(AP) — A California woman is suing Nebraska officials seeking the return more than $1 million in cash seized in a traffic stop that she says was her life savings, but that the Nebraska State Patrol says is drug money.

The trial in the lawsuit is set to begin Monday.

The patrol seized the money after a traffic stop on Interstate 80 near North Platte turned up the cash wrapped in dryer sheets.

The patrol says a drug-sniffing dog indicated the smell of drugs on the money. Authorities say the state is entitled to take the cash.

But Tasha Mishra, of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., says she earned the money as a stripper and was sending it with two friends to invest in a New Jersey nightclub.

Union Pacific is offering community groups grants of as much as $5,000 to help pay for railroad safety programs.

The railroad is looking for initiatives that will promote safe behavior around train tracks.

UP executive vice president Lance Fritz says this program will let groups suggest new ways to promote railroad safety that will complement existing programs.

The grants will range from $500 to $5,000. Organizations can apply for the grants online at www.UnionPacificCares.com.

COURTESY OF THE NORTH PLATTE POLICE DEPARTMENT

05/30/2013

00:09:20

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY

1400 W 6TH ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

02:13:55

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY

3000 S OAK ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

02:22:57

CHILD ABUSE-NON VIOLENT

4000 ASPEN DR NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

02:32:59

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE

W LEOTA ST /S OAK ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

05:27:08

AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT

LBF, 5400 E LEE BIRD DR NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

06:01:24

ALARM-GENERAL

NEBRASKALAND NAT BANK SOUTH, 3000 S JEFFERS ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

06:41:15

USE THIS WHEN DUP OR UNKNOWN

4000 ASPEN DR NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

06:47:46

AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT

LBF, 5400 E LEE BIRD DR NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

07:44:30

EXPIRED PLATES/REGISTRATION

1900 W A ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

08:01:48

SPEEDING

500 S BUFFALO BILL AV NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

08:11:09

VIOL TRAFFIC CONTROL DEV

Philip AV / Mcdonald AV NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

08:12:12

SPEEDING

500 S BUFFALO BILL AV NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

08:17:16

ASSAULT- 3RD DEGREE- MINOR INJURY

1300 W PHILIP AV NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

08:41:34

SPEEDING

2000 W A ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

09:04:03

ESCORT- ODEAN CHAP

200 W 8TH ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

09:11:01

CHILD ABUSE-NON VIOLENT

2000 W 6TH ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

09:50:54

CITIZEN ASSIST

700 S MAPLE ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

10:01:25

GEN PARK & TRAFFIC

700 E PHILIP AV NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

10:00:39

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY

300 S BAILEY ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

10:48:02

FAMILY DIST-NO ASSAULT

2300 W 2ND ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

10:51:31

GEN PARK & TRAFFIC

100 C ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

11:08:28

CITIZEN ASSIST

400 HALLIGAN DR NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

11:36:03

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY

1100 S OAK ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

12:04:07

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY

W 1ST ST /S EMORY AV NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

12:07:27

PROP DAMAGE-NO ALC RELAT

900 S DEWEY ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

12:25:54

POSS SUICIDE ATT/THREAT

NORTH PLATTE, 1 NORTH PLATTE NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

