OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Those celebrating the long Labor Day weekend should keep in mind that it won’t be business as usual on Monday.
Most government offices and banks in Nebraska and Iowa will be closed Monday to observe the holiday. Some services, such as trash and recycling pickup, will also be disrupted due to the holiday.
The day does bring some fun activities, though. In Nebraska, both Septemberfest in downtown Omaha and the Nebraska State Fair in Grand Island will be wrapping up on Monday. A barbecue is also being held at Kimmel Orchard & Vineyard in Nebraska City.
In Iowa, events will take place Monday in Des Moines, and both Spirit Lake and Milford will hold an antique and arts and craft shows.
AUGUST 30, 2016 (LINCOLN, NEB.) — An increased Nebraska State Patrol presence is planned for Husker home football games during the 2016 season. Troopers and communications specialists will work overtime hours during the first three Husker home games (Sept. 3, 10, & 17), thanks in part to a $3,285 grant from the Department of Roads Highway Safety Office.
The Nebraska State Patrol Aviation Support Division will also be in the air assisting troopers and providing traffic reports both before and after the games.
Traffic volume increases during Husker home games and fans traveling to and from Memorial Stadium can expect congestion and possible delays and are encouraged to give themselves plenty of time to reach their destination.
Motorists are also reminded voluntary compliance with all traffic safety laws will help to keep traffic moving smoothly. Drivers are encouraged to obey the posted speed limit, never drive impaired or distracted and make sure everyone in their vehicle is wearing a seat belt.
511, Nebraska’s Advanced Traveler Information System, can be utilized to keep up to date with the latest road and weather conditions. The system can be accessed @ www.511.nebraska.gov dialing 511 or downloading the Nebraska 511 mobile app from your mobile app provider.
Anyone who observes a reckless driver or anyone in need of non-emergency roadside assistance can call the Nebraska State Patrol Highway Helpline when safe to do so by dialing *55 from any cell phone or 1-800-525- 5555. Motorists should report emergencies to 911.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Creighton University in Omaha will hold a lecture later this month on the role of free speech on college campuses.
A panel of visiting lecturers will examine the issue in “Campus as a Safe Space or Free Speech Zone” on Sept. 27. The event will begin at 7:30 a.m. at the Harper Center Auditorium.
Panelists include Antony Davies of Duquesne University; Stanley Fish, of the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University; Jonathan Rauch of the Brookings Institution; and Omar Wasow, of Princeton University.
The lecture is free and open to the public, and is sponsored by Creighton’s Institute for Economic Inquiry.
PAWNEE, Okla. (AP) — The Latest on the large earthquake in Oklahoma (all times local):
9:10 a.m.
The Pawnee County emergency management director says no injuries have been reported and no buildings have collapsed following a magnitude 5.6 earthquake that ties a 2011 temblor for the strongest in Oklahoma history.
Mark Randell said the Saturday morning quake did cause cracks and damages to city buildings, some of which date to the early 1900s.
The U.S. Geological Survey reports the quake struck at 7:02 a.m. about nine miles northwest of Pawnee, a town of about 2,200 about 70 miles northwest of Oklahoma City.
The U.S.G.S. also reports a 3.6 magnitude aftershock in the same area at 7:58 a.m.
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8:55 a.m.
Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin says that crews are checking bridges and structures for damage after the 5.6 magnitude earthquake, which ties a 2011 temblor for the biggest on record in the state.
Fallin tweeted Saturday morning that the Oklahoma Department of Transportation is checking bridges in the Pawnee area for damage. The quake was centered about 9 miles northwest of the town of about 2,200 people.
Fallin also tweeted that state officials want structural engineers to look at building safety in the wake of the quake, which the U.S. Geological Society happened at 7:02 a.m.
No major damage was immediately reported. The quake was felt as far away as Nebraska.
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7:20 a.m.
CHICAGO (AP) — An earthquake has rattled a swath of the Great Plains from Nebraska to North Texas.
The United States Geological Survey said that a 5.6 magnitude earthquake happened at 7:02 a.m. Saturday in north-central Oklahoma. It also tweeted that aftershocks may occur.
People in Kansas City, Missouri; Fayetteville, Arkansas; and Norman, Oklahoma, all reported feeling the earthquake. Dallas TV station WFAA tweeted that it felt the quake, too.
Sean Weide in Omaha, Nebraska, said he’d never been in an earthquake before and thought he was getting dizzy.
Weide said he and one of his daughters “heard the building start creaking” and said it “was surreal.”
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A conservative Nebraska state senator is holding firm in his refusal to resign from office after admitting that he had cyber sex on a state laptop with a woman he met online.
Sen. Bill Kintner of Papillion on Friday rejected a request by a legislative committee to step down. Members of the Legislature’s Executive Board have threatened to recommend that he be impeached or expelled from the Legislature.
