LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – A bill that would expand protections for Nebraska farmers against public nuisance lawsuits has advanced in the Legislature despite objections that it could infringe on neighbors’ property rights.

Lawmakers gave the measure first-round approval Wednesday with a 31-7 vote.

Sen. Dan Hughes, a Venango farmer, says the bill would help farmers who want to install chicken houses or hog confinements. Farmers would have to comply with local zoning ordinances and use “reasonable techniques” to keep dust, noise, insects and odors to a minimum.

Opponents say the bill is vague and doesn’t do enough to protect neighbors who might find themselves next to a hog confinement. They say that some counties don’t have local ordinances to address those concerns.

Two more votes are needed before the bill goes to the governor.

With the predicted blizzard bringing ice, heavy snow and high wind into the western part of the state this afternoon, the Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) is closing I-80 west of I-76 to the Wyoming line at 5:00 p.m. MDT/6:00 p.m. CDT.

Timing of closures are shifting as a result of potential road closings in other states as well as shifting conditions of the storm. NDOT will continue to monitor the situation and respond as necessary.

Travelers are advised to be alert, be aware and check the most up to date travel conditions and closures available through 511, Nebraska’s Advanced Traveler Information System. The system is available at all times via phone by, online at www.511.nebraska.gov, Nebraska 511’s smartphone app or by dialing 511.

Travelers are also encouraged to utilize NDOT’s Plow Tracker at https://plows.nebraska.gov/index.html where the public will be able to observe road conditions in real time from the cabs of NDOT snowplows.

Please note that weather conditions are often worse than they appear on camera.

Motorists are reminded to make sure everyone in their vehicle wears a seat belt and children are in a car safety seat. Do not use cruise control in wet or snowy weather and keep a full gas tank.

For safe-driving tips and winter weather information, visit NDOT’s website, https://dot.nebraska.gov/safety/driving/winter/

As a reminder, the NSP Highway Helpline is available 24 hours per day for motorists in need of assistance. Drivers can reach NSP by dialing *55 from any cell phone. Call 911 for any emergency.

Update 4/10/19

North Platte Catholic Schools have been added to the growing list of area schools that will be closed on Thursday. Don’t forget to check out our Closings and Cancelations Page often for updates.

UPDATE:

The Nebraska State Patrol announced that Interstate 80 will not be closed at this time.  They say there may be more closure later this evening.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The impending winter storm is prompting area school officials to cancel school for Thursday, and state officials to close Interstate 80.

With the National Weather Service forecasting 60 mph wind gusts and anywhere from eight to 24 inches of snow across our area, officials aren’t taking any chances.

The Nebraska Department of Transportation announced that Interstate 80 westbound will be closed at Ogallala at 4:00 p.m. CDT, on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, students at North Platte High School ended their day by hearing an announcement that school had been canceled for Thursday.

The Nebraska State Patrol is discouraging travel and is encouraging motorists that do have to travel to prepare a winter survival kit.

To view all area closings and cancellations, click HERE.

The North Platte Public Schools Foundation is pleased to announce their 2019 “Teacher of the Year”, “Staff Member of the Year,” and “Administrator of the Year;” award winners. These exemplary district employees will be honored at our upcoming Education After Hours event on April 26th.

There is two Teacher of the Year Award Winners.

2019 6-12th grade “Teacher of the Year” Adams Middle School Science Teacher Angela Soelberg

Angela Soelberg a Minnesota native teaches science at Adams Middle School.

She has been with North Platte Public Schools since 2015. Prior to that she taught 7th and 8th Grade Science in Minnesota, as well as for StarBase Minnesota where she taught a STEM program for 3rd-6th Graders.

Angela enjoys providing students with a hands-on experience and loves to help students find their passion. She implemented the Robotics Club and competition team, which has become a state qualifying team in two short years. She was selected to take part in the UNL Science Academy Leadership workshop and become a teacher leader for the new science curriculum last summer.

Angela was nominated by her building administration due to her willingness to dedicate her career to both her students and fellow teachers.

2019 PreK-5th grade “Teacher of the Year” Lake Kindergarten Teacher Harmoni Wagner

Harmoni Wagner, a 1995 Alumni of North Platte High School has wanted to be a teacher since 4th grade, thanks to teacher Joyce Scofield.