12:43:07

PREF RIGHT OF WAY-STOP AND YIELD SIGNS

C & Silber  B & Silber North Platte, NE 69101

05/30/2013

12:49:01

EXPIRED PLATES/REGISTRATION

9th / Willow North Platte, NE 69101

05/30/2013

13:06:00

LOOSE ANIMALS

1300 RODEO RD NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

13:15:37

ANIMAL DISPOSAL

3300 W NORTH LAKE RD NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

13:17:39

WARRANT SERVICE

2000 W 5TH ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

13:24:47

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY

600 MCDONALD RD NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

13:23:22

CAT-STRAY FR CITIZEN

600 S Sycamore NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103

05/30/2013

13:43:22

THEFT BY DECEPTION

1200 S OAK ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

13:41:59

LOOSE ANIMALS

200 E North River Rd NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103

05/30/2013

14:13:23

TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGNALS

E B ST /S JEFFERS ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

11:26:01

MISSING PERS MALE ADULT

400 W 4TH ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

14:47:50

CITIZEN ASSIST

NORTH PLATTE

05/30/2013

14:52:45

SUSPICIOUS PERSON

NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

14:49:00

LOOSE ANIMALS

1400 N SYCAMORE NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

15:05:48

NO PROOF OF INSURANCE

1900 W 9th North Platte, NE 69101

05/30/2013

15:10:08

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY

900 AUTUMN PARK NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

15:14:27

INTIMIDATION BY PHONE CALL

1100 S TABOR AV NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

15:24:03

PROP DAMAGE-NO ALC RELAT

400 N CARR AV NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

15:25:13

BURGLARY

100 N MAPLE ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

15:59:52

FICTITIOUS PLATES

100 W 1ST ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

16:09:42

LOOSE ANIMALS

800 N JACKSON AV NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

16:10:29

SPEEDING

400 N Buffalo North Platte, NE 69101

05/30/2013

16:23:44

THEFT BY EXER CONTROL- ALL OTHER

2600 PAWNEE AV NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

17:02:00

ANIMAL COMPLAINT OTHER

1400 N SYCAMORE NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

17:16:01

REGISTRATION REQUIRED

1200 JACKSON AV NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

17:22:00

EXPIRED PLATES/REGISTRATION

200 N MCCABE AV NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

18:05:52

2ND DEGREE CRIMINAL TRESPASS

700 S BELMONT AV NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

18:52:29

PROSTITUTION

NORTH PLATTE, 1 NORTH PLATTE NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

19:21:25

CRIMINAL MISCHIEF

1200 E 4TH ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

19:33:23

NON-CRIMINAL/GENERAL

1500 N SYCAMORE NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

19:34:58

ASSAULT- 3RD DEGREE- MINOR INJURY

1200 W 11TH ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

19:44:06

CITIZEN ASSIST

NORTH PLATTE, 1 NORTH PLATTE NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

20:44:12

DRUG PARPH- USE OR POSSESS

1300 MCDONALD RD NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

21:29:26

MOTOR VEH LIGHT REQUIREMENTS

S WELCH AV /E PHILIP AV NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

21:50:24

DRIVING UNDER SUSPENSION

W LEOTA ST /S OAK ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

21:53:08

FAMILY DIST-NO ASSAULT

2000 W 6TH ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

22:05:28

NON-CRIMINAL/GENERAL

1 GOTHENBURG, NE 69138

05/30/2013

22:38:15

CITIZEN ASSIST

700 S JEFFERS ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

22:50:55

BIKE PATROL

East Side NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

22:57:43

LOITERING (CITY ORDINANCE)

N BUFFALO BILL AV / RODEO RD NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

23:01:30

DRAG RACING

1500 block N Jeffers NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103

05/30/2013

23:13:35

OTHER EQUIP VIOLATION

E 5TH ST /N BRYAN AV NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

23:35:27

AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT

LBF, 5400 E LEE BIRD DR NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

23:36:38

OTHER DISTURBANCE

2700 W A ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/30/2013

23:39:29

THEFT OF SERVICES BY DECEPTION

400 S COTTONWOOD NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/31/2013

01:33:53

OPEN DOORS OR WINDOWS

100 RODEO RD NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/31/2013

01:58:31

FAILURE TO SIGNAL TURN

1300 S DEWEY ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/31/2013

02:45:15

AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT

LBF, 5400 E LEE BIRD DR NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/31/2013

05:08:16

CRIMINAL MISCHIEF

1600 W 6TH ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/31/2013

06:02:11

WELFARE CHECK

2200 BIRCHWOOD NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/31/2013

06:04:15

TRAFFIC ACCIDENT-GENERAL

2500 W FRONT ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/31/2013

06:11:56

NON-CRIMINAL/GENERAL

200 E 5TH ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/31/2013

06:57:53

AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT

LEE BIRD FIELD, 5400 E LEE BIRD DR NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103

05/31/2013

07:29:27

TRAFFIC ENFORCE GENERAL

W 1ST ST /S VINE ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/31/2013

07:44:12

TRAFFIC ENFORCE GENERAL

W 10TH ST /N SYCAMORE ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/31/2013

07:51:18

TRAFFIC ENFORCE GENERAL

100 N JEFFERS ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

A rollover accident sent three teens to the hospital Wednesday afternoon.

