(AP) — The Food and Drug Administration says an outbreak of stomach illnesses in Iowa and Nebraska is linked to restaurant salad mix supplied by a Mexican farm.
The outbreak of cyclospora infections has sickened more than 400 people in 16 states. The agency says it is working to determine whether the salad mix is the source of illnesses in the other 14 states.
The FDA traced illnesses from four restaurants to Taylor Farms de Mexico, a processor of food service salads.
The agency did not identify the restaurants where the salad mix was served. The agency said its investigation has not implicated packaged salad sold in grocery stores.
(AP) — Rescuers credit a digital camera for finding a father and son who became lost while hiking in northwest Nebraska.
A man and his teenage son, both from Lincoln, were hiking Thursday when they got lost in the Toadstool Geologic Park area northwest of Crawford.
When they didn’t return, the man’s wife sought help.
Authorities from the sheriff’s offices in Dawes and Sioux counties responded and formed search teams.
After about two hours, a team spotted flashes of light in the distance. When searchers investigated, they found the father and son. They were using a digital camera flash to light their way.
Dawes County Sheriff’s deputy Scott Swickard says the hikers, whose names weren’t released, became turned around in a thunderstorm.
The Nebraska Supreme Court has affirmed the conviction and life sentence of a 24-year-old state prison inmate for the stabbing death of a fellow prisoner.
Mohamed Abdulkadir was sentenced last fall for the June 2011 stabbing death of 22-year-old Michael Grandon at the Nebraska State Penitentiary in Lincoln.
Grandon had been imprisoned for the May 2007 murders of 38-year-old Lori Solie and her 5-year-old daughter, Tiara, of North Platte.
Abdulkadir originally was imprisoned for aiding and abetting second-degree murder and convictions on drug and robbery charges in the 2009 killing of a man in Grand Island.
On Friday, the state’s high court rejected Abdulkadir’s arguments that the trial judge should not have allowed some gruesome photographs, gave incorrect jury instructions and issued an excessive sentence.
(AP) — A Scotts Bluff County man has been diagnosed with having West Nile virus — one of four human cases confirmed by state health officials in Nebraska this year.
Scotts Bluff County health officials say that the man is between the ages of 26 and 50. Officials will not reveal his name or residency to protect his identity.
August and September are the peak months for transmission of the mosquito-borne virus.
Officials say that most people who are infected have no symptoms, or experience mild flu-like symptoms. The most vulnerable people are those over 50 or who have weakened immune systems.
There has also been confirmed cases of the virus in Knox, Hamilton and Douglas Counties this year.
(AP) — A Scottsbluff couple convicted in June of abusing one of their children have been sentenced to prison.
On Thursday, a Scotts Bluff County District judge sentenced 36-year-old Carlos Herrera to four to five years in prison. His wife, 30-year-old Jennifer Herrera, was sentenced to one to two years.
The Herreras have denied the abuse and plan to appeal.
Officials began investigating the Herreras in October 2011, when their 5-year-old son missed school after showing up with injuries.
Authorities say the Herreras tried to conceal the boy’s whereabouts when officers went to check on him. When found, he had the imprint of a shoe across his face, a black eye, bruising and a severe rash.
Prosecutors also said the boy suffered extreme neglect and malnutrition.
Severe weather unleashed its fury on most of Central Nebraska on Thursday night.
The City of North Platte experienced widespread damage as storms packing winds of greater than 70 mph barreled through at around 10:30. Power was knocked out in pockets around town due to downed trees and power lines. The Post observed widespread damage in the west part of town along Buffalo Bill from Cedarberry to Pawnee. An elderly resident was trapped in her home on McDonald Avenue after a large tree fell on her house. As of Friday morning, power had been restored to most residents.
In Dawson County, the National Storm Prediction Center reports that cars driving on Interstate 80 were being pushed sideways by the destructive winds. Ping pong ball sized hail driven by 70 mph winds caused major damage to structures throughout the County.
In Antelope County, trees were shredded and buildings were severely damaged.
Large hail and destructive winds also caused significant damage in Cherry County.
The National Weather Service says storms are possible across the State for the next seven days, with the potential for severe weather nearly every night.
Stay tuned to Mix 97.1, Q Country 107.3 and ESPN 1410 AM any time severe weather threatens the area.
Today: Isolated thunderstorms after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. South southeast wind 5 to 7 mph becoming east in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Tonight: Scattered thunderstorms, mainly after 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. East northeast wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Saturday: Scattered thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 79. East northeast wind 9 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Saturday Night: A chance of thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. East wind 7 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Sunday: A chance of thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 80. East southeast wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Sunday Night: A slight chance of thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
(AP) — Conductors of a monthly survey of business leaders in nine Midwest and Plains states say the region’s economy will grow in the coming months, despite a fourth month of decline in the survey’s overall index.
The overall economic index for the region declined to 53.5 in July from June’s 55.6, but any score above 50 suggests growth.
Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey. He says the regional economy will continue to add jobs, but at a slow pace.
The survey of business leaders and supply managers uses a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Survey organizers say any score above 50 suggests growth, while a score below that suggests decline.
The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.
(AP) — Two Kearney teens have been arrested on suspicion of spray-painting nearly two dozen vehicles in the central Nebraska city.
Police began receiving reports of vehicles being vandalized with black and white spray paint early Wednesday morning. In all, police received reports of at least 20 vehicles and some buildings being marred with painted.
By late Wednesday morning, police had arrested two boys, ages 14 and 15, on suspicion of criminal mischief.
The police department has asked the Buffalo County Attorney’s Office to charge the teens as juveniles.
(AP) — Food safety experts say they’re not surprised by a recent outbreak of a stomach bug that two states have linked to bagged salad.
That’s because the process of harvesting, washing, and packaging such products provides numerous opportunities for contamination.
Last year the Food and Drug Administration issued more than 20 recalls for packaged salads, romaine lettuce or spinach. Most recalls came after tests found listeria or E. coli bacteria present. Both can cause serious illness.
The current stomach bug that sickened hundreds in 15 states is caused by a parasite spread when people ingest food or water contaminated with feces. Iowa and Nebraska officials have tied it to prewashed bagged salad.
Iowa Epidemiologist Patricia Quinlisk says the product that sickened people is gone and packaged salads are safe to eat.
(AP) — The Food and Drug Administration says an outbreak of stomach illnesses in Iowa and Nebraska is linked to restaurant salad mix supplied by a Mexican farm.