Kintner says he carefully considered the request but contends that many of his constituents have urged him to stay.
Committee members are scheduled to meet again on Sept. 8 to decide how to proceed against Kintner, a blunt-spoken Republican who relishes taking on high-profile topics, including gay rights and immigration.
A North Platte man is being charged with burglary after he allegedly burglarized two North Platte homes.
At around 9:03 a.m., on September 1, an officer responded to the report of a burglary in the 2800 block of West 6th Street.
Officers met with the resident who advised that they had been sleeping in their bedroom when they were awoken by a noise.
The resident said he observed an unknown male subject walk into the bedroom with an armful of their property, then leave. The resident was able to see the suspect leave in a maroon Buick sedan. It was reported that a purse, credit cards, and a gold colored lock box were missing.
At the same time, another officer was dispatched to the 1000 block of South Ash on the report of a suspicious male. The officer met with two independent witnesses, who reported that the male subject was acting strangely and was talking to inanimate objects in a yard in the 400 block of William Avenue.
The officer located a maroon Buick parked in the area and observed a gold lock box in the back seat. A male subject, identified as 18-year-old Jackson Seitz, was then seen approaching the vehicle.
Because Seitz matched the description of the suspect in the burglary, he was detained and searched. The officer located prescription pill bottles in Seitz’ pocket which had another person’s name on them.
Seitz also gave consent to search the vehicle, and officers located all of the property that had been reported as missing in the burglary on West 6th Street.
Investigator John Deal says officers investigated further and located numerous duffel bags in an alleyway, which contained numerous items, including electronics, clothing, and jewelry. Officers were able to determine that the items came from a residence on William Avenue, the same residence where Seitz had been observed in the yard.
The homeowner was contacted and verified that the property was from their home, they also reported that the door to a detached garage had been kicked in.
Investigators soon learned that Seitz knew a family member of the first victim and believed that the resident was gone. In the second burglary, Deal said Seitz knew the son of the resident who was no longer living there.
Deal said in both cases, Seitz entered the homes through unlocked doors. He said it appears that all of the stolen property was recovered and had an estimated value of $1,500.
Seitz was booked into the Lincoln County Detention Center on charges of felony burglary and possession of a legal drug without a prescription.
NebraskaLand National Bank is now accepting applications to NebraskaLand University, a financial literacy scholarship program for area high school seniors. The program is a six course financial literacy program designed to educate students on budgeting, savings, credit, loans, career development, identity theft protection and more. The curriculum uses a combination of established financial literacy materials and unique lessons plans created and instructed by Senior and Executive Officers at NebraskaLand National Bank.
Mike Jacobson, President and CEO of NebraskaLand National Bank comments, “Although our schools do an excellent job of training students in reading, writing, mathematics, and the arts, a void still exists in the area of basic consumer economics such as budgeting, finance, and business basics. Our goal with NebraskaLand University is to cooperate with our local schools to help bridge that gap.”
Class size is limited. Students must complete an application to the program. All North Platte and surrounding area high school seniors are eligible. Each graduate of the program will receive a $250.00 academic scholarship provided by NebraskaLand National Bank. Each student is required to complete all six classes, with the ability to make up two, in order to graduate and become eligible for the $250.00 scholarship. Students must also complete projects and homework as assigned as well as an essay. Essays will be reviewed and judged by a Bank committee. Three students will be the recipients of additional scholarships based on their essay submissions: $1,000 for 1st Place; $750 for 2nd Place and $500 for 3rd Place.
NebraskaLand University is a free program for students. Applications are available at any NebraskaLand National Bank location or online atwww.nebraskalandbank.com/NLU. Applications are due on Friday, September 16, 2016.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A former Opera Omaha music director accused of looting his mother’s bank account has been imprisoned.
On Thursday 53-year-old John Gawf Jr. was given one to two years behind bars. In July Gawf pleaded no contest to abuse of a vulnerable adult. Prosecutors say he took about $113,000 from Thelma Gawf from May 2015 to January.
Gawf told an investigator that he used the money to gamble.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — New state physical education standards being drafted by the Nebraska Department of Education place more emphasis on teaching fitness and life skills over traditional team sports.
Members of the State Board of Education previewed a draft of the standards Thursday. The draft was crafted by a team of educators from public and private Nebraska schools, colleges and universities.
The standards stress fitness and healthy habits like the existing standards do, but state Department of Education physical education specialist Julane Hill said it also spells out specific skills students should learn in each grade and how that learning should progress from year to year.
In kindergarten, for instance, students are expected to learn to hop and throw underhand.
The State Board of Education is expected to vote on a final draft in October.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Those celebrating the long Labor Day weekend should keep in mind that it won’t be business as usual on Monday.
