MAY 18, 2018 (LINCOLN, NEB.) — Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) will be on the lookout for seatbelt violations and other signs of dangerous driving for the two weeks surrounding Memorial Day.
The “Click It or Ticket” enforcement campaign coincides with efforts from other law enforcement agencies around Nebraska, and many more participants around the country. The campaign will run from Monday, May 21, through Sunday, June 3.
“Seatbelt use is a proven way to increase your odds of survival in the event of a crash,” said Colonel John Bolduc, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “We’re proud to join our colleagues around the country in spreading that message through active enforcement of seatbelt laws.”
This effort will include troopers in all NSP Troop Areas, spanning border to border in Nebraska.
The enforcement effort is made possible thanks in part to a grant for $28,830 from the Nebraska Department of Transportation – Highway Safety Office.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A monthly survey of bankers shows that the economy is slowly improving in rural parts of 10 Plains and Western states.
Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says that while commodity prices have improved recently, they remain below breakeven for a large share of grain farmers.
The overall Rural Mainstreet index slipped slightly to 56.3 in May, up from 53.5 in April. It’s the highest level since July 2013. Any score above 50 suggests a growing economy in the months ahead, while a score below 50 indicates a shrinking economy.
Bankers from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming were surveyed.
More than one-third of bank CEOs identified rising regulatory costs as the top economic challenge to their operations over the next five years.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha man who has spent years fighting to expand ballot-petition rights in Nebraska announced Thursday he will mount an independent bid for state treasurer while seeking to overturn a law that makes it harder for nonpartisan candidates to run for higher office.
Kent Bernbeck said he will challenge Republican John Murante in the November general election. His candidacy faces long odds, but the veteran direct-democracy activist has filed successful legal challenges in the past to loosen restrictions on citizen-led petition drives.
Murante, of Gretna, defeated former Omaha mayoral candidate Taylor Royal in the GOP primary Tuesday and faced no other opponents.
Bernbeck is challenging a law introduced by Murante that requires nonpartisan candidates to gather signatures from roughly 10 percent of the state’s registered voters, or nearly 120,000 people, to be included on the general election ballot. The previous threshold was 4,000.
Nebraska’s signature requirement is now among the highest in the country. Thirty-seven states require 10,000 signatures or less.
Murante welcomed Bernbeck to the race and said the competition won’t affect his plans.
“I’ve spent the last year traveling around the state and talking about what my small-business experience and strong conservative leadership can bring to the position,” he said.
Bernbeck said the requirement limits voters’ options and makes it nearly impossible for independent candidates to get elected.
He plans to challenge the law in federal court and said Murante’s “partisan overreach” could cost taxpayers up to $300,000 in legal fees, based on similar lawsuits.
Bernbeck said he’ll bring the lawsuit soon and expects to have a decision by September. He said he has a “high degree of confidence” a judge will reverse the law, and has started collecting signatures to get his name on the ballot. Bernbeck said he’s aiming to collect 5,000 to 6,000 signatures so he’ll qualify if the law is reversed.
Sen. Bob Krist, of Omaha, sought to challenge the law earlier this year when he announced a run for governor as an independent candidate. He initially planned to form his own party to avoid the high signature threshold, but instead changed his registration to Democrat.
Krist won the Democratic party’s primary nomination Tuesday. He had challenged the law in the U.S. District Court in February but dropped the lawsuit when his party affiliation changed.
Bernbeck said he hopes the lawsuit and his campaign will promote accountability and encourage independent candidates to run in future elections.
“I haven’t laid awake in bed the last five years thinking about this job,” he said. “But I think I would do a good job because of my business experience.”
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska’s preliminary unemployment rate for April matched the rate in March and February of 2.8 percent, the state reported Friday.
The Nebraska Labor Department said in a news release that the rate was down a tenth of a point from the 2.9 percent of April 2017. Last month’s rate also remained well below the national figure, which dropped to 3.9 percent from 4.1 percent in March.
“In the last two months, manufacturing has reached pre-recession employment levels,” said state Labor Commissioner John Albin. “Manufacturing is an important component of Nebraska’s economy that accounts for nearly 10 percent of nonfarm jobs.”
Nonfarm employment was 1,026,608, up 7,532 over the year and up 9,737 over the month, the report said. Private industries with the most growth year over year were: manufacturing, up 3,189; leisure and hospitality, up 3,055; and education and health services, up 1,829. Month to month, the largest gains were in leisure and hospitality, up 3,709; mining and construction, up 3,518; and professional and business services, up 1,481.
