Mulitple people are facing charges after a pursuit in North Platte.

On September 5, at around 4:37 p.m., officers received information that Edward Hagert was in a white vehicle parked at Patriot Mobile Home Park, 2300 East Philip. Hagert had active warrants for distribution of a controlled substance and a probation violation.

Officers arrived on the scene and observed a white Hyundai Elantra, which was registered to one of Hagert’s family members, leaving the area at a high rate of speed.

Officers pursued the vehicle which eventually went south on Tabor Street from E Street, then to Philip Avenue where it turned west.

Investigator John Deal says the vehicle then went south on Poplar Street where it came to the intersection of Francis Street and turned east. Deal says the road is currently under construction and is a dead end that is being extended to Tabor Street. The vehicle went through the barricades and eventually ended up on Tabor Street where officers were waiting.

Officers observed the vehicle drive into the parking lot of Prairie View Townhouses, 1100 South Tabor. Officers approached the vehicle and found that it was unoccupied, a handgun was laying in the seat.

The area was secured and officers spoke to several people in the area and determined that the driver of the vehicle had entered apartment 1115.

Officers made contact with Stephanie Martinez and Amy Peck who were inside the apartment. A male subject, identified as Derick Wright, was observed laying on a couch inside the apartment.  Deal says Wright fit the description of the vehicle’s driver.

Wright was taken into custody and Deal says he gave several different stories on how he had gotten to the apartment and why he was there.

When asked if Hagert was inside, Deal says Peck and Martinez repeatedly denied it.  They allow denied consent to search the apartment.

Officers say it became apparent that Hagert was inside, and an officer began yelling for him to come out.  Eventually, Hagert appeared from upstairs and was taken into custody without further incident.

Deal says all the subject were interviewed and gave varying accounts of what happened.

In the end, Wright was charged with harboring a fugitive and possession of a defaced firearm, Hagert was arrested on the warrants and charged with possession of a defaced firearm and Martinez and Peck were both charged with harboring a fugitive.

Additional charges could be filed pending further investigation. Deal says some drug items were seized and have been sent for testing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol Troop C – Grand Island removed three impaired drivers from the road during a special enforcement focused on
specific dates of the Nebraska State Fair.

The enforcement ran August 25-26 and September 1-3 in the Hall County area, covering some of the biggest
concerts dates for the State Fair. The enforcement included vehicle checks and saturation patrols.

“The Nebraska State Fair was a great success this year,” said Captain Jeromy McCoy, Commander Troop C – Grand Island. “We want to thank the drivers who attended the fair and were responsible.”

In addition to the three drivers arrested for Driving Under the Influence, NSP issued citations for Speeding (10), Minor in Possession (2), Open Container (1), Driving Under Suspension (2), No Seat Belt (6), and Improper Child Safety Restraint (1). Troopers also arrested one person for Drug Possession and apprehended one fugitive. NSP also assisted two motorists in need of help.

The special enforcement was made possible thanks in part to a grant for $2,550 from the Nebraska Department of Transportation – Highway Safety Office.

For the second straight year, enrollment at the University of Nebraska has reached an all-time high, marking continued success in the university’s efforts to expand access to education and build a skilled workforce for the state.

Enrollment figures were announced today by NU President Hank Bounds. Headcount enrollment at NU’s four campuses and the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture this fall is 52,679, a 0.3 percent increase over last year’s record high of 52,516.

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln and University of Nebraska Medical Center each have record enrollments this year, and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the University of Nebraska at Omaha both have their largest-ever incoming freshman classes. Among other highlights, the university also continues to achieve new milestones in diversity; the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s student body is its most diverse in history, almost one-third of UNO’s incoming undergraduate class comes from underrepresented groups, and 44 percent of UNO undergraduates are the first in their families to go to college.

“When the University of Nebraska grows, so does the state,” Bounds said. “I’m proud that we’re celebrating back-to-back enrollment records, because it means we’re continuing to serve Nebraskans effectively through affordable, outstanding education.

“Enrollment growth means more students and families recognize the value and quality we provide. And it means we’re doing more to educate Nebraska’s future workforce. I’m excited about our potential to attract an even higher number of students to the University of Nebraska so that we expand our impact and continue to grow this state.”

Bounds noted that the university already is a key driver of workforce development for Nebraska, producing close to 11,000 graduates each year in health care, agriculture, business, education and other areas. Today one of every 7 working-age Nebraskans holds a University of Nebraska degree.

Continued growth will be critical, particularly given that more than 70 percent of all jobs in Nebraska will soon require education beyond high school. Growth among underrepresented students, nonresidents, and students who learn via distance all will be areas of focus as the university seeks to expand access and grow Nebraska’s talent base.

Bounds thanked Nebraska policymakers for their long history of making affordable, quality higher education a priority. A stable base of state support has allowed the university to keep tuition affordable for students and families while also maintaining the high quality of its academic programs. Currently each NU institution represents a tremendous value compared to peers, and NU students graduate with lower debt loads than students at similar institutions.

The University of Nebraska’s fall 2017 enrollment figures are as follows:

University-wide enrollment totals

• Undergraduate students: 39,599 (0.1 percent decrease)
• First-time freshmen: 7,914 (0.3 percent decrease)
• Graduate students: 9,989 (1.6 percent increase)
• Professional students: 3,091 (1.7 percent increase)
• Total enrollment including NCTA: 52,679 (0.3 percent increase)

Campus enrollment totals

• University of Nebraska-Lincoln: 26,079 (0.7 percent increase)
• University of Nebraska at Omaha: 15,730 (0.7 percent increase)
• University of Nebraska at Kearney: 6,644 (2.1 percent decrease)
• University of Nebraska Medical Center: 3,908 (1.2 percent increase)
• Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture: 317 (7.3 percent decrease)

A chart containing a full summary of enrollment data is attached. Figures are based on a student census taken on the sixth day of classes.