Lincoln County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to Snake Road north of Sutherland at about 2:30 p.m., on the report of a rollover accident.

Upon arrival, Deputies learned that 16-year-old Alexandria Lurz of Ogallala was driving northbound on Snake Road when she hit a puddle of water, which caused her to lose control.  The vehicle hit an embankment and rolled one time, coming to rest on its wheels.

Lurz and three passengers were transported to Great Plains Regional Medical Center by Sutherland Rescue.  Three of the vehicles occupants were wearing seat belts, however, Deputies say the person with the most severe injuries was not restrained.

None of the injuries appeared to be life-threatening according to authorities.

No citations were issued, and alcohol was not a factor.

(AP) — The recent rain has helped alleviate drought in Nebraska, but most of the state remains dry with the worst conditions being reported out west.

The latest U.S. Drought Monitor report released Thursday says that nearly 7 percent of Nebraska in the southeast corner of the state is no longer experiencing drought.

The National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln says the other 93 percent of the state is still experiencing drought, but the severity of it has improved this spring.

Only 39 percent of Nebraska in the western half of the state is currently experiencing either extreme or exceptional drought. Three months ago, 96 percent of the state fell into one of those two categories of drought.

(AP) — A 23-year-old Panhandle man remains in jail, awaiting prosecution on allegations that he poured gasoline on his girlfriend’s sister and threatened to set her aflame.

James Browning, of Lyman, was arrested after a disturbance on Sunday morning.

Court documents say the sister of Browning’s girlfriend was trying to help the girlfriend get away from Browning when he threw the gas on the sister. The documents also say Browning threw items at the sister’s vehicle as they drove away and later threatened the sister’s husband with an ax when he showed up at Browning’s property.

Browning is charged with two felony counts of terroristic threats and two related misdemeanors.

Jail records say Browning remained in custody on Thursday. His attorney didn’t immediately return a call.

(AP) — A Kearney manufacturer is beginning work on a $40 million expansion that could result in new jobs.

Baldwin Filters held a ceremonial groundbreaking Wednesday to kick off construction of a 400,000-square-foot expansion.

Construction is set to begin in July on the new distribution center. It will replace a 110,000-square-foot center, which Baldwin has outgrown.

Vice President of Operations Dan Schulte says the company has been renting 250,000 square feet of storage space in Kearney.

The new center will more than double the number of loading docks and include a more sophisticated management system.

Company officials say the expansion will lead to more jobs, but they couldn’t say how many.

Baldwin employs nearly 1,000 people in Kearney and also has plants in Gothenburg and Yankton, S.D.

Out with the old and in with the new.

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln West Central Research and Extension Center in North Platte is replacing an old dairy barn.

In it’s place will be a new entomology building.  Officials say the structure will be 75 by 40 feet and will be used by researchers studying insects that cause damage to crops.

The dairy barn was being used for storage, but has been deemed unsafe for use.

The cost of the project is about $375,000 and is scheduled to be complete by 2015.

 

Levels on water bodies fluctuate constantly. Nebraska boaters should be aware that rising and falling levels can create hazards.

Many water bodies are flood-control structures where levels rise during heavy rains and wash potential hazards into new areas. Other bodies are used for irrigation and experience draw-downs during the summer, creating and exposing additional hazards.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission offers boaters the following tips:

— Plan an upstream trip when navigating a river. If you have problems, such as engine failure, use the current to drift back to your starting point.

— Never assume there are no hazards. Operators always must be looking for submerged obstacles.

— Operate at a speed that gives you maximum control of your vessel.

— Be alert and avoid distractions.

— Avoid drinking alcohol or riding on the bow.

— Always use caution, especially on waters unfamiliar to you.

— Be sure to have all the required safety equipment on board (read the 2013 Boating Guide athttps://outdoornebraska.ne.gov/boating/pdfs/boatguide.pdf)

Recent heavy rains have swollen the Missouri River, submerging jetties, breakwaters and wing dikes and creating hazards to boaters. These obstacles may not be marked by buoys.

“Striking these submerged obstacles not only can severely damage a boat, but also could cause a boat to become swamped and dump operators and passengers into the river,” said Herb Angell, Nebraska’s boating law administrator.

Angell suggests boaters take a Nebraska boating safety course. Visit BoatSafeNebraska.org for more information.