OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Two people have been arrested after police say a traffic stop turned up marijuana, hash oil and pot-infused candy in their car.
A Douglas County sheriff’s deputy stopped the couple’s car, which had California plates, Thursday afternoon. Authorities say the driver, from New York, admitted there was a significant amount of marijuana in the car.
Deputies say a search of the trunk turned up large duffel bags containing 71 pounds of marijuana, over 1,200 doses of hash oil and eight 4.5-pound bags of THC-infused gummy candy.
Officials say the driver and a 36-year-old passenger — a California woman — were arrested.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A survey of turkey hunters this fall shows they were mostly satisfied with their Nebraska hunting experience.
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, which conducted the survey, says the questionnaire was open to 2016 fall turkey hunters. Of the 1,114 responses, 63 percent responded that they were satisfied with their hunting experience and 98 percent replied they would hunt in Nebraska again during the fall season.
The survey indicated that 20 percent of nonresident hunters were former Nebraska residents who continue to return to hunt. Colorado and California sent the most nonresident hunters to Nebraska for the season.
Overall, the counties where hunters reported harvesting most of their turkeys were Dawes, Red Willow, Custer, Buffalo and Lincoln.
The commission says 4,868 turkeys were killed during last fall’s hunting season.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — More than two dozen Omaha police officers have been honored for outstanding work.
The Omaha Police Foundation named Officer Robbie Goering-Jensen the officer of the year for helping rescue three people from a house fire.
Goering-Jensen entered a burning house three times to make sure that everyone inside made it out safely. He also received the Medal of Valor for his actions that day.
The Omaha Police Foundation also recognized the efforts of the department’s gang unit for arrested hundreds of suspects and working to mentor at-risk youth.
A total of 27 officers and two police units were honored.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska’s largest refugee resettlement program will be able to keep its Lincoln and Omaha doors open thanks to a donation by a couple who advocates for refugees.
The donation by Donna and Coyner Smith will sustain Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska offices there for at least another year.
The Smiths say their compassion grew after hosting five years ago a teenager whose mother, a doctor from Afghanistan, was dying of cancer. While Leemah Nasrati was born in the U.S., she says four of her relatives were refugees after fleeing Afghanistan in the 1990s.
The couple donated the undisclosed amount after reading about the program’s cutbacks, which were triggered in February by President Donald Trump’s limitations on how many refugees can enter the country.
TECUMSEH, Neb. (AP) — State prosecutors say the cellmate of a man fatally attacked last week at a state prison has been charged in the case.
The Nebraska Attorney General’s Office said in a news release Friday that 39-year-old Patrick Schroeder has been charged with first-degree murder and use of a deadly weapon in the death of 22-year-old Terry Berry Jr.
Investigators with the Nebraska State Patrol say Berry and Schroeder were the only occupants in the cell at Tecumseh State Correctional Institution where Berry was found unresponsive April 15. Berry was taken to a Lincoln hospital, where he was declared brain dead Monday and taken off life support Thursday.
An autopsy found that Berry had been strangled.
Schroeder is serving a life for the 2006 killing of 75-year-old Pawnee City farmer Kenneth Albers.
NP artist Pat Milne shows off his piece which won the NPPSF “School Spirit” art showcase
The North Platte Public Schools Foundation held an “Art Showcase” in conjunction with their annual Education After Hours on April 7, 2017.
Over 30 artists participated in the event. Community members, local students, teachers as well as NPHS Alumni artists from as far away as North Carolina and South Dakota answered the call to donate their artwork to raise money for the foundations Prepared to Learn Fund.
“I wanted to try something a little different than your typical Silent Auction this year” Said Executive Director Jodi Howard. “The whole idea of Education After Hours is to celebrate public education in North Platte. My hope was that with the School Spirit theme, those who purchased the items would take a little North Platte School Spirit back to their home or work place. “I was just thrilled with the turnout and the variety of items that were donated” she said.
Pat Milne of North Platte was awarded the People’s Choice “Best of Show” for the Art Showcase. His painting of a close up of a Bulldog was a crowd favorite. His painting was auctioned off at the event and is now proudly displayed at the McKinley Education Center.
The art auction raised nearly $3000 for the North Platte Public Schools Foundations’ Prepared to Learn program which is designed to provide immediate assistance to students in need of schools supplies, eyeglasses, necessary shoes and medical needs that help them be successful in the classroom.
The following is a news release issued by the West Central District Health Department:
The West Central District Health Department reports testing on suspected cases is negative.
WCDHD’s current investigation shows only one confirmed Measles case at this time. There is still ongoing testing being conducted and WCDHD will provide an update on results as soon as that information is available.
“The best way to protect yourself and your community is to make sure everyone has been vaccinated,” Shannon Vanderheiden, WCDHD Executive Director said.
Measles is a serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and even death.
Symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose and watery eyes followed by a rash that typically spreads from head to the rest of the body. It is highly contagious and spreads easily by coughing, sneezing or even being in the same room with someone who has measles.
Most people in Nebraska are immune to measles either from having been vaccinated or from having had the disease. However, immunization rates have declined in some communities and groups – often due to fears related to misinformation about vaccine risks. This decline in immunization rates increases the risk – not only for those who are unvaccinated by choice, but also for those who cannot be vaccinated due to health status or age.
For more information on measles and for updates as the investigation continues, please visit the WCDHD website at https://wcdhd.org/measles2017.html or follow our Facebook page.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Labor Department says the state’s preliminary unemployment rate dropped a tenth of a point in March, hitting 3.1 percent compared with 3.2 percent in February.
The January rate was 3.3 percent.
The department said in a report released Friday that the March rate was a tenth of a point under the year-ago rate of 3.2 percent in March 2016. The new rate also remained well below the U.S. rate of 4.5 percent in March.
The report says Nebraska nonfarm employment remained above 1 million last month. The private industry segments with the most growth over the past month were mining and construction, leisure and hospitality and trade, transportation and utilities.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska lawmakers have kicked off a debate on an income and property tax package backed by Gov. Pete Ricketts and business groups but opposed by leading farm organizations.
Sen. Jim Smith of Papillion presented the package Friday as a way to end the status quo tax climate and make Nebraska more competitive with its neighboring states, most of which have lower top income tax rates.
The measure would reduce the state’s top individual and corporate income tax rates in years when revenue grows faster than a predetermined amount. It also would expand the earned income tax credit, combine the two lowest tax brackets and eliminate exemptions.
Farm groups say the bill doesn’t do enough to address property taxes. The measure would change how agricultural land is valued for tax purposes.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Two people have been arrested after police say a traffic stop turned up marijuana, hash oil and pot-infused candy in their car.
