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New flights offered to Philadelphia from Des Moines, Omaha

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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Air travelers in Iowa and eastern Nebraska will soon see new nonstop flights offered to and from Philadelphia.

American Airlines announced this week that it will add new routes from Des Moines International Airport and Eppley Airfield in Omaha to Philadelphia International Airport.

The twice-daily flights will begin May 4.

Philadelphia International Airport is a hub for American, with many flights to countries around Europe.

Frontier Airlines also announced last week it would offer a nonstop flight four times a week from Omaha to Philadelphia, starting April 9.

$1.4M in grants going to AmeriCorps programs in Nebraska

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Officials say AmeriCorps programs in Nebraska will receive grants totaling more than $1.4 million.

Each year ServeNebraska, Nebraska’s volunteer service commission receives funding from the federal agency for volunteering and service programs.

ServeNebraska Executive Director Cathleen Plager says the Corporation for National and Community Service provided about $300,000 less to ServeNebraska than it did a year ago. The amount fluctuates based on what grants ServeNebraska plans to make to organizations. This year’s funds will support 15 programs and 212 AmeriCorps members.

The programs across the state promote youth fitness, college preparation, reducing hunger, environmental stewardship, mentoring, behavioral health and affordable housing.

Omaha utility says water, gas rates likely to rise in 2018

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha-area utility says work to replace aging infrastructure will see natural gas and water bills in the area rise again next year.

Metropolitan Utilities District is planning increases similar to those approved for 2017.

The board in December approved a 2017 budget that included a 2.5 percent increase in water rates and a 1 percent increase in gas rates. This week, MUD President Scott Keep said management is using those same increases in early work for next year’s budget.

Taken together, this year’s rate increases worked out to monthly increases of about $1.80 for average water and gas users, with anticipated additional revenues of about $7.1 million. Gas rates had held steady for three years before the increase for 2017.

Nebraska prison worker arrested in drug investigation

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska prison officials say a prison employee has been arrested on suspicion of bringing drugs into the Nebraska State Penitentiary.

A news release from the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services says the State Patrol arrested 33-year-old Jami Cutshall on Friday. She was being held in the Lancaster County Jail on suspicion of unauthorized communications with a committed offender, unlawful acts by a corrections employee and sex abuse of an inmate or parolee.

The release says Cutshall had been a caseworker at the prison since 2015. She has been suspended without pay.

Cutshall’s arrest followed the discovery last week that inmates were using K2, a synthetic marijuana. One inmate required outside medical attention related to the drug use.

Visitation and prisoner movements have since been curtailed as officials investigate.

Omaha woman accused of severely injuring infant son

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A 31-year-old Omaha woman has been charged with first-degree child abuse, accused of severely injuring her 5-month-old baby.

Natasha Wolf was ordered held on $250,000 bail Friday.

Police say Wolf told officers that the baby was injured Wednesday when she stepped away for a moment and he rolled off a changing table and landed face-first onto a baby bottle.

But a doctor at Children’s Hospital and Medical Center in Omaha told police the child’s injuries weren’t consistent with that account.

The boy suffered bruising to his head and face and bleeding on the brain. A prosecutor said the baby remained in critical condition Friday at Children’s after undergoing a blood transfusion.

Wolf is scheduled to appear in court again on Nov. 14.

Judge names special prosecutor in stun gun-related death

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A state criminal prosecutor will lead a grand jury investigation into Omaha police officers’ actions in the stun gun-related death of a mentally ill man.

Corey O’Brien, head of the criminal division of the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office, will lead the grand jury investigation into the June 5 death of 29-year-old Zachary Bearheels.

Last month, a judge ruled that Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine could not lead the investigation, citing Kleine’s announcement in July of charges against former officers Scotty Payne and Ryan McClarty separate from the grand jury process.

Police video shows Payne using a stun gun repeatedly on Bearheels, and McClarty is seen punching Bearheels. Some of the blows came after Bearheels was on the ground and not resisting.

Payne has been charged with felony assault. McClarty is charged with misdemeanor assault.

