May 2014 – Page 34 – North Platte Post Archive

Boating Safety Courses Offered Throughout Nebraska

Posted on May 19, 2014

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission says state-required boating safety courses are offered throughout the state.

State law requires that anyone who operates a motorboat or personal watercraft, born after Dec. 31, 1985, must complete a boating safety course. Operators also must have course certificates when operating the boats or watercraft.

People must be at least 14 to operate a motorboat or personal watercraft in Nebraska.

Go online at BoatSafeNebraska.org for a list of boating safety classes or to see boating regulations.

UNL Researchers Find Way to Help African Farmers

Posted on May 19, 2014

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A University of Nebraska-Lincoln researcher has discovered a way to help crops grow in stressful conditions.

The findings by university plant scientist Sally Mackenzie could improve the yields of farmers in Africa and other developing countries. The research is paid for with a nearly $3 million grant by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Mackenzie discovered a way to produce plants with strong growth, even in a harsh environment. In a variety of crops, the genetic enhancements translated into yields that were up to 35 percent higher than usual.

The traits that strengthened those plants remained stable in subsequent generations.

North Platte Weather – May 19

Posted on May 19, 2014

Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 83. South southeast wind 9 to 11 mph becoming north northwest in the morning.

Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 52. North northeast wind 8 to 13 mph.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. North northeast wind 8 to 11 mph.

Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 53. East northeast wind 7 to 10 mph.

Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 76. East northeast wind 8 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.

Wednesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55.

Morneau Hits Homer in 10th, Rox Beat Padres 8-6

Posted on May 18, 2014

DENVER (AP) — Justin Morneau hit a two-run homer in the 10th inning and the Colorado Rockies turned just the third triple play in team history as they beat the San Diego Padres 8-6 on Sunday.

After Carlos Gonzalez singled earlier in the inning, Morneau lined a 3-2 fastball from Dale Thayer (2-2) to straightaway center. The first baseman rounded the bases and flipped his helmet off after passing third. It was the second walkoff homer for Colorado this season.

Nick Masset (1-0) pitched a perfect 10th for his first win with Colorado. LaTroy Hawkins blew his first save in the ninth as he surrendered a game-tying two-run homer to Everth Cabrera.

The triple play in the third was Colorado’s first since Tulowitzki turned an unassisted one April 29, 2007, against Atlanta.

Seth Smith and Rene Rivera hit solo homers for the Padres, who return home following a 3-3 road excursion.

Gordon’s 2 HRs, 6 RBIs Power Royals past Orioles

Posted on May 18, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Alex Gordon went 4 for 4 with a pair of three-run homers and a career-high six RBIs as the Kansas City Royals beat the Baltimore Orioles 8-6 on Sunday.

Gordon drove a 1-1 pitch from Ubaldo Jimenez out to right with two outs in the fifth with Nori Aoki and Billy Butler aboard. Gordon, who led the Royals with 20 home runs last year, had gone 134 at-bats without a home run.

Gordon homered in his next at-bat, a three-run shot off left-hander Troy Patton in the seventh after Eric Hosmer walked and Butler doubled for his third hit.

Adam Jones hit a three-run homer off Royals reliever Aaron Crow in the ninth. It was the first runs Crow allowed in 20 relief appearances and 17 innings.

Greg Holland got the final two outs for his 12th save in 13 appearances.

Rockies Activate C Wilin Rosario

Posted on May 18, 2014

DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Rockies activated catcher Wilin Rosario from the disabled list Sunday and he was in the starting lineup against the San Diego Padres.

To make room on the roster for Rosario, the team optioned catcher Mike McKenry to Triple-A Colorado Springs.

Rosario dropped around 10 pounds as he dealt with a viral infection. Rosario said he’s not sure if he will beef back up to his weight of 228 pounds or stay around 219.

He said “if I hit the ball like this, I’m going to say here. If I need a little bit more weight, I’m going to go get it.”

He’s hitting .239 with three homers and 15 RBIs this season.

Caldwell Says He Anticipates Suh Will be at OTAs

Posted on May 18, 2014

ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — Detroit Lions coach Jim Caldwell says he anticipates that star defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh will be at organized team activities, which start this coming week.

Suh skipped the team’s voluntary minicamp last month. He has stayed away from voluntary workouts before during his career, and the two-time All-Pro has always gotten himself physically ready to play.

When asked Sunday if Suh would be with the team at OTAs, Caldwell replied: “Do I know that he’ll be here? I would anticipate that he would be here.”

Caldwell says Suh has great leadership ability, and to have him back with the group will be helpful.

Suh is entering the last year of his contract.

Survey: US Gas Prices Down 3 ½ Cents per Gallon

Posted on May 18, 2014

CAMARILLO, Calif. (AP) — The average price of a gallon of regular gasoline in the U.S. has dropped 3 ½ cents over the past two weeks.

Industry analyst Trilby Lundberg said Sunday that the price fell to $3.69 because supplies are meeting demand. She predicts prices will continue to drop but at a moderate pace as crude oil prices remain relatively strong.

Lundberg says the decrease comes after gas prices had climbed nearly 43 cents per gallon between Feb. 7 and May 2.

Of the cities surveyed in the Lower 48 states, Albuquerque, New Mexico, had the lowest price at $3.32 per gallon, and San Francisco had the highest at $4.17.

Babe Ruth’s Watch Fetches More Than $650,000

Posted on May 18, 2014

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A gold pocket watch owned by Babe Ruth has sold for $650,108 at an auction in Southern California.

SCP Auctions said Sunday that the watch was from the 25th anniversary celebration in 1948 of the opening of Yankee Stadium. The stadium came to be dubbed “The House That Ruth Built” because of the number of fans the baseball legend drew to the venue.

SCP says other top sales include a 1965 Sandy Koufax-autographed L.A. Dodgers home jersey worn in a game that fetched $268,664. The auction house says Satchel Paige’s 1971 National Baseball Hall of Fame induction ring set a world record for a baseball-related ring, selling for $259,642.

More than 1,000 sports memorabilia items were sold Sunday for a total of $4.5 million.

AT&T Agrees to Buy DirecTV in $48.5B Deal

Posted on May 18, 2014

DALLAS (AP) — AT&T says it is buying DirecTV for $95 per share, or $49 billion, a move that gives the telecommunications company a larger base of video subscribers and increases its ability to compete against Comcast and Time Warner Cable, which agreed to a merger in February.

Dallas-based AT&T’s proposed combination could improve its Internet service by pushing its existing U-verse TV subscribers into video over satellite service, and thereby free up bandwidth on its telecommunications network.

AT&T currently offers a high-speed Internet plan in a bundle with DirecTV television service. The acquisition would help it further reap the benefits of that alliance.

DirecTV would continue to be based in El Segundo, California, following the merger.

The companies expect the deal to close within 12 months following a government review.