LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A California man is in jail after the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office found more than 22 pounds of marijuana in his car Friday morning following a traffic stop.
The 46-year-old man from Happy Camp, California, was pulled over on Interstate 80 near Lincoln by sheriff’s deputies.
Authorities say a police dog indicated the smell of drugs coming from the car. Officials say when they searched it, they found the marijuana sealed inside a large bag in the trunk.
DENVER (AP) — Nathan MacKinnon broke a second-period tie and Semyon Varlamov stopped 37 shots, leading the Colorado Avalanche to a 4-3 win over the Dallas Stars on Saturday.
Erik Johnson, John Mitchell and Matt Duchene also scored as the Avalanche won for the fifth time in six games to leapfrog Dallas in the Central Division standings.
MacKinnon’s score with 8.4 seconds left in the second was part of a three-goal period for the Avalanche. They came out fast to start the third, too, with Duchene scoring just 12 seconds into period.
Brett Ritchie, Colton Sceviour and Ales Hemsky had goals for the Stars, who have dropped five straight in Denver.
NEW YORK (AP) — NBC’s Seth Meyers will host “NFL Honors,” the Super Bowl eve telecast in which the league introduces the new Pro Football Hall of Fame class and hands out awards for the 2014 season, including The Associated Press MVP.
The former “Saturday Night Live” player and current late-night TV host takes over for Alec Baldwin, who hosted the first four shows.
“NFL Honors” will be held at Symphony Hall in downtown Phoenix on Jan. 31, a night before the Super Bowl kicks off in nearby Glendale.
The AP will hand out awards for coach of the year, offensive and defensive players and rookies, comeback player, and assistant coach. The awards are voted on by a nationwide panel of 50 people who cover the league.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Sterling Gibbs made a 3-pointer with 2.1 seconds left, lifting No. 19 Seton Hall over Creighton 68-67 on Saturday.
James Milliken’s 3-pointer at the buzzer bounced off the rim, sending Creighton to a fifth straight loss for the first time since 1996-97.
Gibbs bounced back from an eight-point night in a loss to Xavier to score 22, making 4 of 8 3-pointers. Khadeen Carrington had 11 points and Brandon Mobley matched his career high with 13 rebounds for the Pirates (13-3, 3-1 Big East).
Milliken had 20 points in his first start, Will Artino had 14 points and 11 rebounds and Rick Kreklow added 10 points for the Bluejays (9-8, 0-4).
HOLDREGE, Neb. (AP) — The Phelps County Attorney’s Office is investigating the death of a person at a medical device manufacturing plant in Holdrege.
Phelps County Attorney Mike Henry said there was a death on the BD property along U.S. Highway 6 on Thursday night. Henry says an autopsy has been ordered.
Henry declined to release more details on the death, saying he wanted to wait until the autopsy was finished.
The BD facility is one of the largest manufacturers of insulin syringes for diabetes.
DENVER (AP) — When Colts owner Jim Irsay scans the field Sunday, he’ll see in the Denver Broncos the kind of team he admittedly couldn’t surround Peyton Manning with nearly enough during their 14 years together in Indianapolis.
Equilibrium on offense, dominance on defense — a team that doesn’t necessarily have to ride Superman’s cape in its Super Bowl quest.
Remember Irsay’s comments preceding Manning’s emotional homecoming in 2013 about giving up the old Indy offense’s “Star Wars” numbers in a quest for more Super Bowl rings? It raised a lot of eyebrows, but his point was this: he thinks the formula for winning more championships is better balance.
John Elway thinks so, too, and that’s precisely what the Broncos (12-4) have as they host the Colts (12-5), who again have a star QB covering up deficiencies elsewhere.
After the record-shattering Broncos were demolished in the Super Bowl, Elway bolstered his defense by signing Aqib Talib, DeMarcus Ware and T.J. Ward to a guaranteed $60 million. He also replaced Eric Decker with Emmanuel Sanders and drafted Bradley Roby.
Following the inexplicable loss at St. Louis at midseason, the Broncos pumped the brakes on their Lamborghini offense and watched fourth-string running back C.J. Anderson blossom behind a restructured line.
