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Month: April 2016

Nebraskan Accused of Stealing Cellphones from Iowa Employer

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us-cellularCOUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A former U.S. Cellular employee has been accused of stealing nearly $30,000 in merchandise from the company in Council Bluffs.

Iowa online court records say 21-year-old Sayeg Moreno Padilla, who lives in Omaha, Nebraska, is charged with felony theft and ongoing criminal conduct. His attorney didn’t immediately return a call Tuesday from The Associated Press. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 9.

Prosecutors say Moreno Padilla opened fraudulent accounts and stole 44 cellphones and $1,500 in gift cards between May 6 and June 16 last year.

Ricketts Signs Bill Ending Common Levy for Nebraska Schools

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school-fundingLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Gov. Pete Ricketts is praising the Nebraska Legislature’s decision to end a common tax levy for 11 school districts in and around Omaha.

Ricketts signed a bill Tuesday to get rid of the controversial common levy, starting in 2017, and sever the financial ties among the 11 districts, while increasing state support for them.

Ricketts says the bill allows Omaha schools to focus their resources on quality education within their districts instead of sending their property tax dollars to fund other schools.

The bill would maintain the Learning Community structure and its programs, including two elementary learning centers and several early childhood education programs. It would require the districts to work together to raise educational achievement among all metro-area students.

The bill is LB 1067.

Pickup Driver Dies After Lincoln Collision with Semitrailer

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fatal-accidentLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Lincoln authorities say a 10-year-old child in a pickup suffered minor injuries when the truck collided with a semitrailer, killing the pickup driver.

The accident occurred a little before 5:30 p.m. Monday.

Lincoln police Capt. Bob Farber says the westbound pickup crossed a center line and struck the eastbound semi. The pickup driver was partially ejected and was pronounced dead at the scene. The child was taken to a hospital and then released. The semi’s driver was not injured.

Police identified the pickup driver as 27-year-old Eric Bergman. The names of the child and the semi driver have not been released.

Nebraska’s Winnebago Tribe Seeks to Change Enrollment Rule

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Winnebago Indians LogoWINNEBAGO, Neb. (AP) — A proposed change to Winnebago tribal enrollment could change the northeast Nebraska tribe’s future.

Tribal leaders have proposed that future Winnebago members be at least one-eighth Winnebago and one-fourth Native American.

The tribe currently requires enrolled members to be at least one-fourth Indian.

Tribe’s enrollment manager Phyllis Ware says more than 100 people from other tribes throughout the country have enrolled as members over the last seven years since the rule doesn’t specify a minimum amount of Winnebago lineage.

Proposed changes require the approval of currently enrolled members in a special election. If it’s approved, existing Winnebago members who don’t meet the new requirements would be allowed to retain their membership, financial benefits and voting rights.

Gail Lee Williams

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williams

Gail Lee Williams was born February 3rd, 1934 in Des Moines, Iowa to Edward and Vendora Williams. Departed on April 16th, 2016 at the age of 82 at his home with his family at his side.
Gail graduated North Platte High School in 1953 and started working for Union Pacific Railroad in June of 1953. In August 1954 he joined the United States Army (1954-1956) and spent time in Japan and South Korea and due to his experience, assisted on the South Korean Railway System. After serving 2 years he was discharged and returned to North Platte and resumed working for Union Pacific until he retired as a Conductor in 1995, 42 years of service. The mountains of Wyoming and Montana were his little piece of Heaven on Earth, Especially the Snowy Range Mountains near Laramie, WY. Gail was a proud member of First United Methodist Church, devoted husband and father, Enjoyed camping, hunting, fishing, Nebraska football and spending time with friends and family. He was preceded in death by wife, Myrna L. Williams; son, Randy D. Williams; grandson, CJ Sean Williams and parents Edward and Vendora. Surviving family includes his sisters, Shirley Fickenscher of Mesa, AZ; Bernice Sakurai of North Platte, NE and brother, Gary D. Williams (Olive) of Waxahachie, TX; son, Steven Williams (Regina) of North Platte, NE; daughter, Karen Williams of North Platte, NE; numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, and many friends and family. Online condolences may be shared at www.carpentermemorial.com. A memorial has been established in his memory. Services will be 1:00 p.m. Friday, April 22, 2016 at First United Methodist Church with Dr. Rev. Douglas A. Delp officiating. Burial will be at Ft. McPherson National Cemetery with military honors. Visitation will from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday and from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thursday at Carpenter Memorial Chapel, which is in charge of arrangements.

Nebraska Superintendent: Boy Dies After Collapsing at Track Practice

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FORT CALHOUN, Neb. (AP) — The Fort Calhoun Community Schools superintendent says that a seventh-grader died after collapsing at track practice in Washington County.

Superintendent Don Johnson said that coaches immediately began life-saving measures on Gabe Namuth before he was transported by ambulance from Fort Calhoun Junior-Senior High School to an Omaha hospital around 4 p.m. Monday. Johnson said Namuth died on arrival.

School activities planned for the remainder of the day were canceled.

Johnson declined to give further details out of respect for Namuth’s family.

North Platte Weather-April 19

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forecast graphic april 19 2016Today
A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 1pm. Patchy fog before 10am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 58. Light and variable wind becoming south 6 to 11 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Tonight
A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am, then a slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. South wind 5 to 9 mph becoming light southeast after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Wednesday
A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 62. Calm wind becoming north northwest 5 to 8 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Wednesday Night
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 39. North wind 5 to 9 mph becoming light northwest.
Thursday
Sunny, with a high near 69. North wind 6 to 11 mph.
Thursday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 40.
Friday
Sunny, with a high near 74.
Friday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 46.
Saturday
Sunny, with a high near 78.

Give Drug Felons Food Stamps, Many States Now Say

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food-stampsLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — As states look to reduce spending on prison and deal with overcrowded conditions, many are opting out of a federal law that bans convicted drug felons from ever receiving food stamps.

Texas and Alabama lawmakers recently changed their laws to allow food stamps to former drug felons, and Georgia is moving toward a similar change.

The idea is to help ex-offenders stay out of prison, where they would run up a big bill for taxpayers.

There was majority support to make the change in Nebraska, but some lawmakers used a procedural move to block the effort. Supporters plan to try again next year.

If Georgia changes its rules, eight states will retain the lifetime ban: Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, South Carolina and West Virginia.

Nebraska Prisons Head Grilled Over Inmate Who Swallowed Keys

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Scott Frakes
Scott Frakes

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska’s corrections director is facing tough questions from a lawmaker who says a high-profile inmate was able to swallow an employee’s keys while under around-the-clock supervision.

Correctional services director Scott Frakes on Monday defended his staff’s actions but said workers made mistakes in their handling of Nikko Jenkins. He acknowledges no one has been fired.

Jenkins is in custody at the Nebraska State Penitentiary while awaiting sentencing for four murders in Omaha in August 2013.

Jenkins has cut his face, tongue and genitals and tried to hang himself while in prison. Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha railed against the department’s handling of Jenkins.

Frakes’ comments came during a wide-ranging legislative hearing on Nebraska’s prison system, which touched on issues such as staff turnover and the use of solitary confinement.

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