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Police: Lincoln Father Finds Burglars in Home

lincoln-policeLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Police in Lincoln say at least one man has been arrested after a father interrupted a break-in at his home.

The father called police around 11:30 a.m. Friday after he went home to have lunch with his children and found his back door kicked in. Police say the would-be robbers were still inside the home — as were the children.

Police say the father chased one of the robbers and saw another get into a car and drive away. Police say officers were able to catch the man who fled on foot.

Officers also found evidence at the father’s home.

Police say no one was hurt during the robbery.

Nebraska Lottery Distributed $35 Million in 2014

nebraska-lotteryLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Lottery distributed more than $35 million to various state funds in 2014.

Officials said Friday that the payments now total more than $544 million since the Nebraska Lottery began operating 1993. The last quarterly transfer of 2014 totaled $8.6 million.

The distributions went to the Nebraska Innovation Fund, the Nebraska Opportunity Grant Fund, the Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund, the Nebraska State Fair Support and Improvement Fund, and the Compulsive Gamblers Assistance Fund.

Money is dispersed in accordance with state law. In 2013, the Nebraska Lottery reached $2 billion in total sales since 1993.

Kokesh, Green Win Southern Scuffle Crowns

UNLChattanooga, Tenn. – Senior All-Americans Robert Kokesh (174) and James Green (157) each captured weight class titles at the Defense Soap and Flips Wrestling Southern Scuffle at McKenzie Arena on Friday.

The Huskers finished fourth as a team with 116 points. Four-time defending national champion Penn State took home the team title with 165 points, while Missouri (150) and Oklahoma State (135.5) also notched top-three finishes.

Kokesh, the top-ranked wrestler at 174 pounds, completed his tournament run with a 3-2 decision over No. 4 Matt Brown of Penn State in the finals. Over the course of the Southern Scuffle, Kokesh collected three pins and one major decision. He improves to 21-0 on the season and wins his third tournament title.

Green, the No. 1 seed at 157 pounds, took down Jason Nolf of Penn State in the finals by a 7-4 margin. Green’s performance at the tournament included one pin and two major decisions over the span of five matches. He is now 18-1 this season and wins his second tournament title of the 2014-15 campaign.

No. 20 Anthony Abidin took third place at 141 pounds after a 6-1 showing during the two-day event. No. 17 Tim Lambert placed fifth with a 6-2 record at the Southern Scuffle. Unattached wrestler Tyler Berger (149) earned a sixth-place finish at the tournament, while 184-pounder TJ Dudley finished eighth.

Eric Montoya (133), Justin Arthur (149), Austin Wilson (165), Aaron Studebaker (184), Spencer Johnson (197), Micah Barnes (197) and Collin Jensen (HWT) also competed for the Huskers at the Southern Scuffle. Dustin Williams (165) and Derek White (197) each wrestled unattached at the tournament.

The Huskers return home to host Purdue next weekend at the Devaney Center. The dual, set for Jan. 9 at 7 p.m., will be part of Tumble N’ Rumble, which will also feature a Nebraska women’s gymnastics meet on the Devaney floor at the same time.

Tournament Finishes
125: No. 17 Tim Lambert (5th) 6-2
133: Eric Montoya (DNP) 3-2
141: No. 20 Anthony Abidin (3rd) 6-1
149: Justin Arthur (DNP) 3-2
149: Tyler Berger (unattached) (6th) 5-3
157: No. 2 James Green (1st) 5-0
165: No. 20 Austin Wilson (DNP) 2-2
165: Dustin Williams (unattached) (DNP) 0-2
174: No. 1 Robert Kokesh (1st) 6-0
184: No. 19 TJ Dudley (8th) 4-2
184: Aaron Studebaker (DNP) 4-2
197: Spencer Johnson (DNP – Medical Forfeit) 3-0
197: Micah Barnes (DNP) 1-2
197: Derek White (unattached) (DNP) 2-2
HWT: No. 14 Collin Jensen (DNP) 2-2

College Semifinals Break Cable TV Records

College Football Playoff NCAABRISTOL, Conn. (AP) — The first College Football Playoff semifinals drew the two largest audiences in cable television history.

ESPN had a 15.2 rating and averaged 28,271,000 viewers for its Sugar Bowl broadcast Thursday night after drawing a 14.8 rating and averaging 28,164,000 viewers for the Rose Bowl, Nielsen said Friday.

Both games had significant increases from last year on ESPN when the Rose Bowl had a 10.2 rating and averaged 18,636,000 viewers and the Sugar Bowl had a 6.6 rating and averaged 11,304,000 viewers.

ESPN also will broadcast the Jan. 12 national championship game between Oregon and Ohio State. The network has drawn the 18 largest audiences in cable TV history and 36 of the top 40.

Despite technical problems during the Rose Bowl, WatchESPN averaged 864,000 unique viewers for the two games.

