OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Officials in the Omaha School district are considering providing free meals to all students, regardless of the children’s ability to pay.
It would be an expansion of a pilot program the district kicked off in January at six elementary schools.
Omaha was one of two districts in Nebraska to participate in a federal initiative this year that pushed for schools with high concentrations of low-income students to serve free meals to all. Schools can participate in the program if many of their students already were receiving public benefits, such as food stamps or welfare.
In Iowa, participating districts included Council Bluffs and Des Moines.
Weather permitting, 3 rd Street and Jeffers Street intersection is scheduled to be closed for eastbound and westbound traffic, as well as pedestrian traffic, on Friday June 5.
According to the Nebraska Department of Roads, the 2nd Street and Jeffers Street intersection will be open for eastbound and westbound traffic and pedestrian traffic on June 5.
Also, the eastbound and westbound traffic at the intersection of 4th Street and Jeffers Street will be reduced to one lane each direction on Tuesday June 9. Parking will not be permitted on the south side of 4th Street between Jeffers Street and Dewey Street during the time that 4th Street is narrowed to two lanes.
Motorists are reminded to be extra careful in and near highway work zones, and to buckle up, every trip.
Mary Nila, age 85 of North Platte, passed away Thursday June 4, 2015. Christian Wake Service will by 7:00 p.m. Sunday June 7, 2015 at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m. Monday June 8, 2015 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church with Reverend Michael Pampara officiating. Inurnment will follow at North Platte Cemetery. Cremation was chosen and those wishing to do so may sign the register book Sunday from noon until 9:00 p.m. at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) — The new World Video Game Hall of Fame has its first class of inductees.
It includes “Pong,” the early table tennis game that introduced millions to electronic play, and “Doom,” which turned players into virtual gunmen and fueled the debate over whether violent games contribute to real-life aggression.
The hall of fame at The Strong museum in Rochester says the six games inducted Thursday cross decades and platforms, but all have impacted the video game industry, popular culture and society in general.
Joining 1972’s “Pong,” and 1993’s “Doom” are: “Super Mario Bros.,” arcade draw “Pac-Man,” Russian import “Tetris,” and “World of Warcraft.”
Nominations for the hall of fame’s class of 2016 are open from now through the end of March.
Anna Crane of Maxwell signs a letter of intent to play volleyball at North Platte Community College with her parents Tara and Allen Crane looking on. (Photo by Michael Douty – NPCC Sports Information Coordinator)
The North Platte Community College Lady Knights Volleyball team announces the signing of Anna Crane from Maxwell, NE.
Crane, a 5’ 6” outside hitter played for the Maxwell High School Lady Wildcats for three seasons, graduating in 2014. During her career at Maxwell, Crane played in 216 sets, had 385 kills, 54 service aces, 15 blocks and 669 digs.
Crane said that she chose North Platte because it is close to home and be able to play volleyball.
Lady Knight Head Coach Alexa Hopping said. I remember watching her in high school and she was a very athletic player. And we are adding depth to our outside by adding her to the team. I am excited to see how she does working out over the summer with her trainer and her competitive spirit that she brings.”
Crane’s high school coach Lori Mau said, “She was a great player in high school. She was one that was very versatile. She could do a lot of things. She had control in back row. She very athletic, quick to the ball and works hard. She was a hitter in high school, but we relied on her defense, so that was a bigger part on our team than the hitting part of it.”
Crane was a teammate of Lady Knight recruit Tracy Blake.
Mau said “Tracy and Anna worked together a lot. They played right next to each other.”
Anna is the daughter of Allen and Tara Crane of North Platte. Her goal is to go to medical school.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska agriculture officials have reversed an earlier decision and cancelled all poultry events for the rest of the year, including exhibits at fairs.
The state Agriculture Department announced the change Thursday. Poultry shows, bird auctions and fair competitions featuring poultry will be banned at least until January 1.
Officials say this ban was imposed to help protect the poultry industry.
Several other states where bird flu has been found have also banned poultry events.
Tests have confirmed bird flu on at least three farms in northeast Nebraska, and 4 million birds are being killed to control the spread of the disease.
Bird flu has been found on two other farms with just over 3 million chickens, but the disease hasn’t been confirmed by subsequent testing. Those farms are quarantined.
FALLS CITY, Neb. (AP) — Heavy rainfall has accumulated in farm fields and covered streets in much of southeast Nebraska, and more rain is in the forecast.
The National Weather Service says showers and thunderstorms are expected to continue Thursday morning and return Thursday night and overnight.
A flood warning covering Johnson, Pawnee and Richardson counties says there have been reports of more than 5 inches of rain in some spots over the past 24 hours.
The Falls City Airport in Richardson County reported just under 4 inches, and county emergency manager Brian Dixon said residents have been dealing with surface flooding but no major damage.
Dixon says local tributaries that empty into the Missouri River have kept to their banks, but he worries that could change with more rain.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska lawmaker who supports capital punishment has stirred controversy by posting a photo of a beheaded woman on his Facebook page to show his opposition to the state’s recent abolishment of the death penalty.
Sen. Bill Kintner says he posted the photo to make a point, but took it down Wednesday, saying policing the comments was unmanageable.
The photo came from the Twitter account of Pegida Ireland, a group that protests what it calls the “Islamisation” of the West. It didn’t explain who the woman was or the circumstances of her death.
Kintner, who says he’s not affiliated with the group and took the photo from his Facebook feed, argued that people like those who killed the woman would be housed and “well fed” because Nebraska abolished capital punishment.
WINNEBAGO, Neb. (AP) — A 31-year-old Nebraska man has been sent to federal prison for assaulting a federal officer.
The office of U.S. Attorney Deborah Gilg (gihlj) says Thomas White Jr., of Winnebago, was given 33 months behind bars and must serve two years of supervised release after he leaves custody.
Prosecutors say the officer was employed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The officer was on duty at the Winnebago school Oct. 17 when he approached White, who’d been asked to leave the school earlier that day. Prosecutors say White charged the officer and struck him several times on his face, head, arms and side. The officer eventually gained control of White and put him in handcuffs.
HASTINGS, Neb. (AP) — Police have arrested a man they say was the getaway driver in an armed robbery in Hastings.
A 23-year-old was arrested around 1 a.m. Wednesday. The suspect is accused of being involved in a robbery Tuesday at a local store.
According to authorities, a 26-year-old, who was arrested Tuesday, went into the store armed with a shotgun and demanded money.
An arrest affidavit says the 26-year-old admitted to the robbery and said the second suspect was his getaway driver. The affidavit also says they were supposed to split the money from the robbery.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Officials in the Omaha School district are considering providing free meals to all students, regardless of the children’s ability to pay.
