February 2015 – Page 28 – North Platte Post Archive

North Platte Weather-February 19

Posted on February 19, 2015

Today: Partly sunny, with a high near 43. Wind chill values as low as -4. South wind 10 to 13 mph.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 21. Southwest wind 7 to 9 mph becoming west northwest after midnight.
Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 50. West northwest wind 5 to 8 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Friday Night: A chance of rain and snow before midnight, then a chance of snow. Cloudy, with a low around 24. East northeast wind 7 to 9 mph becoming north after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of snow, mainly before noon. Cloudy, with a high near 32. North wind 9 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of snow before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 9.
Sunday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 19.

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTH PLATTE NE
524 AM CST THU FEB 19 2015

DEUEL-KEITH-PERKINS-LINCOLN-CHASE-HAYES-FRONTIER-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CHAPPELL...BIG SPRINGS...OGALLALA...
GRANT...NORTH PLATTE...IMPERIAL...HAYES CENTER...CURTIS...EUSTIS
524 AM CST THU FEB 19 2015 /424 AM MST THU FEB 19 2015/

...ACCUMULATING SNOW POSSIBLE FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY ACROSS
SOUTHWESTERN NEBRASKA...

AN UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM WILL SPREAD SNOW TO A LARGE PORTION OF THE
CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN PLAINS THIS WEEKEND. AT THIS TIME...BASED ON
THE LATEST FORECAST TRENDS...LOCATIONS SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 80
COULD SEE 2 TO 4 INCHES OF SNOW. PERSONS WITH OUTDOOR INTERESTS OR
THOSE PLANNING TRAVEL THIS WEEKEND SHOULD MONITOR THE LATEST
FORECASTS AND STATEMENTS.

Nebraska Voters Argue for Bills to Ease the Petition Process

Posted on February 19, 2015February 18, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Circulating a ballot petition in Nebraska could become easier under several bills presented to lawmakers.

Petition circulators said Wednesday that current restrictions hinder grassroots movements led by citizens, often referred to as the “second house” of Nebraska’s single-chamber Legislature.

A measure by Columbus Sen. Paul Schumacher would allow petition circulators to gather signatures electronically, which he says is a more thoughtful and accessible approach.

North Platte Sen. Mike Groene is pushing legislation to prohibit “blockers” from interfering with petitioners, while allowing petition circulators to be paid by signature, rather than an hourly wage.

Opponents included the League of Nebraska Municipalities and the Secretary of State’s office, which argued that petitions need checks and balances, just like other political processes.

Huge Husker Rally Falls Short at Northwestern

Posted on February 18, 2015

Evanston, Ill. – Tear’a Laudermill scored 16 of her 20 points in the second-half to help No. 21 Nebraska cut a 24-point deficit to six with over two minutes left before falling 59-51 to the Northwestern women’s basketball team at Welsh-Ryan Arena on Wednesday.

With the loss, Nebraska slipped to 18-8 overall and 8-7 in the Big Ten, while Northwestern improved to 20-6 overall and 10-5 in the conference.

The Huskers, who shot just 10.7 percent (3-28) from the floor in the first half, fell behind 43-19 with just over 14 minutes left in the game, before going on an 8-0 run to cut the margin to 43-27 after back-to-back baskets by Laudermill with 9:42 left.

Karly Roser, who finished with 10 points for Northwestern, stopped the run with a three-pointer with two seconds on the shot clock at the 8:50 mark. However, it was Northwestern’s only field goal in a 10-minute stretch. Roser added nine rebounds and five assists.

Allie Havers, who scored four points and grabbed for rebounds for the Big Red, started a new run with a jumper with 7:02 left before Laudermill and freshman Natalie Romeo hit three straight three-pointers to cap an 11-0 surge in just 3:03 to cut the Wildcat margin to eight points at 46-38 with 3:59 left. Romeo finished with 13 points, including three second-half threes.

After a Northwestern timeout, Ashley Deary hit a jumper for the Wildcats, before Laudermill answered with four straight points to trim the lead to 48-42 with 2:04 remaining – the smallest Wildcat lead since scoring the first eight points of the game.

The Big Red could get no closer, but remained within six points at 50-44 and 53-47 after Laudermill’s second and final three with 49 seconds left.

Northwestern hit six straight free throws down the stretch to seal its 20th win, giving the Wildcats their first 20-win season since 1995-96.

Nia Coffey led the Wildcats with 17 points and 14 rebounds for her sixth consecutive double-double. Deary finished with 10 points, five assists and three steals.

The Huskers struggled through one of the worst shooting halves in school history, knocking down just 3-of-28 shots in the first half, including 0-for-9 threes. Despite their shooting woes, the Huskers outscored Northwestern 6-4 in the final seven minutes of the half to trail 29-12.

Nebraska finished just 29.4 percent (19-65) from the floor and 21.7 percent (5-23) from three-point range, but outshot the Wildcats in the second half. The Huskers hit 43.2 percent (16-37) after halftime, including 5-of-14 threes. The Big Red also went 8-for-10 from the line for the game.

Northwestern hit 41.4 percent (24-58) of its shots for the game, including 31.3 percent (5-16) from long range and 6-of-9 free throws.

Nebraska outrebounded Northwestern, 46-39, including 18-9 on the offensive glass. Emily Cady managed just four points for the Big Red, but led the Huskers with 12 rebounds including seven on the offensive end. Fourteen of the Huskers’ 39 second-half points came on putbacks. The Wildcats won the turnover battle, 16-10.

Prior to tip-off, Nebraska Coach Connie Yori announced the first-team All-Big Ten point guard Rachel Theriot will undergo season-ending surgery on her left ankle on Thursday. Theriot was Nebraska’s leading scorer with 16.5 points and 5.2 assists per game. She started Nebraska’s first 21 games this season but has missed the Huskers’ last five games with the injury.

