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Authorities Release Names of 2-State Chase Crash Victims

ambulance-lightsCHADRON, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska authorities have released the name of a driver who died and two people who were injured in a crash that ended a police chase that began in South Dakota.

Early Tuesday morning a sheriff’s deputy started chasing a vehicle that had been parked on U.S. Highway 18 east of Oelrichs (OHL’-rihks), South Dakota. Oglala Sioux officers then took over and followed the vehicle south into Nebraska.

The vehicle suddenly reversed course and headed north, striking a tribal police cruiser and injuring an officer. The vehicle went out of control and crashed, catching fire.

The Dawes County attorney in Nebraska says the driver, 34-year-old Kerry Peters, died in the crash. Twenty-nine-year-old Donny Red Paint and 29-year-old Pauline WhiteButterfly were hospitalized. All three are from Pine Ridge, South Dakota.

Man Died After Being Taken Into Custody, Bellevue Police Say

bellevue-police-patchBELLEVUE, Neb. (AP) — Bellevue police say a man died after he stopped breathing while being placed in custody.

Officers were dispatched around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday to check a report about a man screaming in a street. Police spokeswoman Laurie Synowiecki says a struggle broke out as officers tried to take the man into custody, and he stopped breathing while handcuffed.

Officers report that they performed CPR on the man. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His name won’t be released until family members are notified about his death.

Four officers have been placed on paid administrative leave while the case is investigated, which is the department policy.

State law says that whenever someone dies in custody or while being arrested, a grand jury must review the case.

Veterans Can Get Free Training for Cybersecurity Jobs

solutionaryOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Military veterans who are interested in cyber security jobs can receive free training in the field through a special program.

Omaha Internet security firm Solutionary is sponsoring an intensive six-week training program for veterans who qualify as long as they agree to work for the Omaha company for at least two years.

Arlin Halstead with Solutionary says the industry is having trouble finding enough qualified candidates for cybersecurity jobs, so Solutionary decided to offer this training.

The application deadline for the first class is March 1. More details are available online at www.sans.org/cybertalent/immersion-academy .

Study: Tourist Pot Complaints Up at Colorado Emergency Rooms

Colorado-MarijuanaDENVER (AP) — Colorado’s tourists aren’t just buying weed now that it’s legal — they’re ending up in emergency rooms at rates far higher than residents.

That’s according to a study that will be published Thursday in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Doctors reviewed marijuana-related emergency-room admissions at a hospital near Denver International Airport during 2014, the first year recreational pot sales became legal.

The physicians found that the rate of emergency-room visits possibly related to marijuana doubled among out-of-state residents.

Among Colorado residents, the rate of emergency-room visits possibly related to cannabis use did not change significantly between 2013 and 2014.

The doctors say there needs to be more education about pot aimed at visitors.

North Platte Weather-February 25

forecast graphic february 25 2016Today
Sunny, with a high near 44. North northwest wind 5 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 18. West southwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming south in the evening.
Friday
Sunny, with a high near 58. Northwest wind 7 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Friday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 26. Northwest wind around 7 mph becoming south southwest after midnight.
Saturday
Sunny, with a high near 70. West southwest wind 7 to 13 mph.
Saturday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 38.
Sunday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 58. Breezy.
Sunday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 31.
Monday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 61.
Monday Night
A chance of rain before midnight, then a chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30.
Tuesday
A chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 44.

Richard Maurice Kurtz

kurtzRichard Maurice Kurtz, 86, of Akron, Ohio passed away February 13, 2016 in Medford, Oregon.  He was born on July 5, 1929 to John and Garnet (Sullivan) Kurtz.

Upon graduation from high school in 1946 he joined the armed service in which he played the French horn for the marching band.  After being honorably discharged from the Army he attended Finn College located in Cleveland, Ohio.  After 2 years of attendance at Finn College he enrolled at Life Bible College of the Foursquare Gospel Church in Los Angeles, CA in 1950.  It is there that he met his wife Bernadine Hewitt and the two were married on September 6, 1953.  Upon ordination he was appointed to be the assistant pastor of the North Platte, Nebraska Foursquare Gospel Church under the ministry of Pastor Clyde Greisen where he served until he was appointed pastor to the Tallmadge, Ohio Foursquare Gospel Church in 1955.

Richard was employed by General Tire of Akron, Ohio in 1958 where he worked steadily until his retirement in 1991.

