(AP) — An old carousel in North Platte has been given national recognition.

The National Carousel Association recently honored the historic carousel in Cody Park with an award that recognizes its century-old status.

The carousel is one of two operational antique carousels in the state.

The carousel is a 1913 Herschell-Spillman Carousel that has all wooden horses. The city purchased it in the 1950s and it’s had minor renovation over the years.

Lyle Minshull, North Platte park supervisor, says the carousel is valuable because of its link to the past.

(AP) — A temporary increase in food stamps expires Oct. 31, meaning for millions of Americans, the benefits that help put food on the table won’t stretch as far as they have for the past four years.

Food stamps — actually the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — go to 47 million Americans a month, almost half of them children and teenagers.

The monthly benefits, which go to 1 in 7 Americans, fluctuate based on factors including food prices, income and inflation.

Families and providers worry the expiration of the stimulus bump comes at a particularly bad time. And the program could face another shortfall if the government is shuttered past Nov. 1.

(AP) — A state senator says he will propose changes to Nebraska’s “good time” law for violent offenders when lawmakers reconvene next year.

State Sen. Beau McCoy said Wednesday that the measure could include additional requirements for violent offenders to receive the credit. The “good time” system gives prisoners one day of credit for each day spent behind bars, effectively cutting their sentences in half.

McCoy says his legislation could include a requirement that violent offenders not violate prison rules while incarcerated. It also could require them to complete rehabilitation or training programs.

Lawmakers are looking at a series of prison reforms next year, including ways to reduce overcrowding and expand treatment services. State officials have focused on the prisons after several deadly incidents involving inmates who were released.

(AP) — About 16,000 voters in Nebraska will receive letters next week asking for additional information in an effort to update their registrations.

The recipients will be asked to provide their driver’s license numbers and the last four digits of their Social Security number. Secretary of State John Gale says the data will be added to information that is already on file.

Gale says the request is part of its routine list maintenance, and compliance is voluntary. He says the information improves the accuracy and security of the state’s registration database.

Gale says many of the 16,000 voters submitted their registrations before 2003, when Social Security information and driver’s license numbers were first required in Nebraska as part of the Help America Vote Act.

 

(AP) — Several cattle died and some were temporarily freed after a semitrailer overturned just off Interstate 80 near Kearney.

The accident occurred around 5 a.m. Tuesday about three miles east of Kearney.  The truck had gone off the roadway and flipped onto its side.

The accident ripped off a portion of the roof and freed some cattle. They were rounded up later.

The truck driver was identified as 73-year-old Donald Brush, of McCook. He was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney and was listed in serious condition.

(AP) — Gov. Dave Heineman says a local proposal to renovate the Grand Island Veterans Home rather than build a replacement home in Kearney could jeopardize federal funding.

The governor told a meeting of Buffalo County Republicans on Monday that he feared the proposal could create confusion at the federal level.

Nebraska officials have awarded the $121 million veterans home project to Kearney to replace the outdated Grand Island facility. But some Grand Island and Hall County officials and residents have criticized the bidding process and decried the relocation of the veterans.

The local proposal sent Sep. 26 to Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki in Washington suggests a $75 million renovation of the Grand Island campus.

The governor says Grand Island officials favored building a replacement until they didn’t win the bidding.

(AP) — A new report by a national group says Nebraska’s tax climate ranks 34th in the nation.

The Washington-based Tax Foundation said Wednesday that Nebraska’s tax ranking was unchanged from the previous year. Gov. Dave Heineman often points to the group’s rankings when advocating for lower taxes.

Nebraska scored lowest in property taxes, where it ranked 39th nationally. Its best ranking was for unemployment taxes, where it ranked 8th.

The Tax Foundation gave its highest marks to Wyoming, South Dakota, Nevada, Alaska, Florida, Washington, Montana, New Hampshire, Utah and Indiana.

The lowest-ranked states were Maryland, Connecticut, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Vermont, Rhode Island, Minnesota, California, New Jersey and New York.

(AP) — A watchdog organization says nearly 100 University of Nebraska employees get privately funded job perks that include free cars and club memberships.

Common Cause Nebraska said Wednesday that the University of Nebraska Foundation and university boosters provide the perks.

The group says some staffers get a car, car allowances or memberships to country clubs, golf clubs or health clubs. Some get both a car and membership. The employees receiving the perks include all four campus chancellors as well as football coach Bo Pelini.

Jack Gould of Common Cause Nebraska says not being transparent about using private funds to pay for personal benefits to public employees could hurt NU’s integrity.

Messages to the university and the foundation were not immediately returned Wednesday.

 Investigators with the Nebraska State Patrol have arrested a 65-year old Alliance man on multiple charges of Possession of Child Pornography.

On Tuesday, October 8, James F. Parks, 65, was taken into custody without incident at his residence, 1411 Duncan Avenue, Alliance. His arrest follows a four month long investigation in which Parks possessed and shared child pornography.  As part of the investigation search warrants were issued on Parks’ home and email accounts.

Parks was lodged in the Box Butte County Jail on seven counts of Possession of Child Pornography.

The North Platte Police Department (NPPD) continues to investigate the suspicious death of a North Platte man.

NPPD Public Information Officer Rodney Brown said in a news release Wednesday that the investigation in the death of 30-year-old Dustin McEntire is ongoing and interviews are still being conducted.

Brown said McEntire’s body was found in his Platteview Apartment, 301 West Leota, on Sunday.  An autopsy was performed on Tuesday and, according to Brown, was unable to conclude if foul play was involved.

McEntire, who was paralyzed in a 2007 car accident, is survived by a son.  Services will be held Friday at Harvest Christian Fellowship.