After attending Mid Plains on a Volleyball Scholarship, Harmoni finished her degree at the University of Nebraska at Kearney in 2000 and then obtained her Masters in 2009. She has taught for 13 years in North Platte. She also coaches middle school volleyball.

According to her nomination students and teachers alike hold her in high confidence to be dependable and reliable. Her husband John and she have three daughters, Kayleigh, Katie and Janee.

Harmoni will transition to the position of Washington Elementary Principal in the fall of 2019.

The 2019 “Staff Member of the Year” Bus Driver Alan Little

A native of Mullen, Nebraska and a graduate of Mid Plains Community College, Alan Little is the Staff Member of the Year.

After retiring from the postal service in 2009 Alan became employed by the North Platte Public Schools as an activities bus driver.

According to the students, he drives he is not only a bus driver, he actively gets to know the students and cheers them on at the events he attends.

He has been married to his wife Bonnie for 43 years and they have two children: Darrin and his girlfriend Amber and Janelle and her husband Drew. They also have two grandchildren, Samuel and Emmet.

The 2019 “Administrator of the Year” Student Services Coordinator Brandy Buscher

Brandy Buscher grew up in Sutherland and graduated from Sutherland High School in 1997. She then went to the University of Nebraska Kearney where she majored in Criminal Justice.

Brandy started her North Platte Public Schools career as the Dean of Students at Adams Middle School. She has also worked as the Community Liaison at North Platte High School and Teamates Coordinator before becoming the Student Services Coordinator in 2016.

Brandy has been instrumental in implementing the Dare to Go Five Below attendance program, NPHS Food Pantry, as well as developing programs for the Nebraska Systems of Care Mental Health Grant, Mckinney Vento Homeless Youth Grant and PASS (Alternatives to Suspensions Program). Removing barriers to a child’s education is what Brandy feels is her specialty; she is not afraid to fight the good fight for a student that is in a bad place.

She hopes never to stop being creative and supportive for students and families in North Platte. Brandy and her husband Brian have three boys. Jack is currently a freshman, Max is in 4th grade, and Gage is in Kindergarten.

Nominations for these outstanding staff members were made by students, parents, community members and employees from the North Platte Public School District. These awards recognize and encourage superior professional effort to improve instruction and to cultivate the continuation of educational excellence in our schools.

Teacher and Staff Member Award Winners will receive a plaque and a $250 cash award. Administrators will receive a plaque and $1000 extra budget authority for their building/administrative area. Awards will be presented at North Platte Public Schools Foundation “Education After Hours” event on Friday, April 26th from 5:30-8:00 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Express. Tickets are $25 each ($20 for NPPSD staff) and available online at nppsf.org or at the Foundation office. Please call 696-3325 in advance to schedule pick up.

Don’t show up if you don’t have to!

Click HERE for the latest closings and cancellations.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed against Nebraska prison officials by an inmate who was held in solitary confinement for more than two years.

U.S. District Court records show Dylan Landers asked in his October 2017 lawsuit that the officials be ordered to put him back in the general prison population. He alleged his segregated confinement was ordered without due process and that it amounted to “cruel and particularly unusual punishment” in violation of his constitutional rights.

Senior U.S. District Judge Richard Kopf disagreed. Kopf said in his ruling issued Monday that to establish such violations by officials, a prisoner must show that the alleged deprivation is “objectively, sufficiently serious,” resulting “in the denial of the minimal civilized measure of life’s necessities,” and that prison officials were deliberately indifferent to “an excessive risk to inmate health or safety.”

“Here, plaintiff has failed to provide any evidence even approaching this exacting standard,” Kopf wrote.

Landers has been serving time for theft, burglary and other crimes. The Lincoln Journal Star reported that he was placed in solitary confinement at the Tecumseh prison in May 2015, while being investigated for involvement in that year’s Mother’s Day riot.

He remained in solitary confinement until February 2017, when he was transferred to the Nebraska State Penitentiary in Lincoln. A month later he was again put in solitary confinement pending an investigation of a “serious act of violent behavior” during the 2015 rioting, according to his lawsuit.

State court records don’t show that he has been charged with any crime connected to the 2015 rioting, in which two inmates were slain by other inmates.

State prisons spokeswoman Laura Strimple said Landers’ current confinement status is confidential information she can’t provide. The federal court records show that Landers acted as his own attorney.