Nebraska law requires a grand jury probe when someone dies in police custody.

Opinion: Payments to Nebraska Parole Board members improper

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A legal opinion issued by the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office says nearly $58,000 in payments made to three departing Nebraska Parole Board members for unused sick and vacation time were improper.

The opinion, issued Friday, agreed with a finding by the State Auditor’s Office that the payments should not have been made.

The state auditor in May criticized the agency for making the payments in 2014-15. The chairwoman of the five-member board, Rosalyn Cotton, defended the payouts, saying they had been a longtime practice.

The opinion Friday found that appointed members of the Parole Board do not fit the definition of “state employees,” who are entitled to such payouts when they leave a state job.

Mary Ann Mintle

Mary Ann Mintle, 78, of thedford died Sunday, September 24 at her home.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, October 14, 217 at 11 a.m. at Bethel Assembly of God Church in Thedford. Interment will be at Hillcresst Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Mary Ann Mitle Memorial Fund, 38912 Hwy 2, Thedford, NE 69166. Arnold & Mullen Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Samuel Edward Sandoval Death Notice

Samuel Edward Sandoval, 73, of North Platte, died Oct. 4, 2017, at home. Cremation was chosen. A memorial gathering will be at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 7, at the Accomplice Beer Company, Cheyenne, Wyoming. Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.

Virginia “Ginny” Jean Anderson

Virginia “Ginny” Jean Anderson, 90, of Lincoln, formerly of Paxton and Loveland, Colorado, passed away Oct. 5, 2017, at Tabitha Rehabilitation Center in Lincoln, following a stroke.

Virginia was born on Oct. 4, 1927, to Wayne and Cleo Nelms in Bartley. She attended elementary school in Bartley and high school in North Platte. She graduated with the North Platte High School class of 1945.

Virginia worked at Bell Telephone Co. in North Platte until her marriage to Melvin “Babe” K. Anderson on March 23, 1948. They began their married life in Paxton and lived there for 40 years. They were members of the Paxton Trinity Lutheran Church. She worked as a farm wife and raised their two children, Clark and Rhonda. In later years, she was a clerk at Buenz Drugstore in Ogallala, working beside her son Clark. She was a valued employee for 20 years.

They retired in 1988 and moved to Loveland, Colorado, where they lived for 20 years. Virginia continued to work part-time at the Queen of Hearts, a women’s clothing store. She enjoyed caring for their vegetable garden and beautiful flower garden. She commented many times how she loved looking at the mountains. Ginny and Babe belonged to the Front Range Dance Association for several years and enjoyed dancing to the Big Bands.

In 2008, they moved to Legacy Estates in Lincoln to be closer to family. They were married for 62 years when Babe passed away in 2010. Ginny enjoyed the many activities at Legacy Estates. She was an avid reader, loved family gatherings and liked trips to the casino. She developed many new friendships at Legacy Estates and loved the safe, comfortable feeling of home.

Ginny devoted her life to her family. She was especially proud of her five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Her death is a great loss to her family and all who knew her.

Ginny was preceded in death by her parents and husband.

She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Clark (Eileen) Anderson of Lincoln; a daughter and son-in-law, Rhonda (Chuck) Theiler of Ogallala; sister, Jeri Brownell of Corvallis, Oregon; five grandchildren, Megan and Chad Davison, Natalie Hilton, Carly Armijo, Brett and Emily Theiler and Lacey and Kim Theiler; seven great-grandchildren, Paige, Evann and Molly Armijo, Harper Davison, Henry Hilton, Wren and Mae Theiler; and many nieces and nephews.

Memorials are suggested to Tabitha Meals on Wheels. Online condolences may be shared at prairiehillsfuneralhome.com.

Services will be at 11 a.m. MDT on Monday, Oct. 9, at the Paxton Cemetery with John Long officiating. Visitation will be from 3-5 p.m. MDT on Sunday, Oct. 8, at Prairie Hills Funeral Home, Ogallala, which is in charge of arrangements.

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