Although that downshifting spawned the “What’s wrong with Peyton?” buzz, consider this: the Broncos were 3-4 when Manning threw for more than 300 yards this season, 9-0 when he didn’t.
“It takes a team,” is the new mantra in the locker room.
Almost all Manning’s key numbers are down from 2013, but these less-flashy Broncos may have a better chance of winning it all — providing they can keep Luck from winning his first road playoff game.
Interestingly, the Colts are relying more on Luck than they ever did on Manning.
In his time in Indy from 1998-2011, Manning was responsible for 73.3 percent of the Colts’ total net yards. During his three seasons there, Luck has accounted for 78 percent, according to STATS.
Granted, some of that is due to Luck’s mobility — his 905 yards rushing in his three-year career are already more than Manning accumulated in Indianapolis (722).
“Even when they’re one-dimensional, they’re not one-dimensional because he’ll take off and run it,” Denver defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio said.
And throw it: Luck led the league with 40 TD throws.
That was one more than Manning, who threw just three TD passes in December to go along with six interceptions.
His coach scoffed at the notion anything’s wrong with Manning.
“I think a year ago, he broke probably every single-season record known to man. It was the style we played and what was best for our team at that point,” John Fox said. “This year I think we’re a little bit different team. We’re built different. He was a 12-4 quarterback during the regular season, which is I think tied for the best record in football this year.”
The winner advances to the AFC championship. Among other subplots:
—60 MINUTES: The Colts overcame a 28-point deficit to beat the Chiefs in the playoffs last year and nearly erased a 24-0 halftime hole in Denver in the 2014 opener.
“You can’t relax,” Broncos tight end Julius Thomas said. “It’s going to take 60 minutes of football to win in the playoffs and we know that. So that’s what we’re going to have in our minds going into the game and 59 1/2 is not going to be enough.”
RAHIM’S REDEMPTION: Speaking of letting up late, Broncos safety Rahim Moore is playing in his first postseason game since his gaffe against Baltimore two years ago when he allowed Jacoby Jones to haul in a 70-yard TD catch with 31 seconds left in regulation.
“Don’t dwell on the past,” Moore said. “You’ve got to be futuristic.”
COLTS’ TIGHT ENDS: Upsetting Denver would likely require big performances from tight ends Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen, both of whom scored eight TDs this season. The Broncos surrendered nine TDs to tight ends as teams shied away from Pro Bowl cornerbacks Chris Harris Jr. and Talib.
MARSHALL PLAN: Denver led the league with nine Pro Bowlers, but linebacker Brandon Marshall wasn’t among them, and he was their top tackler despite missing the last two games with a sprained right foot. His return provides a big boost in facing Luck’s intermediate game.
RED ZONE INEFFICIENCY: Thomas has 12 TDs but none since spraining his left ankle Nov. 16. Before his injury, the Broncos scored 24 TDs in 31 trips inside the opponents’ 20. They’ve reached the end zone just 15 times in 31 trips since.
If he’s healthy Sunday, watch out. Thomas had three TDs against Indy in the opener, in single coverage against two linebackers and a safety.
WOOD RIVER, Neb. (AP) — A herd of 42 rare, purebred bison will arrive at the 4,500-acre Crane Trust along the Platte River in central Nebraska next week, wrapping up a more than two-year effort to reintroduce bison to their original home on native Nebraska prairie.
The bison will arrive the afternoon of Jan. 17. The event will be held east of The Crane Trust Nature and Visitor Center and include a Native American ceremony to bless the bison.
National Wildlife Federation Tribal Lands Project and Nebraska Wildlife Federation representatives also will attend.
The bison cows, calves and two 7-year-old bulls descended from a genetically pure herd raised on a Crawford ranch.
Carmen Delia Summers, age 56 of North Platte, passed away Friday January 9, 2015 at UNMC in Omaha.
