COLUMBUS, Neb. (AP) — People can lower their electric bills this summer by adjusting their thermostats and turning off lights and devices they’re not using.

The Nebraska Public Power District offered several tips to help reduce bills.

Energy efficiency supervisor Steve Zach says air conditioning represents up to 70 percent of most Nebraskans’ summer electric bills, so setting the thermostat at a higher temperature can make a big difference.

Zach says setting the temperature between 78 and 82 degrees while away from home lets the air conditioner rest more.

Using a ceiling fan can make it feel 4 degrees cooler without cooling the entire home.

Turning off lights and electronic devices when they’re not being used also helps.

Cooking with a microwave or grill instead of an oven reduces the amount of heat generated.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission plans to heighten a campaign intended to curb alcohol use while boating.

Operation Dry Water is part of a national effort to reduce the number of accidents and deaths related to boating under the influence.

The commission says the operation is a year-round campaign, but that the effort will be heightened by Game and Parks officers from June 26 through June 28.

Alcohol use while boating is the leading factor in boater deaths. In Nebraska, it’s illegal to operate a motorboat with a blood alcohol level content of .08 percent or greater. Doing so constitutes boating under the influence, or BUI, which carries penalties that may include vessel impoundment, fines, jail time and loss of boating privileges.

More information can be found www.operationdrywater.org.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A U.S. Supreme Court decision expected later this month could mean higher premiums for nearly 57,000 Nebraskans, forcing many to drop their coverage.

The court will rule on a lawsuit that could wipe out federal tax credits in 34 states, including Nebraska, which chose not to create their own health insurance markets.

The Kaiser Family Foundation says Nebraskans who receive the credits would see an average premium increase of 265 percent without them. Nebraskans receive a total of $14.6 million in tax credits each month, for an average of $257 per enrollee.

Nebraska groups that helped with the enrollment effort say they have notified clients about the lawsuit, and many are now worried that they’ll lose coverage.

An uneventful Sunday afternoon quickly took a turn when tornado sirens sounded in North Platte.

According to the North Platte Police Department, a citizen called the 911 center and reported a tornado on the Southeast side of Lake Maloney at around 12:25 p.m.

Authorities say the National Weather Service confirmed the tornado and reported that the tornado was nearly stationary.

Because it was unknown which direction the cell would move, the sirens were sounded at Lake Maloney, as well as in the city limits of North Platte.

Police say dispatchers received numerous 911 calls from citizens asking why the tornado sirens were going off, and remind citizens that the sirens are only tested on the first Wednesday of each month at 11:30 a.m.  They say any sirens sounded outside of this time indicate an emergency and should be taken seriously.

The high volume of 911 calls only compounds an already hectic time for the dispatchers and police say the congestion may keep someone with a real emergency from getting assistance.  They ask that 911 only be used in the event of an emergency.

The Weather Service says the landspout tornado was on the ground for a few minutes and there have been no reports of damage or injuries.

According to meteorologists, a landspout tornado is a tornado that is not associated with the mesocyclone of a thunderstorm.  They are typically shorter in duration and produce less damage than their supercell counterparts.

A storm near Anselmo also produced a funnel cloud on Sunday afternoon, but the Weather Service said it did not touch the ground.

 

 

The North Platte Police Department is investigating a false report of a shooting at a local church.

At around 12:01 p.m., on June 14, the NPPD received a call from a subject who said there was a man with a gun at the Church of Christ.

According to police, as dispatchers were talking to the subject, they heard what sounded like multiple gunshots in the background.  The caller also made a reference to ISIS, an Islamic terrorist group, during the call, according to Lt. Steve Reeves.

Police say there are two Church of Christ locations in North Platte, one at 700 South Willow Street and one at 3311 South Oak Street.

Because the caller did not specify which location they were referring to, NPPD officers responded to the South Willow location, and deputies with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office responded to the church on South Oak.  Additionally, other officers, who were off-duty, were called in to ensure there was enough manpower.

Authorities say law enforcement entered both churches and deemed them both to be safe.

They say, at this time, it appears the caller provided false information.

Investigators are working to identify the caller.  Police believe the call was made over the internet.