LINCOLN, Neb (AP) – The Nebraska Department of Correctional
Services says a North Platte man serving a life sentence for a
double murder died in a prison stabbing.
Twenty-two-year-old Michael Grandon died Thursday from wounds
suffered at the Nebraska State Penitentiary.
Grandon pleaded guilty in 2007 to first-degree murder and to
aiding and abetting first-degree murder in the slayings of
38-year-old Lori Solie of North Platte and her five-year-old
daughter.
The Lincoln Journal-Star says Grandon was stabbed during an
incident with another inmate and died at a nearby hospital.
The Nebraska State Patrol and the Corrections Department are
investigating Grandon’s stabbing, and a grand jury will be convened
to look into his death while in custody.

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (AP) – A North Platte man arrested earlier
this week on suspicion of manslaughter in his wife’s death now
faces a murder charge.
Lincoln County Attorney Rebecca Harling has charged 33-year-old Roger Diaz with second-degree murder.
Police say Diaz killed 35-year-old Michelle Diaz in their
backyard around 2 a.m. Sunday.
An ambulance crew found Michelle Diaz unresponsive. She died at
a local hospital.
Police say Roger Diaz told officers his wife fell from the
backyard steps, but later changed his story.
Diaz is being held on $2 million bail. His preliminary hearing
is set for July 8.
Diaz’s attorney, Steven Potter, did not immediately return a
message left Tuesday by The Associated Press seeking comment.

LINCOLN, Neb. – A Wednesday, June 29 noon deadline has been set for individual damage assessment reports. The deadline will allow for the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in conjunction with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Guard to begin individual damage assessments on Thursday, June 30. In order to best assist in the collection and assessments of personal damage and losses, anyone in Nebraska affected by current flooding or recent storms is asked to call the Flood Hotline toll free by noon on Wednesday, June 29 at (855) 211-2453 or (855) 211-2454 anytime between 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., daily to give a preliminary report on affected property damage or they can submit their report online at: http://www.nema.ne.gov/newsroom/home-damage-contact.html
Individuals and families who have evacuated their primary or secondary residences, those who have sustained damages to a business, and anyone who’s job has been impacted by flooding is encouraged to contact the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and share that information.
Department of Health and Human Services cautions property owners that flood waters are dangerous. Do not return to property to assess damage. When calling the hotline, provide your best estimate.

NORTH PLATTE – The North Platte City Council is considering modifying the city’s communication tax so that both landline and cell phone users would have to pay the tax. The current tax is 5 percent on landline use only. If enacted, the tax revenue from cell phone use could reach approximately $480,000 and reduce the property tax levy. Mayor Marc Kashke says he would veto a bill calling for communication tax applied to cell phone use.

NORTH PLATTE – Union Pacific Railroad’s legendary steam locomotive No. 844 is traveling back to its home base in Cheyenne, Wyo., from to North Little Rock, Ark., on a tour celebrating local history, railroad heritage and The Little Rock Express as part of Union Pacific’s Great Excursion Adventure – You Route the Steam contest, as well as being on display in Omaha during the college baseball championship games.

Fri., June 17 – Public Display – 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. CDT

Tues., June 28 Omaha, Neb. – N. 12th and Cuming Sts.
Across from TD Ameritrade Park Omaha

Wed., June 29 No Public Display– Train preparation

Thur.. June 30 Council Bluffs, Iowa – North Platte, Neb.
Operating via the Blair Sub., and passing through Missouri Valley, Iowa, Blair, Neb., and Fremont, Neb., before heading to North Platte, Neb.

Fri., July 1 North Platte, Neb., to Cheyenne, Wyo.

A Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) transmitter was installed on one of the railcars that travels with No. 844. The GPS system has been integrated with a map on UP’s website at www.up.com. Enter “Steam” in the search box on the homepage for a shortcut to the map. Website visitors will be able to access route maps with varying amounts of detail which are updated every five minutes showing No. 844’s location.
A rare opportunity to witness history as No. 844 celebrates railroad heritage as it travels back to Cheyenne from North Little Rock, Ark. Union Pacific Railroad’s long history helped lay the foundation for America’s current and future freight transportation needs. The safe and efficient operation of trains over Union Pacific’s 32,000-mile network benefits everyone. Freight rail service continues to grow, helping to build a cleaner environment. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, freight trains are nearly four times more fuel efficient than trucks. Motorists also benefit when goods move by rail from reduced congestion on highways as a single Union Pacific train can remove up to 300 trucks off our roads.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – More cool weather and rain have hampered
crop development Nebraska.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture weekly crop report said
Monday that many low-lying fields along rivers and creeks are
saturated or covered by water.
Seventy-nine percent of Nebraska’s corn crop was rated in in
good to excellent condition, compared with 81 percent last year at
this time and the historical average of 77 percent.
Eighty percent of the state’s soybean crop was rated in good to
excellent condition.
The wheat crop condition was rated at 56 percent good to
excellent – well below last year’s figure of 71 percent good to
excellent.

LEXINGTON, Neb. (AP) – Authorities have identified the victims
of an accident near North Platte that killed two people.
Officials say 34-year-old Maria DaSilva and 26-year-old James
Doyle, both of Fort Collins, Co., died Friday on Interstate 80.
The Nebraska State Patrol says a pick-up truck driven by DaSilva
rolled several times into the opposite lanes of traffic and was
struck by a semi-trailer truck.
The driver of the semi truck, Nikola Nenadic (M), 30, Chicago, IL and a co-driver in the semi Daniejel Avramovic (M), Elmwood Park, IL were transported to Great Plains Medical Center in North Platte where they were treated and released.
Officials say fatigue was likely a factor in the crash.

Here is a video report from Friday showing more images of the damage inflicted to the vehicles involved in the accident.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – The nation’s top nuclear power regulator says
both of Nebraska’s nuclear power plants have remained safe as they
battle floodwaters from the bloated Missouri River.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairman Gregory Jaczko visited both Fort Calhoun and Cooper nuclear power
plants in eastern Nebraska this week to see how they are coping
with the flooding. Both plants sit on the river.
The Omaha Public Power District’s Fort Calhoun is the subject of
more public concern because the floodwaters are closer to that
plant. Nebraska Public Power District’s Cooper plant is more
elevated.
But Jaczko says he doesn’t believe Fort Calhoun poses “an
immediate threat to the health and safety of the public.”
He says the river isn’t expected to rise enough to cause
additional problems at the plants.

NORTH PLATTE – Lincoln County Courts have decided on a value for the rest of the land needed to construct the Birdwood Viaduct. After land owners and the county struggled to agree on a value, Lincoln County declared eminent domain. A committee of two attorneys and a real estate appraiser was formed and land values established. The land owners now have 30 days to accept the committee’s ruling or file an appeal. If the land owners agree to the land values, the Nebraska Department of Roads will begin accepting bids from construction companies for the overpass construction project.