LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Federal officials say that more than 74,000 people in Nebraska have signed up for health care coverage on the federal exchange.
The second open enrollment period under the Affordable Care Act ended Sunday. At the end of enrollment last year the figure was nearly 43,000.
The national figure this year was around 11.4 million, compared with more than 8 million last year.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Board members for a natural resources district have begun the process of removing a colleague who wants to remain on the board despite being out of the country until June, teaching in China.
The Lower Platte South Natural Resources District board on Wednesday voted against excusing Steve Larrick’s absence from the meeting.
Larrick represents west Lincoln on the board. He’s asked his colleagues on the board to excuse his absences until June. But state law doesn’t allow the board to grant a sabbatical or extended leave.
If a director has more than two consecutive unexcused absences from monthly meetings, a board can, after a public hearing, declare the seat vacant.
PAPILLION, Neb. (AP) — A Sarpy County sheriff’s deputy accused of a sex assault at a sports bar has been fired.
Rick Wheeler had appealed his firing to the county’s Merit Commission last week, but Sarpy County Attorney Lee Polikov says Wheeler lost.
The 53-year-old Wheeler has pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor charge. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for March 13.
Wheeler was a sergeant who’d worked 26 years for the Sheriff’s Office.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska lawmakers are moving ahead with an emergency $7 million cash transfer to prevent the state’s child welfare system from running out of money.
Senators attached the funding measure to a budget bill Thursday and advanced it to a final vote.
Lawmakers railed against the Department of Health and Human Services, saying past administrators denied that they needed help last year when senators asked them.
A department official told lawmakers this week the shortfall was caused by a variety of factors, including higher rates for foster care services, higher-than-expected mileage costs, unpaid bills and the loss of some federal foster care payments.
The federal government demanded reimbursement from the state for child welfare expenses submitted by a private contractor, which weren’t properly documented.
HARRISON, Neb. (AP) — Sioux County commissioners have joined the opposition to a proposed disposal well for fracking water at the south end of the Nebraska Panhandle county.
The commissioners voted unanimously on Wednesday to share their sentiments with the Nebraska Oil and Gas Commission, which has scheduled a March 24 public hearing on the proposal. The commissioners’ letter will echo concerns shared by some people who attended the commission meeting. They cited wear and tear on roads and state highways and potential damage to groundwater. Commissioners in adjacent Scotts Bluff County have sent a similar letter.
Terex Energy Corp., of Broomfield, Colorado, wants to haul the saltwater recovered from oil searches and production in Wyoming and Colorado to a Nebraska ranch about 14 miles north of Mitchell.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A bill to increase the cost of marriage license fees in Nebraska is moving slowly toward a final vote in the Legislature.
Lawmakers gave the measure second-round approval on Thursday after reaching a compromise in a dispute over how much counties can charge for certified copies.
The measure would raise the county fee for marriage licenses from $15 to $25. Certified copies would rise in cost from $5 to $9.
The original bill would have raised the cost of certified copies to $16, but that amount triggered opposition from some lawmakers. Opponents argued those costs add up because married couples are sometimes required to purchase multiple certified copies.
The Nebraska volleyball team will play a spring match against Kansas State at the Heartland Events Center in Grand Island on Saturday, April 25. The match is set to begin at 6 p.m., with doors opening 60 minutes prior to first serve. The Huskers will also sign autographs after the match.
Tickets will go on sale through Ticketmaster and at the Heartland Events Center Box Office at 10 a.m. on Monday, March 2. All tickets will be reserved at $10. There will be a handling charge on all tickets purchased from Ticketmaster. No tickets will be sold through the Nebraska Athletic Ticket Office.
Nebraska last played in Grand Island in the 2011 spring season, topping Wichita State 3-2. A packed crowd of 5,522 fans filled the Heartland Events Center for that match.
The match in Grand Island will be the Huskers’ only one of the 2015 spring season.
