North Platte Fire and Rescue crews responded to North Platte High School on Wednesday afternoon after smoke was reported in a hallway.
According to NPHS Principal Scott Siegel, at around 1:26 p.m., smoke was reported in the hallway that connects the Commons area to the Athletics Halls.
The smoke did not trigger the fire alarms at the school, but still prompted administrators to contact the North Platte Fire Department.
Firefighters arrived and determined that there was no danger to students or staff, and determined that the smoke was caused by an electric wire or electric motor.
Students and staff were placed “On Hold” and were not allowed to leave classrooms or the gym, while fire personnel investigated to identify any further risks.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A new report says Nebraska state government collected far more in taxes than expected last month.The Department of Revenue said Wednesday that net tax collection in April totaled $660 million, which is 15.1% above the certified forecast of $573 million.
The department says net sales and use, individual income, corporate income and miscellaneous taxes were all higher than expected.
Nebraska has collected about $3.93 billion in the current fiscal year, which ends June 30. That’s 2.6% above the state’s certified forecast.
The forecasts are set by the Nebraska Economic Forecasting Advisory Board. State officials had predicted April’s tax collections would be higher because of many taxpayers filing their income tax returns.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A bill that would replace Nebraska’s largest tax incentive for businesses is drawing criticism from some lawmakers, but the sponsor says he has enough support to bring it to a vote.
Lawmakers passed over the measure without voting on it Wednesday after three hours of debate, but Sen. Mark Kolterman, of Seward, says he expects it back on the agenda next week.
The proposed “ImagiNE Nebraska Act” would replace the Nebraska Advantage Act, a state tax incentive program that’s set to expire in 2020. Kolterman says the new proposal offers greater accountability than the current program and will do a better job of ensuring that tax credits go to companies that offer high-wage jobs.
Some senators say the measure will crowd out money that should go toward lowering property taxes.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska state officials are pushing back against allegations that prisoners aren’t receiving proper health care and mental health treatment due to deliberate indifference by the corrections department.
The Nebraska attorney general’s office argued in a court filing Tuesday that the Department of Correctional Services provides excellent access to health care and has invested millions in new facilities and employees in recent years.
The filing came in response to inmates represented by the American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska, which filed a lawsuit in 2017. The inmates are now asking a judge to grant them class-action status, which state officials oppose.
Assistant Nebraska Attorney General Ryan Post says the prison system still has problems to overcome, but those challenges aren’t constitutional violations.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Two of Nebraska’s largest farm groups are objecting to a bill that would create new business tax credits to replace the state’s current major incentive program.The Nebraska Farm Bureau and Nebraska Farmers Union say they oppose the bill because lawmakers haven’t yet approved a plan to lower property taxes. The Nebraska Farm Bureau argued Tuesday that lawmakers are running out of time in this year’s session and need to focus on property taxes.
Business groups have defended the incentives as critical to maintain a competitive business environment in Nebraska relative to other states.
Nebraska Farmers Union President John Hansen says the state’s tax incentives aren’t cost effective and haven’t worked as intended. The incentives were also criticized by two former lawmakers who led the Legislature’s Performance Audit Committee.
LINCOLN, Neb. – This Saturday will be a great day to go fishing or visit a state park area in Nebraska! May 18 is Free Fishing and Park Entry Day.
Free Fishing and Park Entry Day is held annually in Nebraska on the Saturday preceding Memorial Day weekend. It means anyone can fish without a permit or visit a state park area without a park entry permit that day only.
Even though fishing and park entry permits are not required, anglers must observe all fishing regulations, and camping, lodging and all other user fees still apply at state park areas.
May 18 also is a great opportunity to participate in the Take ‘em Fishing challenge, in which anglers pledge to take new or inexperienced anglers fishing. Visit outdoornebraska.gov/takeemfishing/ for more information.
Many events are scheduled in conjunction with Free Fishing and Park Entry Day, including the grand opening of the Schramm Education Center at Schramm Park State Recreation Area.
For more details on park events taking place on Free Fishing and Park Entry Day, visit Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov.
Two North Platte residents are in jail on felony theft charges after police allegedly found them in possession of stolen vehicles.
On May 13, at around 11:20 p.m., an officer on patrol observed a running vehicle parked on the side of the street in the 800 block of East 12th Street. The officer reported that 41-year-old Shane Ross was in the driver’s seat and was known to have a suspended license. When the officer ran the license plate of the vehicle, it came back as fictitious.
The officer was en route to another call and was therefore unable to make contact with Ross.
After completing the call, the officer was advised that someone was attempting to enter homes in the area of 13th and Silber Streets.
According to police, the officer returned to the vehicle that he had reportedly seen Ross in earlier and found it to be unoccupied.
A check of the vehicle identification number (VIN) found that it had been reported as stolen in Kansas.
More officers arrived and made contact with 26-year-old Erica Charging Elk, who was sitting in a vehicle in the driveway of a nearby residence. Officers ran that vehicle’s VIN and found that it had been reported stolen out of South Dakota.
Police say Ross and an unidentified male emerged from the garage of a residence, at which time Ross was placed under arrest.
Charging Elk was also arrested and both were transported to the Lincoln County Detention Center. Both have been charged with theft by unlawful taking-over $5,000, a Class IIA felony, for allegedly being in possession of the stolen vehicles.
NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (AP) — A western Nebraska county board has voted to remove the elected county treasure and name a replacement.
Lincoln County commissioners voted unanimously Monday to oust Lori Koertner and appoint Sue Fleck to replace her. Fleck had retired from the office in January.
The commissioners cited a state law in removing Koertner “for neglecting or refusing to render any account or settlement required by law, and failing or neglecting to account for any balance due the state, county, township, school district or any other municipal subdivision or is guilty of any other misconduct in office.”
Efforts to reach Koertner to comment were unsuccessful. She ran unopposed in November after winning the Republican primary last May.
Governor Pete Ricketts announced that all U.S. and Nebraska flags are to be flown at half-staff on Wednesday, May 15, 2019, in honor of Peace Officers Memorial Day. This guidance is per a White House proclamation issued Friday, May 10, 2019, available here.
Flags will be flown at half-staff until sunset on Wednesday, May 15, 2019.
North Platte Fire and Rescue crews responded to North Platte High School on Wednesday afternoon after smoke was reported in a hallway.
