CHADRON, Neb. (AP) – Nebraska officials say there were at least
13 mountain lions in Dawes, Sioux and Sheridan counties last
summer.
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission says dogs were used to
find the mountain lion excrement, which was tested to determine how
many different animals were in the area.
Commission expert Sam Wilson told Chadron radio station KQSK
that the study’s finding of 13 was a snapshot taken during a period
of time rather than proof that a certain number of the big cats
were living in those Panhandle counties.
—
Information from: KQSK-FM, An Employee Owned Eagle Communications Radio Station
http://www.doubleqcountry.com/kqskchadron.html

FORT CALHOUN, Neb. (AP) – Residents are being forced from an
estimated 60 homes in Washington County as the Missouri River
swells.
Andrea Noon of the Heartland chapter of the American Red Cross
says the mandatory evacuations were ordered in parts of Fort
Calhoun and Blair. The Red Cross opened a shelter Thursday in Fort
Calhoun to offer food and a safe place for the affected residents.
The Nebraska Emergency Management Agency confirmed the
evacuations.
A spokeswoman in the Washington County sheriff’s office says
deputies were helping residents in low-lying areas pack up their
houses on Thursday afternoon.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – A Lincoln man accused of sexually
assaulting his child’s baby sitter has been sentenced to up to 5
years in prison.
Twenty-nine-year-old Nathan Harvey pleaded no contest to
second-degree aggravated sexual assault. The Lincoln Journal Star
says he was sentenced on Thursday in Lancaster County District
Court to 30 to 60 months in prison.
Officials say on Jan. 5, Harvey picked up the 17-year-old baby
sitter and carried her over his shoulder to his bedroom where he
touched her inappropriately before she struggled free, fled the
house and called police.
Harvey will be eligible for parole after 15 months. He must
register as a sex offender.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – The Nebraska State Patrol is hiring.
The patrol issued a release Wednesday announcing it is accepting
applications for this year’s trooper selection process.
The beginning annual salary for a recruit is $30,282. Upon
graduation, the salary increases to $42,598 annually. Other career
benefits include paid vacation and sick leave, medical insurance,
life insurance and full retirement benefits.
Applicants must be U.S. citizens and 21 years of age by April
26, 2012, when they take the oath of office. They also must have a
high school diploma or GED equivalence. An application handbook
covering all the necessary qualifications and requirements can be
found on the patrol’s website at www.statepatrol.nebraska.gov.
Completed applications must be submitted online by June 24.
Basic recruit camp begins Oct. 17, 2011.

UNITED NATIONS (AP) – A new report by the United Nations AIDS
agency says the last decade has seen a 25 percent decline in new
HIV infections.
The agency also reports a reduction in AIDS-related deaths and
“unprecedented advances” in access to treatment, prevention
services and care.
But UNAIDS said these achievements are unevenly distributed and
fall short of global targets.
The report, released Thursday night, said more than 34 million
people were living with HIV at the end of 2010 – including 2.6
million who became newly infected with the HIV virus in 2009.
An estimated 6.6 million people in low- and middle-income
countries were receiving antiretroviral drug treatment at the end
of last year, but about 9 million eligible people in those
countries were not, the report said.

NORTH PLATTE – The flood waters are getting worse in Cody Park, which expects to get hit hard as the water swells to above eight feet over the weekend. According to the National Weather Service, once the river’s flood stage reaches 7.8 feet, widespread flooding will begin to occur at Cody Park as flood waters from the boat ramp cross the paved access road along the northwest edge of the park and flood portions of the park.

The following video is from Thursday June 2, and shows how close the water is to the road.

This next video was from May 24, and shows water levels as they were about a week and a half ago. Note the information in this video is dated, but the footage marks a good indication of how the flooding has worsened.

NORTH PLATTE – The Lincoln County Historical Musuem in North Platte has laid sandbags and dirt around the building, and has taken more steps to protect displays and move paper records. The video below tells the story.

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (AP) – The new roof to replace the leaky old
roof has been installed on the new Lincoln County jail in North
Platte.
The North Platte Telegraph is reporting that a leaky area on the
northeast side of the building remains, but officials say the
county is working with the contractor toward a solution.
January tests confirmed six different types of mold were growing
inside the roof, so it was replaced.
Sheriff Jerome Kramer told commissioners at their meeting
Tuesday that staff members will move to the new building the
weekend of June 11-12 and inmates will be moved the first week of
July.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – The widow of a western Nebraska man who died
after being arrested is suing the city of Bayard and it’s police
chief, Zack Douglass.
Jessica Driscoll’s federal lawsuit says her husband, 31-year-old
Daniel Driscoll, was subjected to false arrest, excessive police
force and deprivation of his due process rights.
An autopsy showed Daniel Driscoll died of a heart attack after
being arrested Aug. 18, 2009, in Bayard on suspicion of disturbing
the peace.
The lawsuit says Driscoll and a neighbor were arrested after
Driscoll was attacked by the neighbor. The lawsuit says Driscoll
was handcuffed despite a phobia he had of having his hands behind
his back and that Douglass refused to remove the handcuffs even
after Driscoll was in medical distress.
An attorney for the city had no comment.