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Preliminary Nebraska Jobless Report 3.6 Percent in May

ne-dept-of-laborLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A newly released report says Nebraska’s preliminary unemployment rate was 3.6 percent in May.

That’s a tenth of a point below the revised April rate of 3.7 percent. April’s preliminary rate also was 3.6 percent.

The Nebraska Labor Department said in the report released Friday that the preliminary May rate is four-tenths of a point below the revised rate of 4 percent in May 2013.

The new Nebraska figure remained well below the preliminary national unemployment rate of 6.3 percent in May, which matched the revised April figure.

Trial Begins Over Nebraska Killer’s Drawings

john-joubertOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Trial is set to begin Friday in Lincoln on a lawsuit by the author of a book about an executed Nebraska child killer to try to force the state prison system to release the condemned man’s disturbing drawings.

Mark Pettit, a former investigative reporter, says the drawings of John Joubert depict Joubert’s fantasies to kill more children. Joubert was executed in the state’s electric chair in 1996 for killing two young boys in the Bellevue area in the 1980s.

Pettit is the author of “A Need to Kill: The True-Crime Account of John Joubert, Nebraska’s Most Notorious Serial Child Killer.”

Pettit’s lawsuit seeks to force the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services to release the drawings, which has refused to do so citing confidentiality laws.

NP Man Accused of Hitting Child with Belt

Mauricio Cabrera
Mauricio Cabrera

A North Platte man is in jail on a felony child abuse charge after he allegedly hit is son with a belt.

At around 9:30 a.m., on June 19, an officer with the North Platte Police Department responded to the Salvation Army, 1020 North Adams Street, on the report of a possible child abuse.

According to Investigator John Deal, an employee at the Salvation Army had noticed a bruise on the leg of a child who was in the business.  The child allegedly told the employee that their father had hit them with a belt.

The officer, with the assistance of the Department of Health and Human Services, met with the child and determined that the child did have a bruise and it appeared it was caused by a belt.

Officers contacted the child’s father, Mauricio Cabrera, and determined that the incident had occurred at Cabrera’s residence in the 300 block of South Silber Street several days earlier.

Deal said Cabrera was placed under arrest and charged with felony child abuse.

He was jailed at the Lincoln County Detention Center.

3 Shot After Red Rocks Concert, Suspect Sought

red-rocksGOLDEN, Colo. (AP) — Authorities say three people are wounded following a shooting outside a Denver-area concert.

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s office says the Red Rocks Amphitheater was shut down late Thursday night after the violence erupted in the parking lot as the concert ended.

The office says a suspect or suspects are being sought and all cars are being searched as concertgoers leave the facility.

The three wounded traveled by car into nearby Denver where they were located by police and taken to a hospital. There office says it doesn’t know their conditions.

No arrests have been made.

The Denver Post says the concert featured Nas, Schoolboy Q and Flying Lotus.

Almost two hours after the conclusion of the event, there were still many people on the scene.

Red Cross Begins to Create Recovery Plans for Tornado Victims

red-cross-logo-new-2013Well-trained American Red Cross client caseworkers are meeting with residents who have been affected by the tornadoes that touched down earlier this week to create individual recovery plans.

The Red Cross is also participating in the  Multi-Agency Resource Center (MARC) that has been established at Wisner-Pilger High School.  The MARC provides an easy, one-stop shop atmosphere where affected families are able to visit with multiple agencies to receive a combination of services.

“Affected families are welcome to come in to see Red Cross trained volunteers at the following 3 locations: Wisner-Pilger High School, Red Cross office in Wayne and Red Cross office in Norfolk,” said Jill Orton, Region Disaster Officer. “Red Cross workers continue to evaluate damage, giving out snacks and hydration while meeting with homeowners to their specific recovery needs needs in the areas of Wakefield and Coleridge.”

Five emergency response vehicles are in these hard hit communities and have delivered nearly 10,000 meals, snacks and waters. Since the tornadoes passed, more than 100 well-trained Red Cross disaster workers have been hard at work distributing hydration, snacks, work gloves, trash bags, rakes, giving comfort and hope to all.

The emergency shelter in Pilger will remain open and will serve as a place for residents and workers to gather a safe place to stay, a meal, minor first aid, and a shoulder to lean on should they need it.

Suspect Killed After Firing at Nebraska Trooper

state-patrol-logoA suspect involved in a domestic disturbance is dead after shooting at a Nebraska State Patrol Trooper.

Just before 1:30 a.m., Friday, on June 20, a trooper with the Nebraska State Patrol responded to assist with reports of a domestic disturbance involving a man with a gun in the 4200 block of East 3rd Street in Columbus. While responding to the scene, the trooper encountered a vehicle matching the description of the suspect’s vehicle, near Southeast 36th Street in Columbus. The trooper initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle, a black 2012 Dodge Ram pickup. As the trooper approached the passenger side of the vehicle the lone male driver fired shots at the trooper. The trooper returned fire, and the pickup sped away.

