(AP) — Gov. Dave Heineman says it’s too soon to know how the federal government’s partial shutdown will affect Nebraska state government.

Heineman said Wednesday that the shutdown wouldn’t have much of a short-term impact. But over the long-term, he says it creates uncertainty for Nebraska government officials who work on the state budget.

The Department of Health and Human Services announced this week that Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program would continue to receive funding, but funding for other programs was less certain.

Heineman, a former chairman of the National Governor’s Association, says the federal government could address many of its financial problems if it acted more like the states. Nebraska’s constitution requires lawmakers to pass a balanced state budget.

A traffic stop on Highway 83 near Valentine led to the seizure of 11 lbs. of marijuana and the arrest of two South Dakota residents.

Around 8:30 a.m., Tuesday, October 1, a trooper stopped a north bound 2006 Dodge Charger for no front license plate on Highway 83 (mm 192), 20 miles south of Valentine. During the traffic stop the trooper detected the odor of marijuana.  A probable cause search of the car led to the seizure of 11 lbs. of marijuana. The marijuana was in several duffle bags in the trunk of the vehicle.

The driver of the vehicle, Reginald Willett, 24, and a passenger in the vehicle, Cassandra Asfeha, 24 both of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, were each lodged in the Cherry County Jail on a charge of possession of marijuana with intent to deliver.

In an effort to maintain pertinent job skills, advance in a profession via licensure or certification, or prepare for a new endeavor, individuals often seek professional credentials.

On a busy testing day, Mid-Plains Community College Career Services Center test administrators may  proctor pre-employment tests for Union Pacific Railroad, provide secure testing for a Drug and Alcohol Counselor certification and conduct exams for United States Postal Service. As a recent update to service, PearsonVue now offers computer-based testing for individuals wishing to acquire their GED .

Individuals often schedule their testing via their professional organization or the test vendor, while the Test Center staff assures that the exams are delivered in a secure, well-proctored, confidential manner at a center with adequate technology and a favorable testing environment. Employers and professional organizations often seek an unbiased, secure site at which to have their tests administered. The testing center at 1101 Halligan Drive in North Platte is designed to meet all test vendor regulations and criteria.

Bill Eakins, Area Dean of Career Services for MPCC, indicates that the Professional Testing Center provides an important service to both students and professionals in the community.

“It is our desire to support the region’s professional community by offering high-stakes testing locally, helping applicants avoid a long commute to a testing center,” he said. “We believe our community college has an obligation to support our students as they seek workplace credentials. Having the center on campus is a service we are happy to provide.”

For more information, please call the Career Services Center at (308) 535-3618.

(AP) — Nebraskans who are enrolled in Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program will continue to receive benefits despite the federal government’s partial shutdown.

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services announced Tuesday that both programs will not be affected. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as food stamps, has funding through at least October.

Department CEO Kerry Winterer says the agency has received calls from people who are concerned about the programs.

Other programs, such as Aid to Dependent Children, the Child Care Subsidy and the Women, Infant and Children programs may be affected if the federal government doesn’t extend funding.

The federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program typically receives federal funding in November, and state officials say it could also be affected if the shutdown continues.

• Today: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4pm. Patchy fog between 9am and 11am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 81. South wind 5 to 8 mph becoming light and variable in the afternoon.
• Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly between 7pm and 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53. Northeast wind 5 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
• Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 62. North northeast wind 7 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
• Thursday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 44. Breezy, with a north wind 15 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

(AP) — Health officials say there have been more than 130 diagnosed cases of whooping cough in Nebraska this year.

At least 10 cases of the highly contagious disease have been reported in the Nebraska Panhandle.

Scottsbluff County officials have confirmed two cases.

Whooping cough, or pertussis (per-TUH’-sis), is spread when infected people cough or sneeze. It starts like the common cold but can progress into violent coughing spells.

Officials say the pertussis vaccine is given in the same shot with diphtheria and tetanus vaccines.

(AP) — The new, federal health care marketplaces are off to a bumpy start in Nebraska, with computer problems that have prevented consumers from signing up for insurance right away.

Roger Furrer, executive director of Community Action of Nebraska, said Tuesday that the federal website wasn’t allowing users to complete the enrollment process. Staff members in the nonprofit’s local offices have been rescheduling appointments, and some health centers have resorted to paper applications.

The six-month enrollment window opened on Tuesday. Furrer says he expects the problems to clear up after a few days, following an initial burst of website traffic to healthcare.gov, where consumers can access the marketplace.

Consumers who enroll through the marketplace won’t be insured until Jan. 1 at the earliest.

(AP) — The Supreme Court says it will weigh whether a motorist’s anonymous tip about reckless driving is enough for police to pull over a car, without an officer’s corroboration of dangerous driving.

The justices said Tuesday they will take up an appeal by two men who pleaded to guilty to transporting marijuana after California Highway Patrol officers pulled over their silver Ford 150 pickup based on a report of reckless driving.

The officers did not observe erratic driving, but acted after dispatchers received a 911 call saying the vehicle had run the caller off the road and identifying it by its model, color and license plate. Officers searched the truck after smelling marijuana, found four large bags of it and arrested driver Lorenzo Prado Navarette and passenger Jose Prado Navarette.

(AP) — State Treasurer Don Stenberg says he is “very strongly leaning” toward seeking a second term, instead of running for governor or Nebraska’s open U.S. Senate seat.

The Republican treasurer said during a news conference Tuesday that he plans to announce his intentions within the new few months, but added that he has “pretty well crossed off” a run for U.S. Senate. Stenberg has run for U.S. Senate four times since 1996.

Stenberg left open the possibility that he might join the 2014 governor’s race. He says his experience as state treasurer, attorney general, and legal counsel to former Gov. Charles Thone might serve him well in that office.

But he quickly added: “Don’t read too much into that. I’m still leaning toward running for re-election as treasurer.”

(AP) — A special ceremony will be held Tuesday marking Alliance’s takeover of the quirky Carhenge tourist attraction in the Nebraska Panhandle.

The local group overseeing the site, Friends of Carhenge, has given the site to the city. The group has been operating it since 1994.

The junk-car tribute to England’s Stonehenge was built in 1987 by former Alliance resident Jim Reinders and several relatives as a memorial to his father. It sits on land the family once farmed two miles north of Alliance.

The city plans to revitalize and upgrade the property. The Friends of Carhenge still will be involved with the site.