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Company: Dakota Access pipeline on track to start this week

Oil pipeline workersBISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The company building the Dakota Access pipeline says the project remains on track to start moving oil this week despite recent “coordinated physical attacks” along the line.

The brief court filing late Monday from Texas-based Energy Transfer Partners didn’t detail the attacks, but said they “pose threats to life, physical safety and the environment.”

The filing cited those threats for redacting most of the 2½-page report. A spokeswoman and an attorney for the company didn’t immediately respond to emailed questions from The Associated Press.

Two American Indian tribes have battled the $3.8 billion pipeline in court for months, arguing it’s a threat to water. The company has said the pipeline will be safe.

When complete, the pipeline will move oil from North Dakota to a shipping point in Illinois.

North Platte Weather-March 21

NWS-North-PlatteTuesday
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52. East northeast wind 7 to 13 mph.
Tuesday Night
A 30 percent chance of rain, mainly between 8pm and 5am. Cloudy, with a low around 34. East wind around 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 55. South wind 11 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.
Wednesday Night
A 30 percent chance of rain after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38. South southeast wind 10 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
Thursday
A slight chance of rain, with thunderstorms also possible after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 69. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Thursday Night
A chance of rain and thunderstorms, then rain after 1am. Low around 43. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Friday
Rain. Cloudy, with a high near 52. Breezy.
Friday Night
A chance of rain before 2am, then a slight chance of rain and snow between 2am and 3am, then a slight chance of snow after 3am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31.
Saturday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 54.
Saturday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 32.
Sunday
Partly sunny, with a high near 59.
Sunday Night
A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37.
Monday
A slight chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 59.

Knights softball splits doubleheader at Northeast CC

NPCC Knights LogoNorfolk – The North Platte Community College Knights softball team split a doubleheader against the Northeast Community College Lady Hawks on Monday afternoon, winning the first game 6-4 in extra innings, then dropping the second game 0-5.

The Knight’s Samantha Foster had a two-run home run in the first game.

In the second game, the Lady Hawks pitcher Teanne Edens allowed two hits including a triple by Alyiah Franco.

The Knights are now 11-28. They will return home to play Iowa Western Community College. Game times are at 3 pm and 5 pm.

Omaha plans for upgrades to parking garages

omahaOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha’s parking division is working on upgrades that will let drivers use smartphones to pay for parking in garages and even stake out spots for major events.

The city’s parking manager, Ken Smith, says the division is planning for $3.5 million in projects and technology upgrades for next year. The upgrades will include restoration and maintenance of parking facilities.

New technology will allow drivers to find and pay for parking on their phones. The division is also working to add the option of reserving parking for events on the Park Omaha app.

Private parking providers will also have the opportunity to use the new parking features.

Smith says division staff will begin the process of replacing controlling parking garage payments this month.

Nebraska lawmakers confirm new chief medical officer

neb-state-seal-featureLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska lawmakers have voted to confirm an Omaha doctor as the state’s chief medical officer despite concerns about how he will adapt to changing regulations.

Senators voted 39-2 on Monday to confirm Dr. Thomas Williams. Sen. Adam Morfeld, who voted against the confirmation, says the Department of Health and Human Services has allowed a Catholic group to stall the adoption of the state’s ethical principles for psychologists.

The Nebraska Catholic Conference insisted the regulations needed a “conscience clause” allowing psychologists to turn away lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender patients without referring them elsewhere.

Sen. Bob Krist of Omaha says he was disturbed by Williams’ testimony last week on medical marijuana legislation. Williams says marijuana has no medical use and was responsible for a Kansas man shooting his wife in 2014.

Berkshire Hathaway worker picks enough games to win $100,000

berkshire-hathawayOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An employee at one of Berkshire Hathaway’s latest big acquisitions won $100,000 by correctly picking the winners of the first 29 games of the NCAA basketball tournament’s opening rounds.

Warren Buffett’s company said Monday that a welder for Precision Castparts, Dwayne Johnson, won the contest that was open to Berkshire’s more than 350,000 employees.

The 36-year-old winner who lives in West Virginia came just short of qualifying for a $1 million prize if he had picked all 32 games of the opening weekend correctly.

Buffett plans to continue the contest, and he expects there will be million-dollar winners occasionally.

There were 96,108 entrants in the contest this year.

Berkshire owns more than 90 companies, including Geico insurance, BNSF railroad, See’s Candy and Fruit of the Loom.

Nebraska senators weigh ending deductions for union dues

ne-legislature-13LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska lawmakers are considering legislation that would stop the state from deducting public employees’ union dues from their paychecks, a measure that union leaders say unfairly penalizes collective bargaining groups.

Sen. Tom Brewer of Gordon, the bill’s sponsor, told a legislative committee Monday that the government shouldn’t perform payroll functions for outside groups. He says he sees no problem with deductions for charitable organizations such as United Way.

Union members say the bill is an unfair attack on collective bargaining groups and would force unions to spend time and resources collecting dues. Nebraska is already a “right-to-work” state where union membership is voluntary and non-members still are represented by unions.

Man dies after being found unresponsive at work in Lincoln

ambulance-lightsLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A man died after being found unresponsive at the base of a flight of stairs at his workplace in Lincoln.

Lincoln police say officers were called to Nebraska Machinery around 9 a.m. Monday after co-workers found the unresponsive man.

CPR was performed on the man until paramedics arrived, but he died later at a Lincoln hospital.

The cause of the man’s death wasn’t immediately clear on Monday.

Wildfire destroyed homes near Lake McConaughy, chief says

A fire that was brought under control early Sunday morning rekindled on Sunday afternoon forcing the evacuation of homes.  *(Photo by Always Kayak Facebook)
A fire that was brought under control early Sunday morning rekindled on Sunday afternoon forcing the evacuation of homes. *(Photo by Always Kayak Facebook)

LEMOYNE, Neb. (AP) — A fire chief says a wildfire has destroyed at least eight homes and several other buildings near Lake McConaughy (muh-KAH’-nuh-hay).

Keystone-Lemoyne Fire & Rescue Fire Chief Ralph Moul (mowl) said Monday that the blaze had been contained, but fire crews are still watching hot spots. Moul says residents had evacuated as flames raced their way, but several firefighters were treated for minor injuries.

He says more than 100 firefighters from a couple dozen departments responded to calls late Sunday morning. An overnight fire had rekindled as stiff winds whipped up embers near the northeast corner of the lake. He estimated that Sunday’s blaze blackened at least 500 acres.

The chief investigators suspect the original fire Saturday was caused by overheated wheel bearings on a vehicle.

Kenneth R. Etherton

kenneth-etherton

Kenneth R. Etherton, 88, of Gothenburg, Nebraska, died March 18, 2017 at Hilltop Estates.

Visitation will be held at Blase-Strauser Memorial Chapel, Gothenburg, Nebraska; Tuesday, March 21, 2017, 1:00 pm – 8:00 pm with the family present from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm.

Services will be held at Evangelical Free Church, Wednesday, March 22, 2017 at 11:00 am with Pastor Scott Newman officiating.

Interment will take place in the Fairview Cemetery south of Cozad at 9:00 am on Wednesday, March 22, 2017.

Memorials may be designated to The Commons Building at the Evangelical Free Church.

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