baker walked.

Yelich scored easily when Stanton singled after falling behind 0-2, and McGehee followed with a two-run single. McGehee has eight RBIs and Stanton seven in the season’s first week.