March 2015 – Page 74 – North Platte Post Archive

Request for Stay in Nebraska Gay Marriage Case Filed

Posted on March 3, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson says the state should not be forced to recognize gay marriages until the matter is decided by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Peterson filed a motion Tuesday with the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for an emergency stay. The filing came a day after U.S. District Judge Joseph Bataillon struck down Nebraska’s gay marriage and civil union ban as unconstitutional.

Bataillon ordered that his ruling not to go into effect until March 9, to give the state time to appeal.

The 8th Circuit is expected to decide by next Monday whether to grant the emergency stay.

The U.S. Supreme Court has said it will decide whether same-sex couples have the constitutional right to marry everywhere in the U.S. A decision is expected by late June.

Deferred-Action Youths Ask Nebraska for Driver’s Licenses

Posted on March 3, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska is the only state to deny driver’s licenses to youths who were brought into the country illegally as children, and could remain so if Gov. Pete Ricketts mirrors the policies of his predecessor.

Lawmakers heard nearly three hours of supportive testimony in a legislative hearing Tuesday for a bill by Sen. Jeremy Nordquist of Omaha. It would allow driver’s licenses for qualified youths who were granted deferred-action status under an Obama administration policy.

Advocates call the bill common sense for public safety and employment.

Former Gov. Dave Heineman announced in 2012 that Nebraska would not issue driver’s licenses to the youths. Ricketts has said he opposes taxpayer dollars for individuals who have entered the country illegally.

Official: US Report Finds Racial Bias in Ferguson Police

Posted on March 3, 2015

WASHINGTON (AP) — A law enforcement official tells The Associated Press that a Justice Department investigation has found patterns of racial bias in the Ferguson, Missouri, police department and at the municipal jail and court.

The official says the investigation found that officers disproportionately used excessive force against blacks and too often charged them with petty offenses. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to speak on the record before the full report was released.

The official says the report will allege direct evidence of racial bias among police officers and court workers and a system that prioritizes generating revenue from fines over public safety.

The full report could be released as soon as Wednesday.

The Justice Department began the civil rights investigation following the August shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed black 18-year-old, by a white police officer.

Lawmakers Take Another Crack at Expanding Gun Checks

Posted on March 3, 2015

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords is returning to Capitol Hill on Wednesday to help kick-start a longshot campaign to expand criminal background checks to all commercial firearms sales.

Similar legislation that sought to expand background checks failed to get a hearing in the House last session. With the GOP expanding its majority and winning control of the Senate, prospects for the bill may be even more unlikely this session.

Still, Democratic Rep. Mike Thompson of California predicts the legislation would pass if GOP leadership would let it come to the House floor.

The National Rifle Association opposes expanding background checks, saying many people sent to prison because of gun crimes get their guns through theft or the black market, and no amount of background checks can stop those criminals.

Regulators to Police: Issue More Tickets at Railroad Crossings

Posted on March 3, 2015

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (AP) — National railroad regulators are asking local police departments to issue more tickets to drivers who ignore warnings at crossings.

The Federal Railroad Administration says it’s the first step in a safety campaign. The campaign was spurred by accidents last month in Valhalla, New York, and Oxnard, California, that killed seven people. The engineer in the California crash died Tuesday.

The agency is calling for greater police presence at grade crossings and more citations for violations. It is not providing any new funding.

FRA spokesman Kevin Thompson said Tuesday that the agency has enlisted the cooperation of the Fraternal Order of Police, the National Sheriffs Association and the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

Thompson said his agency will provide materials the groups can pass on to their members.

2 Women Suing Nebraska Utility for Discrimination Get New Trial

Posted on March 3, 2015

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Court of Appeals has revived the lawsuits of two women who say that Omaha’s Metropolitan Utilities District discriminated against them by passing them over for a job that went to a less qualified man.

Kristina Hartley and Sherri Meisinger sued the utility in 2011 after applying for a supervisory position. Although each had worked for the utility for 20-plus years and met educational and other requirements of the job, the position was given to a man they said did not meet the posted educational requirements who had only four years’ experience.

The appeals court found Tuesday that a judge improperly dismissed Meisinger’s case. It also ordered a new trial for Hartley, saying the judge wrongly excluded the testimony of two other women who accused MUD of discrimination.

MPCC to Host ‘A Shot of Reality’

Posted on March 3, 2015

Binge drinking, alcoholism, drunk driving, health risks and social mistakes are some of the many topics that will be covered in the presentation designed to educate students about encountering alcohol in a college environment.

The free program is mandatory for students living on MPCC campuses. It is also open to the public. Shows will be 8 p.m. March 9 at the McCook Community College Weeth Theater and8 p.m. March 10 at the North Platte Community College McDonald-Belton Theater.

“A Shot of Reality” is one of the hottest groups on the college circuit,” said Josh York, assistant student activities director for NPCC. “One of the biggest draws is that the group does not get on stage and lecture about the effects of alcohol and drugs on the body. Instead, it informs and entertains through learning tools.”

One of the tools is vision impairment goggles.

“Those demonstrate different levels of intoxication and show the wearer what it is like to see through the eyes of someone who is intoxicated,” said York.

According to the “A Shot of Reality” website, the program also combines interactive comedy, audience role playing, facts and education about the dangers of alcohol. It provides an honest, engaging, humorous and sober look at alcohol awareness on campus.

The goal of “A Shot of Reality” is to talk to students as friends instead of preaching at them like parents. It has proven to be highly effective.

“We realize certain students will choose to drink,” the website reads. “We want them to be educated. We want them taking care of each other and themselves.”

Denver Nuggets Fire Coach Brian Shaw

Posted on March 3, 2015

DENVER (AP) — The Denver Nuggets have fired coach Brian Shaw after 1½ seasons.

General manager Tim Connelly said in a statement Tuesday: “You won’t find a better guy than Brian and he is one of the brightest basketball minds I’ve ever been around. Unfortunately things didn’t go as we hoped, but we know with his basketball acumen that he has a very bright future ahead of him.”

Assistant coach Melvin Hunt will serve as interim coach.

Shaw went 56-85 for a .397 winning percentage. Denver takes a 20-39 record and a six-game losing streak into its game against Milwaukee on Tuesday night.

Shaw replaced George Karl, who was ousted after Denver won a franchise-record 57 games in 2012-13 only to be bounced from the first round of the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.

Play Ball! Quickly! Baseball Tries to Speed Game This Spring

Posted on March 3, 2015

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — Tick, tock, baseball is on the clock.

Major League Baseball’s new pace of play rules have begun with Tuesday’s exhibition games in Arizona and Florida.

The subtle changes are designed to speed a game long embraced for its leisurely pace. Hitters must now keep one foot in the batter’s box between pitches, and pitchers must complete warmup tosses between innings in a specific time.

Digital clocks, though some officials prefer to call them timers, have been installed in ballparks throughout the Grapefruit and Cactus leagues to keep the action moving.

By reducing the time of games, MLB hopes to make the sport more TV friendly and entice a younger audience while not compromising baseball’s integrity.

Scottsbluff Police Investigating Vehicle Vandalisms

Posted on March 3, 2015

SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. (AP) — Western Nebraska police are encouraging anyone with information about a recent string of vandalized vehicles to come forward.

The Scottsbluff Police Department says it began receiving reports of damaged vehicles Saturday night and was continuing to receive them into Sunday morning. It says it has received at least 40 reports. Some of the vehicles had been shot with a BB gun.

No arrests have been made. An investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information is asked to call the police department.