Repeat NP Shoplifter Picks Up Felony Charge

Emily Lembke
Emily Lembke

A North Platte woman, who apparently can’t get enough of Wal-Mart’s five-finger discount, is now facing a felony theft charge.

On December 31, at around 4:16 p.m., North Platte police responded to Wal-Mart, 1401 South Dewey Street, on the report of a female shoplifter who was running for the store’s Loss Prevention personnel.

Before police arrived, the suspect, later identified as 33-year-old Emily Lembke, fled in a vehicle.

An officer located Lembke and conducted a traffic stop.

A subsequent search led to the discovery of more than $200 worth of merchandise, Lembke allegedly took from the store.

According to Officer Rodney Brown, Lembke had previously been arrested for shoplifting from Wal-Mart, and was told she was no longer welcome to shop at the store.

As a result, Lembke was charged with 2nd degree trespassing and shoplifting.  Brown said, because Lembke has prior convictions for shoplifting, the charge was enhanced to a felony.

Lembke was incarcerated at the Lincoln County Detention Center.

University of Nebraska President’s Home to Be Sold

J.B. Milliken
J.B. Milliken

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The University of Nebraska Foundation says it will sell a Lincoln home that was purchased for the university’s president a year ago.

The foundation announced Friday that it was acting at the direction of the university’s Board of Regents. Foundation officials bought the 87-year-old home with private money in December 2013, at a cost of $750,000.

The house was intended to be renovated. According to Lancaster County records, its assessed value last year was $653,900.

Foundation officials say they’ll continue to work with the regents on housing arrangements. Former University of Nebraska President J.B. Milliken left his position after he was named chancellor for the City University of New York in January 2014.

The home will be listed for sale this month. It’s located at 2810 South 27th Street.

Illinois Extends Marijuana Experiment to Children

Medical-ChartCHICAGO (AP) — A new law expanding the Illinois medical marijuana program to children is opening a market for an unproven strain of cannabis called Charlotte’s Web and a dark green, weed-fragrant oil made from it.

Some parents of children with epilepsy say the oil eases their children’s seizures. The marijuana strain is cultivated by a Colorado company to be heavy in a compound called CBD and low in THC, the psychoactive ingredient that makes people high.

Charlotte’s Web hasn’t been tested in clinical trials for effectiveness or safety, but it will be legal in Illinois under a law that took effect Thursday.

For now, mainstream medicine regards Charlotte’s Web as a folk remedy deserving of caution, and it’s unclear whether Illinois doctors will sign off on their young patients using it.

Contempt Order Upheld for Nebraska Agency

DHHSOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Supreme Court has upheld a contempt of court order against the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services over its handling of a state ward’s foster placement.

The case involves the removal of a 12-year-old boy from a Norfolk group home where a Douglas County juvenile court had ordered him placed. But a state caseworker last year failed to inform the court, the county attorney or the boy’s court-ordered representative of the boy’s possible removal from the program over failed contract negotiations with the state.

The court found the department and a private child welfare agency with which it had contracted in contempt, and the department appealed, saying the judge violated the separation of powers doctrine.

On Friday, the high court disagreed and upheld the contempt order.

Great Plains Health Welcomes 1st Baby of 2015

Kree Rose Bryant (Courtesy GPH)
Kree Rose Bryant (Courtesy GPH)

On the afternoon of January 2, Great Plains Health welcomed the first baby of 2015.

Kree Rose was born to parents, Morgan and Jonathan Bryant, of North Platte.

She was born a 1:25 p.m., weighed 6 lbs. 6 ounces and was 19.5 inches long.

“Caring for new moms and babies is always rewarding, but we are especially excited for the New Year’s baby,” said Teresa Dowling, director of women’s services at Great Plains Health, “ For the New Year’s baby this year, we put together a gift basket with items for both mom and baby to celebrate this special time.”

“We didn’t know what we were having and were so happy to find out it was a girl,” said Morgan.

Mommy and baby are both doing well and are anticipating going home this weekend.

“We are so excited to bring her home and watch her grow,” added Morgan.

‘Kolache Queen’ Dies in Omaha Hospital at 88

Nadine Racek (Courtesy)
Nadine Racek (Courtesy)

MORSE BLUFF, Neb. (AP) — The Morse Bluff woman dubbed the “Kolache Queen” has died at 88.

The Moser Memorial Chapel says Nadine Racek died Sunday at an Omaha hospital. A funeral Mass is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday at St. George Catholic Church in Morse Bluff.

In 1951 Racek launched a baking business in her home. For 55 years she baked professionally for arts and crafts shows, farmers markets and private customers throughout the United States and internationally, earning many honors. In 2012 she was featured on NET’s “Nebraska Stories” program as the “Kolache Queen.” Czech in origin, a kolache is a fruit-filled pastry variously pronounced KOH’-lahtch or koh’-LAH’-chee.

The Rev. Brian Kane said he fondly remembers Racek for sending kolaches when he served as a chaplain in Iraq.

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