The Huskers play their final regular-season conference road game on Saturday, when they travel to Bloomington to take on Indiana. Tip-off between the Huskers and Hoosiers is set for 11 a.m. (CT) with live national television coverage by the Big Ten Network.

Chiefs’ Andy Reid Using Cane after Knee Replacement Surgery

Posted on February 18, 2015

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Chiefs coach Andy Reid vowed Wednesday that he will be ready for the start of the season despite needing a cane to get around the scouting combine following knee replacement surgery.

Reid skipped attending the Senior Bowl because of the procedure, which occurred after the Chiefs finished 9-7 and missed the playoffs. He joked that he “won’t be starting on PUP” — the physically unable to perform list for players that are recovering from injuries.

“I’ll be ready to go,” the Chiefs coach said.

Reid is entering his third year in Kansas City. But the team he takes to the field this fall figures to be much different than the one he inherited. The Chiefs have numerous holes to fill through free agency and the draft, and the combine is one step in that process.

Eric Hosmer, Royals Agree to $13.9 Million, 2-Year Contract

Posted on February 18, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — First baseman Eric Hosmer and the Kansas City Royals avoided arbitration by agreeing to a $13.9 million, two-year contract.

Hosmer gets $5.65 million this year under Wednesday’s agreement and $8.25 million in 2016.

The 25-year-old hit .270 for the AL champions with 35 doubles, nine homers and 58 RBIs. He won his second straight Gold Glove.

He made $3.6 million last year and had asked for $6.7 million when the sides exchanged proposed arbitration salaries last month. The Royals had offered $4.6 million.

Kansas City has not gone to a hearing since Dayton Moore became general manager in 2006.

Ty Lawson Misses Nuggets’ 1st Practice After Break

Posted on February 18, 2015

DENVER (AP) — Point guard Ty Lawson missed the Denver Nuggets’ first practice after the All-Star break and coach Brian Shaw is looking into the reason why before handing out any sort of punishment.

Asked about Lawson’s nonattendance, Shaw said: “Travel issues or whatever, he’s not here. … So we had to go without him.” Shaw said one of the choices may be holding Lawson out of the starting lineup Friday in Milwaukee.

Lawson leads the team in scoring (16.9) and assists (10.1).

His absence comes a day before the trade deadline, with several Denver players being bantered about in rumors. That includes guard Arron Afflalo, who said he won’t pace the floor with anxiety because, “the circumstances are either playing in the NBA or playing in the NBA. I’ll be fine.”

UFC Introduces Anti-Doping Policy for Later this Year

Posted on February 18, 2015

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Rocked by a recent spate of high-profile suspensions, UFC announced on Wednesday a multimillion-dollar anti-doping plan.

UFC says all fighters will be subject to random performance-enhancing drug testing, effective July 1.

UFC announced the decision one day after fighters Anderson Silva, Nick Diaz, and Hector Lombard were slapped with temporary suspensions for failed drug tests.

Light heavyweight champion Jon Jones also tested positive for cocaine before UFC 182.

UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta says the world’s leading MMA promotion will press athletic commissions to impose more severe doping penalties. Fertitta says he supports the World Anti-Doping Association’s two-year ban for first-time offenders and would have no issue with increasing the ban to four years if WADA goes that route.

Rockies beat Catcher Wilin Rosario in Salary Arbitration

Posted on February 18, 2015

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The Colorado Rockies have defeated catcher Wilin Rosario in salary arbitration.

Rosario was given a $2.8 million salary instead of his $3.3 million request on Wednesday by Elizabeth Neumeier, Phillip LaPorte and James Oldham, who heard the case a day earlier.

Rosario, who turns 26 on Feb. 23, hit .267 with 13 homers and 54 RBIs last year, down from .292 with 21 homers and 79 RBIs in 2013. He made $502,000 last year.

Teams lead players 6-3, the most hearings since teams went 8-6 in 2001.

Spring Game Time, TV Announced

Posted on February 18, 2015

The University of Nebraska and BTN have announced that the Huskers’ April 11 Red-White Spring Game will be televised live on the network, beginning at 1 p.m.

In addition to live coverage on BTN, the game will also be available for fans on their mobile devices through BTN2Go. This marks the fourth straight year BTN has provided coverage of the Nebraska spring game.

The Husker Sports Network will provide radio coverage of the spring game with pre-game coverage beginning at 11 a.m. CT. More details on events surrounding the spring game will be announced in the coming weeks.

In addition to the Red-White Spring Game, the Husker track and field teams will play host to the Husker Spring Invite at Ed Weir Stadium on April 11, beginning at 10 a.m., with events continuing throughout the day. The Nebraska baseball team will take on Minnesota at Hawks Field in the evening with first pitch set for 6:05 p.m.

Nebraska Legislature Effectively Kills Voter ID Bill

Posted on February 18, 2015February 18, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A bill that would require Nebraska voters to show government identification at the polls is all but dead after opponents brought the debate to a sudden and unexpected halt.

Lawmakers voted 25-15 on Tuesday to push the measure to the bottom of this year’s agenda, which effectively guarantees lawmakers won’t return to it this year. The vote came after less than four hours of debate, much sooner than supporters had expected.

Speaker of the Legislature Galen Hadley says lawmakers likely began to suspect the bill wasn’t ready for debate after opponents and sponsors filed numerous amendments to address flaws.

Sen. Tyson Larson of O’Neill, the bill’s sponsor, says he believes the majority of Nebraska’s citizens want a voter ID law. He says he will consider sponsoring similar legislation next year.