Carmen was born on August 13, 1958 in Pearsall, TX to Pedro and Anita (Cuellar) Herrada. She graduated from Hershey High School and married Laine Summers. The couple made their home in Lincoln, NE before moving to Minnesota. To their union two daughters were born, Beth and Lori. She worked for the Lancaster County Attorney before deciding to become a stay at home mom to her own daughters, as well as caring for other children. The family traveled with Laine’s job all over the world, including the Middle East, South America, and Indonesia. After living in Houston for a while, she moved back to North Platte in 2006. She loved animals and rescued many. She was very creative, and an excellent seamstress, making the girls’ costumes. She enjoyed gardening and baking and had a talent for decorating cakes.
Carmen is survived by her daughters Elizabeth (Robert Wyllie) Summers and Lori Summers both of Portland, OR; father Pedro (Juanita) Herrada of Sutherland and mother Anita Fagen of Hershey; siblings Stella (Brent) Larreau of Hershey, James (Shannon) Herrada of Hershey, Pedro Herrada, Jr. of San Antonio, TX; sister in law Donna Herrada of North Platte; as well as numerous other family members and friends.
She was preceded in death by 2 brothers Rolando Herrada and Simon Herrada; and step father Robert Fagen.
Memorials are suggested in her name and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com. Cremation was chosen and a memorial service will be 2:00 p.m. Wednesday January 14, 2015 at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home. Those wishing to do so may sign the register book from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.
The Nebraska men’s basketball team looks to build some momentum, as the Huskers play host to Illinois at Pinnacle Bank Arena Sunday evening.
Tipoff between the Huskers and Fighting Illini is set for 7:35 p.m. and the game will be nationally televised on BTN with Kevin Kugler and Stephen Bardo on the call. The game is also available online and on mobile devices on BTN2Go.
The game will be broadcast across the state of Nebraska on the IMG Husker Sports Radio Network, including KLIN 1400 AM in Lincoln, 1110 KFAB in Omaha and KRVN 880 AM in Lexington with Kent Pavelka calling the action and Matt Davison adding color commentary. The game can be heard for free on Huskers.com and available on the Huskers’ app on iOS or android devices, as well as on TuneIn Radio and on SiriusXM Satellite Radio.
As of Friday afternoon, only a limited number of singles were available in the 300 Level at $10 apiece and can be purchased by visiting Huskers.com or calling the NU Athletic Ticket Office at 800-8-BIGRED. Additional tickets may open up on game day, and the Pinnacle Bank Arena Ticket Office opens 90 minutes before each contest.
The Huskers (9-6, 1-2 Big Ten) broke into the victory column for the first time in Big Ten play with a 65-49 win over Rutgers on Thursday. Junior guard Terran Petteway led the Huskers with 20 points and five assists for his eighth 20-point night of the season. Shavon Shields, Walter Pitchford and Benny Parker combined for 29 points, 12 rebounds and five assists in helping the Huskers snap a two-game losing streak. The Huskers were solid on the defensive end, forcing 19 turnovers and holding Rutgers to 34.7 percent shooting and their third-lowest output of the season.
Nebraska got a big boost from the return of Moses Abraham and Leslee Smith from injuries and solid play from Nick Fuller, as they helped Nebraska’s bench combine for 12 points and 12 rebounds in Thursday’s win. In all, the Huskers got nine players into the scoring column, while no player played more than 34 minutes. The Huskers will need the depth, as Sunday’s game wraps up a stretch of three games in seven days for the Big Red.
Illinois comes into the matchup with an 11-5 record following a seven-point win over No. 11 Maryland on Wednesday. Illinois is averaging 76.1 points per game and shoots 37 percent from 3-point range. The Fighting Illini are also solid at the line, where they lead the Big Ten by hitting 78 percent from the charity stripe.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission says spring turkey hunting permits will be available starting Monday.
The 2015 permit prices, not including issuing fees, are resident turkey, $23; nonresident turkey, $95; and resident and nonresident youth turkey, $5. Youth permits are for hunters who are under age 16 on the opening day of the youth archery season. Other than residents under age 16, turkey hunters must have a Nebraska habitat stamp.
Visit OutdoorNebraska.org or Game and Parks permitting offices to buy the permits.
The youth and regular archery seasons open March 25, while youth shotgun season opens April 11 and the regular shotgun season on April 18. All seasons close May 31.
