LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Some University of Nebraska system faculty members say a big drop in vehicle mileage reimbursement will be tough to weather.
The system intends to drop reimbursement when faculty members use their own car from about 50 cents per mile to 25 cents per mile beginning next month, citing challenges with the state budget.
System extension educators and faculty members in rural settings say the decision is especially burdensome for them because they drive long distances to work as well as to programs, meetings and events.
System President Hank Bounds says reducing mileage reimbursement is one of many ways to deal with a $49 million budget gap caused by state funding problems and rising costs. The system hopes to save about $550,000 a year with the drop.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Powerball officials say there was no grand prize winner in the latest drawing, meaning one of the nation’s largest lottery jackpots will continue growing.
Maura McCann of the New Hampshire Lottery says no ticket matched all six numbers following Saturday night’s drawing. The winning numbers are: 17, 19, 39, 43, 68 and Powerball 13.
The new jackpot for Wednesday’s drawing is $650 million, which would be the third-largest jackpot in U.S. history.
The prize has grown so large because no one has matched all six balls in more than two months, so the jackpot has grown after every drawing.
The odds of winning the giant prize is one in 292.2 million.
Powerball is played in 44 states as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
OGALLALA, Neb. (AP) — Trial has been set for a truck driver charged a 2016 crash in western Nebraska that killed six people.
The trial for 54-year-old Tony Weekly Jr. of Baker, Florida, has been set for Dec. 12.
Weekly has pleaded not guilty in Keith County District Court to six counts of motor vehicle homicide for the July 31, 2016, crash near Brule.
Investigators say Weekly was distracted and didn’t slow down in an Interstate 80 construction zone, smashing into the back of a minivan carrying a Minnesota family of five. Jamison and Kathryne Pals and their three children, ages 3, 2 1/2 and 23 months, all died in the crash.
Another man injured in the crash, Terry Sullivan of Denver, died later.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska officials are deploying eight trucks around the state as part of a campaign to promote motorcycle safety.
The 10-week Nebraska Highway Safety Council campaign began Wednesday. State Department of Transportation, law enforcement and motorcycle safety groups created the campaign after a series of fatal accidents involving motorcyclists this year, especially in the last six weeks.
Signs on the delivery trucks’ panels warn motorists to “watch for motorcycles everywhere” by checking mirrors and looking both ways when at intersections and changing lanes.
Transportation data shows there have been 22 motorcyclist fatalities so far this year, compared to 14 at this time last year.
The safety council is providing a one-day refresher course for veteran bikers on Aug. 26.
LINCOLN, Neb. – The body of a Littleton, Colorado man was recovered from Lake McConaughy on Aug. 20.
At 11:19 a.m. Mountain time, the Lake McConaughy Dive Rescue (LMDR) team was paged to a call of a body in the water about 2 miles west of Van’s Lakeview on Lake McConaughy.
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission conservation officers responded in boats, along with boats from the LMDR team. Officers and rescuers located the body of a deceased man, which was being secured by two anglers. LMDR recovered the body.
The preliminary investigation determined the man voluntarily departed a boat for a swim and was unable to return to the boat. Neither alcohol nor foul play is suspected. The victim was not wearing a life jacket.
Also assisting were the Nebraska State Patrol and Keith County Sheriff’s Office.
WHITECLAY, Neb. (AP) — Officials say a man has died and a woman has been injured in a crash near Whiteclay in northwestern Nebraska.
The Sheridan County Sheriff’s Department says 46-year-old Francis Ray Rencountre died when the vehicle he was driving went off a bridge, into a ravine and rolled. The department says a female passenger was taken to the Pine Ridge Hospital with injuries.
Investigators believe the two had driven from Pine Ridge, South Dakota, to Rushville and were on their way back when the crash happened. Investigators believe alcohol consumption contributed to the crash.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Those on the road this weekend planning to catch sight of a rare total solar eclipse in Nebraska will see more troopers on state highways and roads.
The Nebraska State Patrol is preparing for an influx of traffic as potentially 400,000 or more people visit the state for Monday’s eclipse.
The patrol will be conducting a special enforcement on Interstate 80 and other major highways in or around the path of totality. The enforcement begins Saturday and runs through Monday.
The patrol warns motorists not to park on the shoulders of I-80 or major highways and to pay attention to surroundings, as many drivers will not be familiar with the terrain. Motorists should also avoid distracted driving and taking pictures while driving.
Country Music’s original supergroup returns to North Platte for the 2018 NEBRASKAland DAYS US Cellular Summer Jam Concert series.
Alabama, loaded with a library of number one singles and awards, will close the 2018 Celebration on Saturday, June 23rd 2018.
It’s been 40 years since a trio of young cousins left Fort Payne, Alabama, to spend the summer playing in a Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, bar called The Bowery. It took Randy Owen, Teddy Gentry and Jeff Cook six long years of tip jars and word of mouth to earn the major label deal they’d been dreaming of, but then seemingly no time at all to change the face of country music. Alabama is the band that changed everything.
They reeled off 21 straight #1 singles, a record that will probably never be equaled in any genre. The accolades they have collected include more than 150 major industry nods, including two Grammys, the Minnie Pearl Humanitarian award, Entertainer of the Year awards three times from the CMA and five times from the ACM, as well as the latter’s Artist of the Decade award. They earned 21 Gold ®, Platinum ® and MultiPlatinum ® albums and were named the RIAA’s Country Group of the Century.
“Alabama is the perfect fit to end a year where we celebrate the 50th anniversary of NEBRASKAland DAYS moving to North Platte,” said Executive Director David Fudge. “When you add them to a weekend that already includes Florida Georgia Line, you get a really good lineup that celebrates multiple generations.”
Alabama previously appeared at the Wild West Arena in 1992, the same year as Alan Jackson, who appeared at the festival earlier this summer.
Tickets for both Florida Georgia Line and Alabama go on sale to the public on September 5 at 9 am. Tickets for FGL rangle from $149 to $69, while Alabama will sell from $119-59. Combo tickets for GA and seating will be offered for $118.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Some University of Nebraska system faculty members say a big drop in vehicle mileage reimbursement will be tough to weather.