The trooper, who was not hit by the gunfire, returned to his vehicle and a pursuit ensued. The pursuit lasted approximately 10 minutes and ended when the trooper lost sight of the suspect vehicle as it headed northbound on a county road.

The Nebraska State Patrol helicopter, additional troopers and local law enforcement responded to the area. Just before 3:00 a.m., the suspect’s pickup was spotted by a trooper on Highway 30 on the east edge of Columbus. The trooper attempted to stop the vehicle which took off eastbound. The NSP helicopter followed the pickup from the air, directing troopers and law enforcement on the ground as the vehicle traveled county roads north and east into Colfax County. The pickup ran over two sets of spike strips before coming to a stop on Old Highway 30 on the west side of Schuyler.

The pickup stopped briefly, before taking off again, traveling only a short distance before ramming head-on into a Platte County Sheriff’s Office patrol unit parked along Old Highway 30.  Additional officers responding to the scene were stopped behind the pickup near the intersection of County Road 10, when the driver put the pickup in reverse, crashing into two other law enforcement vehicles.

At that time, officers opened fire on the suspect vehicle. The suspect, whose name has not been released, was pronounced dead at the scene.

No law enforcement officers were struck by gunfire. A Schuyler Police Officer hit by flying glass was treated and released from a local hospital.

“This was a very dangerous situation,” said Colonel David Sankey, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “We had an individual who was intent on causing harm and through the efforts of these dedicated law enforcement officers we were able to prevent him from taking any innocent lives.”

The Nebraska State Patrol was assisted by Police Departments from Columbus and Schuyler and Sheriff’s Offices from Platte, Colfax and Butler Counties.

The investigation into the incident continues. An autopsy will be conducted. Investigative reports, once completed will be forwarded to the Colfax County Attorney. Nebraska Law requires a grand jury be convened anytime someone dies while in custody or in the process of apprehension.

Additional questions reference the investigation, should be directed to the Colfax County Attorney.

Hunters Helping the Hungry Program Sets Deadline

Nebraska_game_and_parksLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has set an application deadline of July 15 for meat processors that want to participate in the 2014 Hunters Helping the Hungry program.

The program provides ground venison to Nebraskans in need.

The application form and program guidelines are available online at OutdoorNebraska.com/HHH under Processors and Charitable Organizations.

Deer donation will run from Sept. 1 through Jan. 16. Processors wishing to participate for a shorter period of time are encouraged to contact the program coordinator. Game and Parks will contact eligible applicants by Aug. 1.

Contact Teresa Lombard at 402-471-5430 or teresa.lombard@nebraska.gov for more information.

Broken Bow Man Gets Life for Kidnapping, Assault

Tyler Bain
Tyler Bain

BROKEN BOW, Neb. (AP) — A 31-year-old Broken Bow man has been given life in prison for kidnapping a woman in central Nebraska

Tyler Bain was sentenced in Custer County District Court in Broken Bow on Thursday. In addition to his kidnapping conviction, Bain was found guilty of assault, terroristic threats and false imprisonment. He was acquitted of a weapons charge.

The woman told officers that Bain forced her off a road while she was driving near Anselmo in October 2011. She said he took her to his home, where he beat and sexually assaulted her and wouldn’t let her leave.

North Platte Weather-June 20



Forecast Graphic June 20 2014

  • Today: Isolated showers and thunderstorms between 11am and 1pm, then isolated thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. South southeast wind 6 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
  • Tonight: Scattered thunderstorms, mainly before 9pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 62. Southeast wind 3 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
  • Saturday: A slight chance of thunderstorms after 4pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Light and variable wind becoming southeast 6 to 11 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
  • Saturday Night: A chance of thunderstorms, mainly after 7pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. Southeast wind 5 to 8 mph becoming east northeast after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
  • Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 84. Light east wind becoming north northeast 10 to 15 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 21 mph.
  • Sunday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a low around 60. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
  • Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 76.

College World Series Day 6 Recap

NCAA-CWSOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Will Allen drove in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning, Mississippi relievers held TCU without a hit after Kevin Cron’s homer in the fifth, and the Rebels stayed alive in the College World Series with a 6-4 victory Thursday night.

Ole Miss (48-20) will play Virginia on Friday night in a bracket final. The Rebels would need to beat the Cavaliers (51-14) on Friday and again Saturday to reach next week’s best-of-three championship series.

It was the most runs allowed by TCU (48-18) in 16 games.

Allen, who was 0 for 8 in the CWS when he came to bat in the third inning, went 3 for 5 with three RBIs.

Josh Laxer (3-2) worked 2 2-3 innings of relief for the win, and Aaron Greenwood earned his fifth save. Jordan Kipper (8-3) took the loss.

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