We have a brand new updated website! Click here to check it out!

Nebraska senator asks community college chairman to resign

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha has called on the board chairman of a community college in Omaha to resign.

Metro Community College could lose eligibility for millions of federal dollars if Fred Conley stays on the panel.

Last month, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development banned Conley from participating in federal contracts for three years because he failed to disclose a potential conflict of interest while serving on the Omaha Housing Authority board.

Conley has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to overturn the department’s action.

The Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid Office told the community college last month that the school must remove any leader who is prohibited from participating in federal contracts in order to maintain its eligibility to receive federal student aid program funds.

Former US prosecutor in Nebraska settles sex bias lawsuit

dept.-of-justiceLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A former federal prosecutor in Nebraska has settled her sex discrimination lawsuit against government officials.

Jill Finken will receive $85,000.

Her lawsuit said supervisors harassed her and treated her differently than male colleagues. It also said she was denied opportunities for full-time work in the office despite her legal experience and work as a reservist in the Iowa Army National Guard.

Finken joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office in October 2012 as a special assistant U.S. attorney tasked with improving prosecution rates in sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse cases on Nebraska’s Native American reservations. She resigned in September 2014 after asking the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to investigate.

The U.S. attorney’s office in Omaha didn’t immediately a call Thursday.

Ricketts tells Nebraska agencies to brace for lean times

Gov. Pete Ricketts
Gov. Pete Ricketts

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Gov. Pete Ricketts is telling Nebraska agencies to tighten their belts after the state collected $95 million less than expected in the previous fiscal year.

Ricketts announced Thursday that he has directed department leaders to look carefully at whether new hires are necessary, limit travel when possible and delay hardware and software purchases if they can.

Ricketts says the shortfall isn’t a crisis and can be managed. He says it isn’t necessary to call a special legislative session.

State officials are also reducing the quarterly allotment of money that each agency receives. Budget Director Gerry Oligmueller says agencies will receive 24 percent of their total state funding, instead of the usual 25 percent.

Nebraska State Tax Commissioner Tony Fulton says a slowing agricultural economy contributed to the shortfall.

16-year-old gets 30-50 years in fatal Omaha shooting

Shuntayvious Primes-WIllis
Shuntayvious Primes-WIllis

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A 16-year-old has been given 30 to 50 years in prison for killing one man and wounding another in Omaha’s Miller Park.

Shuntayvious Primes-Willis was sentenced Wednesday. Prosecutors say he and two other boys fatally shot Jamymell Ray and wounded Charles Fisher on June 29, 2015. Primes-Willis was 15 then, but he was prosecuted as an adult in district court. He pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and a weapons count.

Court records say 18-year-old Jamar Milton has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and related charges. He was 17 at the time of the shootings, but he also is being prosecuted as an adult. His trial is to begin Nov. 7.

The other youth involved, now 13, is being treated at Boys Town in Omaha.

95-year-old died in hospital after crash, authorities say

Saunders-County-SheriffLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a 95-year-old woman injured in a Saunders County collision has died.

The crash occurred Sunday on Nebraska Highway 79 near Morse Bluff. The Saunders County Sheriff’s Department says 69-year-old Charlene Mason, of Omaha, was driving east on a county road and didn’t stop at its intersection with the highway. The department says Mason’s vehicle then was struck by a southbound pickup driven by 22-year-old Austin Hines, of rural Morse Bluff.

Both drivers and Mason’s passenger, Lorraine Stapleton, were hospitalized. The department says Stapleton died Wednesday at a hospital.

Man killed in 3-vehicle crash, Nebraska State Patrol says

fatal-crashALMA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a 74-year-old man has been killed in a three-vehicle crash in south-central Nebraska.

The collision occurred around 3 p.m. Tuesday on U.S. Highway 83, about six miles north of Alma. The Nebraska State Patrol says a southbound sport utility vehicle ran into a northbound gravel truck while trying to pass a semitrailer. The patrol says the SUV then struck the semi.

The patrol says the SUV driver died of his injuries. He was identified as John Bonie, of Orleans. The two other drivers were not injured.