Milo Neal Freeman, 84 years, of North Platte, NE, passed away with his family at his side on Wednesday, February 18, 2015, at Fort Morgan, CO.
Milo was born October 17, 1930, to William Parker and Mary Deliah Davis Freeman in Garfield County, NE, and grew up east of Burwell, NE. Following his mother’s death, Milo lived with his sister and her husband, Esther and Jim Taylor, north of Burwell and attended country school to the 8th grade. Milo then worked on Floyd Taylor’s ranch which was in the Burwell area.
Milo served in the U.S. Army from 1948 to 1949. Following his discharge he returned to Burwell where he met Goldie Dean Barnum of Stapleton, NE. They were married on July 25, 1953 in Stapleton where they lived until moving to North Platte in 1960. Milo then worked for Armour Packing Plant, Central Nebraska Pack, Fairmont’s Dairy and Beveridge Well Drilling before starting Freeman Pump and Well, retiring from there at the age of 60.
Milo and Goldie enjoyed square dancing and he liked to fish with her dad. Milo also enjoyed deer hunting and hunting coyotes with his hounds. He played cards and enjoyed coffee at the Skelly Inn.
He is survived by his daughter, Doris (Andy) Young, and sons, Stanley (Charlene) Freeman, Gerald (Becky) Freeman and Leon (Carla) Freeman, all of North Platte; 11 grandchildren, Robert (Amanda) Freeman, Deanna (Jeremy) Storm, Mandy Baker (fiancé, Chris Slatt), Amy (Cash) Cauffman, Michael Freeman, Tara (Chris) O’Dell, Amber (Rory) Berliner, Dustin Freeman, Shawna (Brett) Bowman, Michelle (Tom) Miller and Bo Young; three step grandchildren, Jeremy (Angie) Sanford, Stacy (Jed) Baxter and Robby Terry (Whitney Brown); 23 great-grandchildren; eight step great-grandchildren; four step great great-grandchildren; his sister, Esther (Jim) Taylor, of Burwell; and many nieces, nephews and other family.
After 54 years of marriage, Goldie passed away in 2008. Milo is also preceded in death by his parents, William and Mary; five brothers, Morris, Harvey, Harold, Melvin ‘Ray’ and Virgil Freeman; an infant sister, Emma Mae, and his sister, Lurverda Long.
Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, February 21, 2015, at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore with Pastor Jeremy Rienke officiating. Casual dress is requested. Burial will follow in the McCain Cemetery southeast of Stapleton. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday with family greeting friends from 6 to 8 p.m. at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore which is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may also be shared at odeanchapel.com. Memorials can be made to the Senior Center.
The North Platte Community College Knights lost to the Laramie County Community College Golden Eagles on Wednesday night 86-67 in a National Junior College Athletic Association Region IX South Sub Region game.
The Knights started the game out with a 10-3 lead. The Golden Eagles rallied to take a nine point halftime lead.
The Golden Eagles shot well from the floor shooting 61.4 percent from the field compared to the Knights shooting 43.3 percent.
The Knights, now 20-7 and 10-4 in sub-region play were led in scoring by Matt Thomas with 24 points. Thomas shot six for seven behind the three-point line. Marco Pascolo added 12 points and CJ Polk ended with 11 points.
The Golden Eagles, who are 20-9 on the season and 10-5 in the sub-region were led in scoring by Kamari Robinson who had a game high 26 points. Robinson was perfect from the floor shooting 11 for 11. Darian Fernandez scored 19 points and Spencer Svejcar added 14 points for the Golden Eagles.
The loss drops the Knights into second place in the South sub-region behind Northeastern Junior College.
The Knights return to the court on Friday Feb 20 when they host Southeast Community College. The game has been designated as “elementary night.” All elementary students who wear their school’s t-shirt along with their family will be admitted free. It is also “Girl Scout Night”. All girl scouts that are in uniform and their families will be admitted free. The game may be seen on www.coachesaid.com . Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m. CST.