Iowa, Wisconsin and Vermont joined Nebraska at the 2.8 percent rate for April. Maine recorded a rate of 2.7 percent, and New Hampshire and North Dakota had the same rate: 2.6 percent. Hawaii’s 2 percent was the nation’s lowest rate last month.
The preliminary Omaha-area rate dropped to 2.9 percent from 3 percent in March. The new rate matches that of April 2017. Lincoln’s preliminary rate remained unchanged at 2.6 percent last month and was a tenth of a point higher than the year-ago figure of 2.5 percent. Grand Island’s preliminary rate for April didn’t change either, matching the 3 percent in March but down a half point from the 3.5 percent in April 2017.
The unemployment rates for Grand Island, Lincoln and Omaha have not been seasonally adjusted, so they cannot be directly compared with the state unemployment rate.
Here are preliminary area labor market unemployment rates for April, followed by the March rates:
Ruben R. Casillas, age 55, of North Platte, died May 18, 2018 at his home. Christian Wake Services will be 7 p.m. Tuesday May 22, 2018 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. Mass Of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Wednesday May 23, 2018 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church with the Rev. Josh Brown as celebrant. Inurnment will be at the North Platte Cemetery. Adams & Swanson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Bernadine A. Torres passed away at Kearney Regional Medical Center in Kearney, NE on May 17, 2018. She was 87.
Bernadine was the second of 18 children born on June 11, 1930 to Bidal and Emilia (Aguilar) Cabrera in Chanute, KS. She was partially raised by her paternal grandparents Jose and Julia Cabrera in Hershey, NE. She attended elementary school in O’Fallons, NE and high school in Hershey, NE. Early in her life Bernadine, along with her parents and some of her sisters and brothers worked the beet fields in the Hershey area. As a young woman she worked during WWII at the TRW Condenser Plant in Sutherland, NE. She married Jesse Torres from Hershey at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Sutherland, NE on August 2, 1948. Jesse and Bernadine celebrated 63 years of marriage in 2011. She worked various part-time jobs around North Platte while raising three daughters. She enjoyed sewing, cooking and gardening throughout her entire life. They were members of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church until new beginnings at St. Elizabeth Seaton in 1994. Bernadine was a Catholic Daughter for many years. She remained active in the church at St. Patrick’s and St. Elizabeth Ann Seaton churches until her health forced her to withdraw.
Bernadine is survived by her daughters Irene (Melvin) Saturday of CO, Henrietta (James) Boots of North Platte, Cynthia (David) Boyd of, Lexington, NE; 5 grandchildren; 5 great grandchildren; siblings Antonio Cabrera of CA, John F. (Alice) Cabrera of OH, Mathias Cabrera of CA, Inez (Ed) Smith of OH, John (Judy) Cabrera of CA, Pauline (Noel) Cruz of CA, Julie (Bill) Goldsmith of KY, Josepha Cabrera of CA, Josephine Walters of KY, Petra (Steve) Groover of CA, Dorothy (Larry) Cheek of TX, Marlene Blevin of CA, and Anita Ornelas of CA; she also leaves 45 nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband Jesse Torres in 2011; maternal and paternal grandparents Pablo and Marcelina Aguilar, Jose and Julia Cabrera; parents Bidal and Emilia Cabrera; great grandson Cain Hernandez; siblings Natalia Lara in 2001, infant sister Esther Cabrera in 1940, Savino Cabrera in 1995; brother and sisters-in-law John Lara, Paul Walters, Josie Cabrera, and Juanita Cabrera.
Memorials are suggested to North Platte Catholic School Endowment Fund and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com. Christian Wake Services will be held 7:00 p.m. Monday May 21, 2018 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seaton (3301 Echo Dr.). Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:00 a.m. Tuesday May 22, 2018 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seaton with the Reverend Mark Seiker as celebrant. Burial will follow at Ft. McPherson National Cemetery. Visitation will be from noon until 4:00 p.m. Monday May 21, 2018 at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.
E. Calvin “Cal” Miller, 90, of Maxwell, died May 14, 2018, at his home. Services will be at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, May 22, at the Maxwell Baptist Church. Burial will follow at Plainview Cemetery near Maxwell. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, May 21, at Carpenter Memorial Chapel. Online condolences may be shared at carpentermemorial.com. Carpenter Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
MAY 18, 2018 (LINCOLN, NEB.) — Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) will be on the lookout for seatbelt violations and other signs of dangerous driving for the two weeks surrounding Memorial Day.