Lonnie McDonald

mcdonald

Lonnie McDonald 67, of Englewood, FL passed away at his residence July 1, 2016. Lonnie previously resided in North Platte, NE area for 40 years. Lonnie worked in law enforcement in Lincoln and Dawson counties for 39 years before retiring in 2013. During Lonnie’s law enforcement career he especially enjoyed his work as an investigator, and enjoyed his job every day. He spoke highly of his superiors and his colleagues, often saying they were his “family” he saw every day. Lonnie had a passion for fishing, golfing and hunting. He also enjoyed the challenge of renovating homes he had purchased. His one dream was to see a Masters Tournament in person. He fulfilled those dreams in 2014 and again in 2015, this time attending with his nephew, Kelly Hammer. Lonnie was born July 30, 1948 to Franklln H and Loretta E (Johnson) McDonald. He was raised in the Laurel area until his graduation in 1966. He graduated from the Law Enforcement Academy at Grand Island, NE in 1976.
Lonnie is survived by his three daughters; Shawn (Lockwood) Meier of Brandon, MN; Erin (Lockwood) Okerlund and husband Skip, also of Brandon, MN; Amy ( McDonald) -Longmore of Kearney, NE; and one son, Joshua McDonald of Cozad, NE; and 12 grandchildren; his sister Lynette “Nettie”( McDonald ) Hammer of Coleridge, NE; nephew Kelly Hammer also of Coleridge, NE; and nieces Angela (Hammer) Johnson and husband Chris, of Hartington, NE; Cheri (McDonald) Polenske and husband Stan, of Waverly, NE; and Cristy (McDonald) Jorgensen and husband Jason, of Wayne, NE; brother-in-law Roger Hammer and sister-in-law Karen McDonald both of Wayne, NE. Several great nieces and nephews, as well as cousins.
Lonnie is proceeded in death by his parents in 1988 and 1989; and brother, LaVerle (Curly) McDonald in 2005. A memorial service will be held at 3:00 pm Friday, July 22, 2016 at Carpenter Memorial Chapel . Online condolences may be shared at www.carpentermemorial.com Graveside services will be held at a later date at Concord, NE.

North Platte Weather-July 14

forecast graphic july 14 2016Today
A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 10am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 83. North wind 5 to 7 mph becoming east in the afternoon.
Tonight
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 4am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 59. Southeast wind 5 to 7 mph.
Friday
A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 82. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 11 to 16 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 24 mph.
Friday Night
A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. Southeast wind 9 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.
Saturday
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. South wind 8 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
Saturday Night
A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66.
Sunday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.
Sunday Night
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 66.
Monday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.
Monday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 67.
Tuesday
Sunny and hot, with a high near 97.
Tuesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 69.
Wednesday
Sunny and hot, with a high near 99.

17-year-old boy accused of fatal Lincoln shooting

crime-scene-police-shootLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A 17-year-old boy has been accused of shooting to death a Lincoln man and wounding another.

Lincoln police said Wednesday that the boy will be charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder, robbery and other crimes. Investigators say he fatally shot 32-year-old Christopher Coleman and left 21-year-old Jerry Griffis Jr. paralyzed from his wounds on April 18. The Associated Press generally doesn’t name juveniles accused of crimes.

The boy has been in the custody of juvenile authorities on unrelated robbery charges. Three other people have been charged in connection with the robbery and shootings.

Bellevue-area forest opens $2M raptor exhibit

commons.wikimedia.org
commons.wikimedia.org

BELLEVUE, Neb. (AP) — A forest near Bellevue has opened a $2 million exhibit containing 13 species of raptors.

Fontenelle Forest held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the exhibit on Tuesday afternoon.

The forest’s director of education Elizabeth Chalen says the Raptor Woodland Refuge gives the public the opportunity to learn about raptors, conservation efforts and the birds’ roles in the ecosystem. The exhibit holds species such as turkey vultures, ferruginous hawks and great horned owls.

Fontenelle Forest’s Raptor Recovery team rescues sick and injured raptors and rehabilitates them before releasing them back into the wild. Chalen says the team treats about 500 raptors each year.

The exhibit was mostly funded through grants, foundations and individual donors.

Copyright Eagle Radio | FCC Public Files | EEO Public File