LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Medical marijuana advocates are urging Nebraska state senators not to confirm a chief medical officer who opposes the use of marijuana or any of its byproducts.

Dr. Thomas Williams could be confirmed as the state’s chief medical officer following a committee recommendation last week. Advocates who want to see Nebraska legalize medical marijuana say he is unwilling to consider treatments that could help people who suffer from cancer or seizures.

Williams in a letter urged a legislative committee not to advance a bill that would allow children with seizures to use a drug containing a non-psychoactive compound found in marijuana, provided the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves that drug this summer. He wrote marijuana has no medical use and has a “high potential for abuse.”

Lana Albrecht-Watson has been named as an Excellence in Teaching recipient by the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD).

The Tryon woman is a nurse educator and the nursing clinical coordinator for both the registered nurse and licensed practical nursing programs at Mid-Plains Community College. She was nominated for the award by her peers.

“Lana’s reputation and experience in the classroom made our selection very easy,” said Dr. Jody Tomanek, MPCC area vice president of academic affairs. “Lana is not only outstanding when it comes to teaching, but her work with the nursing student organization and the number of community activities they do is commendable as well. The college is extremely proud to have Lana recognized for her efforts.”

The Excellence Award honors teachers who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment and contribution to their students and colleagues.

“I’m very proud to receive the award,” said Albrecht-Watson. “I really do have a passion for teaching. It’s exciting for me to watch students learning, having fun and reaching goals they wanted to reach.”

Albrecht-Watson has been a full-time instructor at the college for six years. She is an alum of MPCC’s nursing program – having entered it in 1995, right out of high school.

“It was an honor to be asked to come back and teach at the place where I got my start,” said Albrecht-Watson. “The whole reason I teach is because I want to have good nurses when I need them, or when my family or friends need them. At MPCC, I get the satisfaction of knowing we are sending an excellent, well-prepared group of nurses into the workforce.”

That’s part of why pinning day is the most exciting for her. It’s also the most difficult.

“The nursing students become like family,” said Albrecht-Watson. “I get to be kind of like their mother. It’s fun to build that rapport with them and watch them grow, but it’s always hard to say good-bye.”

Her efforts will be recognized during NISOD’s International Conference on Teaching and Leadership Excellence on May 28, in Austin, Texas. There, she will be treated to a red carpet experience and presented with a specially cast, pewter medallion.

The North Platte Public Schools Foundation in conjunction with North Platte Public schools is excited to announce that Brandy Buscher and Brandon Petersen have been recognized as the BIG “Bulldog” staff members of the month.  Both award winners are employed at NPHS where Brandy is the student services coordinator and Brandon is a Business Teacher.

Brandy was nominated by Associate Superintendent Tami Eshleman.  Her nomination read. She collaborates with our building principals, counselors and teachers to provides resources to our students. Brandy represents NPPSD at court hearings and on community boards. Brandy works directly with the Backpack Program and recently, developed our high school pantry of food and necessities.  Mrs. Buscher is responsible for implementing the Dare to Go Five Below program focusing on reducing absenteeism with our students. Brandy is our district Homeless Liaison and advocates for students at the state and local level.  Brandy Buscher advocates for students and families of North Platte Public Schools. She is worthy of our BIG award by helping to eliminate barriers to learning.

Brandon Petersen was nominated by NPHS administration.  They told the foundation that besides being a great teacher in the classroom, Brandon goes above and beyond in performing duties that help to improve both our high school and the district. Brandon has created numerous multimedia materials used to celebrate student, staff and our school. Brandon has been teaching for North Platte Public Schools since 2004.  He teaches computer science and technology classes in the Business Department at North Platte High School.  These classes include Information Technology, Information Technology 2, Digital Media, Advanced Digital Media, Graphic Design, Advanced Graphic Design, and Programming.  Our mission in our department is to help students become problem-solving, career-ready individuals who can make positive contributions to society.  In addition to teaching, Brandon does the school’s newsletter and creative content for the “Bulldog Vision” video board in the gym.

The North Platte Public Schools and North Platte Public Schools foundation developed the BIG Staff recognition promotion to provide incentives for deserving teachers and support staff. The program is designed to recognize outstanding teachers and support staff for their contributions to NPPS. The nomination symbolizes the esteem and appreciation that everyone has for our school district employees.

Teachers are rewarded with a gift basket, balloons and a gift card to the Bulldog store at NPHS.  The North Platte Public Schools Foundation is facilitating the program and takes nominations from principals and administration.  Staff members will be awarded monthly throughout the school year and recognized at the end of the year Education After Hours on April 7^th, 2017.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska lawmakers have advanced a bill that would require insurers to treat telehealth services the same as in-person services for coverage purposes.

Senators gave the measure first-round approval on Monday with a 34-0 vote.

Telehealth services allow doctors and patients to connect remotely through the internet or by phone. Many doctors have already embraced the technology, but some have been reluctant because they don’t know whether insurers will reimburse them.

Supporters say the legislation extends a requirement to private insurers that’s already in place for Medicaid. Advocates for an insurance group say most carriers have been looking to provide the coverage anyway.

Two more votes are required before the legislation goes to Gov. Pete Ricketts.