Lack of Livable Wages and Need for Second Jobs, Public Assistance Are Among Critical Issues

Lincoln, Neb. — A new study reveals some areas of promise within the early care and education field in Nebraska but also points to a number of significant challenges facing the teachers and child care providers who guide and nurture young children’s learning and development during the critical first eight years of life.

Low compensation, lack of health and retirement benefits, uneven professional preparation, and stress are among the everyday challenges confronted by the more than 1,600 participants in the Nebraska Early Childhood Workforce Survey. Conducted by the Buffett Early Childhood Institute at the University of Nebraska, the survey is the largest, most comprehensive ever of the state’s early childhood workforce. Participants represented four early childhood settings—licensed home-based childcare programs, licensed center-based programs, public PreKindergarten programs, and elementary schools serving children in Kindergarten through Grade 3 (K-3).

The findings have serious implications for families, employers, and communities statewide, said Samuel J. Meisels, founding executive director of the Buffett Early Childhood Institute. Nearly 80 percent of children age 5 and younger in Nebraska are in some form of paid childcare, and 62 percent of mothers with infants are in the workforce.

“Teachers and child care providers are fundamental to young children achieving their potential and growing into capable and confident young people,” Meisels said. “How we prepare, compensate, and support these professionals is a critical issue facing families, communities, and the state of Nebraska.”

The Institute announced findings from the survey report, titled Nebraska Early Childhood Workforce Survey: A Focus on Teachers and Providers, today at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln before an audience of nearly 200 community and education leaders, public officials, early childhood professionals, and others.

Key findings include:
·      Lack of Livable Wages and Benefits for Child Care Providers and Teachers: Home-based providers and center-based teachers earn a median wage of $11/hour, roughly half as much as PreK ($21/hour) and K-3 teachers ($23/hour.) (Center-based teachers’ median annual salary of $18,706 is nearly $7,800 below the poverty line for a family of four.) Less than half of all center-based teachers receive health insurance, paid maternity leave, and retirement benefits.
·      Reliance on Second Jobs and Public Assistance: In differing ways and to differing degrees, both childcare providers and K-3 teachers supplement their salaries. Second jobs are more common among teachers and public assistance is more common among childcare providers. Approximately 20 percent of PreK and K-3 teachers hold second jobs, and 27 percent of home-based providers and 20 percent of center-based teachers utilize public assistance.
·      Uneven and Often Insufficient Education and Preparation: Preparation to enter the workforce is uneven across settings. Nearly all PreK and K-3 teachers have bachelor’s degrees, but less than half of home-based providers and center-based teachers have a bachelor’s degree. Teachers living in urban areas tend to have more advanced degrees than teachers in rural areas. Less than half of K-3 teachers surveyed felt well prepared to work with families at the start of their careers, and between 27 percent and 50 percent of teachers and child care providers did not feel well prepared to teach at the beginning of their careers.
·      Lack of Diversity: An overwhelming majority of Nebraska’s early childhood workforce is white. However, on average, classrooms are composed of 10 percent to 22 percent of students who are racially, ethnically, and culturally diverse.
·      Stress and Well-Being: Eight percent to 11 percent of all early childhood educators report clinically significant depressive symptoms. Some teachers in all settings experience high levels of stress and low levels of support.

Despite these challenges, findings point to several areas of promise within the early care and education field in Nebraska. For example, teachers tend to have considerable experience in the field—12 years or more on average—which demonstrates a commitment to their work. Teachers participate in a variety of trainings and ongoing professional development and, among teachers with degrees, most majored in education-related fields.

The Nebraska Early Childhood Workforce Survey provides an important first step toward ensuring a skilled, informed, and diverse workforce in Nebraska by documenting the status, working conditions, and attitudes of early childhood professionals across the state, said Susan Sarver, director of workforce planning and development at the Buffett Institute.

“If we want to provide high-quality care and learning experiences for young children, we must invest in the adults who provide it,” Sarver said. “The research is clear that if we do so, everyone benefits—children, families, employers, and communities.”

The report findings were presented at UNL today by Meisels. Additional featured speakers included State Senator Matt Williams, Nebraska Community Foundation President and CEO Jeff Yost, and Sarver. Following the presentation, a panel discussion focused on the experiences of early childhood professionals from across Nebraska. Panelists included Jennifer Baumann, owner of Little Angel Day Care (Chadron); Lisa Carlson, early elementary teacher at Norris Elementary School (Firth); Lisa Mathewson, PreK teacher at Pawnee City Public Schools (Pawnee City); and Thelma Sims, owner and director of Element Learning Center (Omaha).

The Buffett Institute conducted the Nebraska Early Childhood Workforce Survey with assistance from the Bureau of Sociological Research at UNL. Data collection occurred from May 2015 – February 2016. The first report—which focuses exclusively on teachers and providers—was authored by Sarver; Amy Roberts, research assistant professor at the Buffett Institute; and Iheoma Iruka, former director of research and evaluation at the Buffett Institute and chief research officer at HighScope Educational Research Foundation. Future reports from the survey will focus on early childhood programs and administrators.

To view the survey report, visit buffettinstitute.nebraska.edu/workforce-survey.