Richard and Bernadine were blessed by two daughters, Judge Joyce (Judge James) Kimbler, and school teacher, JoAnn (Reverend Bob) Hoffman.  They have three granddaughters, Brianna Laybourn, Johanna (Ethan) Smith, and Joyanna Hoffman; grandson, Brannon Laybourn; two great-grandchildren, Robert and Willow-Mae Smith.  Richard enjoyed the company of Tom and David Perkins and Tammy White during the years that they spent together.  Richard’s siblings are brothers, Gene (Donna) Kurtz, and Kenneth (Nancy) Kurtz; sisters, Thelma (Bob) Thoburn, and Janice (Herschel) Hatley.  Richard will be greatly missed by his many family and friends.

Memorials may be made in his name and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.

Services will be 1:00 p.m. Saturday, February 27, 2016 at The Rock Church 2001 West A Street with Reverend Robert W. Hoffman officiating.  Burial will follow at McCain Cemetery near Stapleton.  Visitation will be 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. Friday, February 26, 2016 at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home 421 West 4th Street which is in charge of arrangements.

Nebraska Committee Considers Aid-in-Dying Legislation

assisted-suicideLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Adults suffering from a terminal illness would have the legal right to end their own lives under a bill presented to a Nebraska legislative committee.

The bill on Wednesday drew emotional support from residents who have watched their loved ones die slow, painful deaths, while some medical professionals opposed it.

Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha says he introduced the measure to help people on the verge of death end their own lives without suffering needlessly. If the bill passes, Nebraska would join Montana, Oregon, Washington, Vermont and California in allowing patients to take their own lives.

The legislation would only apply to patients who are believed to have less than six months to live, and patients could rescind the request at any time.

6 States Sue Obama Over Affordable Care Act

health_careMADISON, Wis. (AP) — Six states have filed a new lawsuit against the Obama administration over the Affordable Care Act.

The complaint that Texas, Wisconsin, Kansas, Louisiana, Indiana and Nebraska filed Wednesday in the Northern District of Texas takes issue with the Health Insurance Providers Fee assessed to health insurers to cover federal subsidies.

The lawsuit says nothing in the Affordable Care Act’s language provided clear notice that states would have to pay the fee.

The suit seeks an injunction against the administrative rule that says states are responsible for the fee and others. It also asks for states to be refunded for what they’ve already paid.

A statement from the attorney general’s office says Wisconsin spent more than $23 million in such fees in 2014 and 2015.

Flu Vaccine More Effective This Year; Milder Season So Far

vaccinationNEW YORK (AP) — The flu vaccine is doing a better job this year.

Preliminary data suggest it is 59 percent effective. That’s a big improvement from last winter’s nasty flu season when the vaccine was less than 20 percent effective.

Unlike last year’s vaccine, this year’s is a good match to the strains making people sick.

It’s been a milder flu season so far, though health officials said it has not yet peaked.

The numbers were presented Wednesday at a medical meeting in Atlanta.

Kearney Credit Union Robber Sentenced

dept.-of-justiceUnited States Attorney Deborah R. Gilg announced the sentencing of one of the men responsible for the October 17, 2014, robbery of the Kearney Eaton Employees Credit Union.  On Friday, February 12, 2016, Senior United States District Judge Richard G. Kopf sentenced Patrick Wigley to the custody of the Bureau of Prisons for 212 months (17.6 years) for his involvement in the robbery.  On January 5, 2016, Judge Kopf sentenced a co-defendant, Thomas Dunlap, to the Bureau of Prisons for 136 months (11.3 years) for his involvement in the robbery.  As part of the sentences, Dunlap and Wigley were also ordered to pay restitution of $122,891.15.

On October 17, 2014, Dunlap and Wigley, dressed in work clothes and wearing white hard hats, entered the Kearney Eaton Employees Credit Union.  Dunlap brandished what employees believed to be a small caliber revolver, and Dunlap and Wigley jumped over the teller counter, gathered the credit union employees into an interior office, had them lay face down on the floor and bound their hands with zip ties.  Dunlap and Wigley then emptied one teller’s drawer and took the money from the drawer, together with money from the vault, totaling $122,891.15 and left the premises.

A third co-defendant, Clifton Hudson, is awaiting trial.

This case was investigated by the Kearney Police Department, Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office, the Nebraska State Patrol and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

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