...STRONG WINDS LIKELY TODAY...

.A strong Pacific cold front will pass through western and north
central Nebraska today. Behind the front strong westerly winds are
likely.

NEZ004>006-008-009-022>027-035>038-056>059-069>071-094-070100-
/O.CON.KLBF.HW.W.0001.170306T1500Z-170307T0100Z/
Sheridan-Eastern Cherry-Keya Paha-Brown-Rock-Garden-Grant-Hooker-
Thomas-Blaine-Loup-Arthur-McPherson-Logan-Custer-Deuel-Keith-
Perkins-Lincoln-Chase-Hayes-Frontier-Western Cherry-
Including the cities of Gordon, Rushville, Valentine, Springview,
Ainsworth, Bassett, Rose, Oshkosh, Lewellen, Hyannis, Mullen,
Thedford, Halsey, Dunning, Purdum, Brewster, Taylor, Arthur,
Tryon, Ringgold, Stapleton, Broken Bow, Chappell, Big Springs,
Ogallala, Paxton, Grant, North Platte, Champion, Enders,
Imperial, Wauneta, Hayes Center, Curtis, Eustis, Maywood, Cody,
Eli, Merriman, and Kilgore
321 AM CST Mon Mar 6 2017 /221 AM MST Mon Mar 6 2017/

...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM CST /8 AM MST/
THIS MORNING TO 7 PM CST /6 PM MST/ THIS EVENING...

* TIMING...Strong westerly winds will develop behind an exiting
  cold front Today. Look for winds to increase by late morning
  with the highest winds expected this afternoon.

* WINDS...Sustained westerly winds of 30 to 40 MPH with gusts to
  around 60 MPH.

* IMPACTS...Loose items stored outside, should be secured.
  Drivers of light weight or high profile vehicles, should be
  prepared for strong cross winds, especially on north to south
  routes.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A High Wind Warning means a hazardous high wind event is expected
or occurring. Sustained wind speeds of at least 40 mph or gusts
of 58 mph or more can lead to property damage.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Third-party political candidates could have an easier time getting on the Nebraska ballot thanks to a Libertarian state senator who is working to build her party.

Sen. Laura Ebke of Crete will present a bill this week that would create a new way for parties to maintain ballot access, allowing them to divert more resources into local races and fundraising.

If it passes, parties could automatically appear on the ballot if they have at least 10,000 registered members. The Libertarian Party of Nebraska cleared the threshold late last year.

Current law lets parties onto the ballot if they received at least 5 percent of the total votes cast in either of the two previous statewide elections. Those that fall short have to gain access through a petition drive.

NEW YORK (AP) — Cursive writing is looping back into style in schools across the country after a generation of students raised on keyboarding, texting and printing out letters longhand.

Alabama and Louisiana passed laws in 2016 mandating cursive proficiency in public schools, the latest of 14 states to require cursive. And last fall, the 1.1 million-student New York City school system encouraged teaching cursive to students in the third grade.

Penmanship proponents contend writing words in a single line is just a faster way of taking notes. Others say students should be able to understand cursive documents. And research suggests cursive helps students master spelling and sentence construction because they don’t have to think as much about forming letters.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska officials say they’re looking for an innovative approach to student assessment from six bidders that want the job.

State officials are poring over the six proposals for a contract to be awarded in May. The bids range from almost $3.6 million to $7.7 million for the first year.

The officials want assessments that test the state standards “at higher depth of knowledge” and include rigorous questions. They’re also seeking adaptive test items in which the computer selects questions in response to a student’s answers. A correct answer means the next question is tougher. Adaptive testing is viewed as more accurate.

The department expects most tests to be taken online.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A state senator says Nebraska should eliminate daylight saving time to help families and farmers and prevent health problems.

Sen. Lydia Brasch of Bancroft told a legislative committee on Friday that daylight saving time has been linked to increased risk of strokes, heart attacks and sleep-related accidents.

A teenage boy with epilepsy says he has more seizures the week after daylight saving time takes effect in spring. Parents and farmers say young children and animals have trouble adjusting to the change.

Opponents contend daylight saving time brings economic benefits. David Honnens of the Nebraska Golf Alliance says eliminating daylight saving time could cost Nebraska golf courses hundreds of thousands of dollars a year because many courses rely on golfers who play between 4 p.m. and sundown.

• Dale Wesley Stackhouse, 87, North Platte and Cynthia Gail Melcher, 55, Brady

• Matthew Cody La Rue, 25. North Platte and Annah Elizabeth Wesslund, 24, North Platte

• Tyler Michael Otzel, 26, Hershey and Brittany Nicole Retzlaff, 22, Hershey

• Zachary Thomas Walker, 27, Maywood and Emma Elizabeth Sutton, 26, Maywood,

• James Christopher Klopfenstein, 24, North Platte and Jessica Lyn Parker, 19, North Platte

• James Lynn Branam, 45, North Platte and Tina Marie Piper, 55, North Platte

• Jeramy Brant Chandler, 29, North Platte and Brett Alan Bancroft, 23, North Platte

• Joshua Allan Hall, 36, Halsey NE and Hannah Sigred Daly, 25, Halsey NE