Local – Page 32 – North Platte Post Archive

Governors demand more control over waterways

Posted on April 4, 2019

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – The governors of three Midwest states ravaged by March flooding say they will pushing for more control over management of the Missouri River that borders their states.

Management of the dams and levees along the river falls to officials of the U.S Army Corps of Engineers, who met with Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts and Missouri Gov. Mike Parson for much of Wednesday afternoon in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

The three governors, all Republicans, questioned a shift by the Corps in 2004 to no longer prioritize flood control along the river over other goals, such as maintaining fish and wildlife habitat.

Asked whether the Corps indicated it would or could cede some river management decisions to the states, Parson replied, “Well, they listened.”

The governors said they plan to work together for that change, even if it means petitioning Congress to give states more authority in river management.

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly has been slated to attend Wednesday’s meeting, but ran into travel problems that required her to back out.

Lincoln Diocese names 9 priests accused of child sex abuse

Posted on April 3, 2019April 3, 2019

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – The Roman Catholic Diocese of Lincoln says allegations of sexually abusing minors have been substantiated against nine priests whose names have been released.

The diocese list released Tuesday includes the name of three priests who’ve died and includes priests already criminally convicted and those never charged. It was compiled by a four-member committee after Bishop James Conley ordered an outside review of past abuse allegations, how the diocese handled them and its efforts to protect children.

The Rev. Nicholas Kipper, a Lincoln Diocese spokesman, says roughly two-thirds of U.S. dioceses have released similar lists. The Omaha Archdiocesenamed nearly 40 clergy members in November.

The Nebraska Attorney General’s Office requested the reports in August, shortly after a Pennsylvania grand jury report estimated that church officials covered up allegations that hundreds of priests in Pennsylvania molested more than 1,000 children since the 1940s.

Permit required for tractors at Lake McConaughy SRA

Posted on April 3, 2019

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is reminding park visitors and area residents of the mandatory permitting process for tractors operating on the beaches of Lake McConaughy State Recreation Area (SRA).

Game and Parks has created a simple, required permitting process that follows state park regulations and allows for more towing operations on McConaughy’s beaches. All tractors are required to obtain an annual permit, regardless of whether they are for commercial or private use. There is currently no fee for the permit and an application can be picked up at the Lake McConaughy Visitor/Water Interpretive Center or can be requested via email at [email protected].

Liability insurance is required for any permit issuance. Contact Colby Johnson at 308-284-8804 or [email protected] for more information.

NE Tax Commissioner grants Specific Relief for adversely impacted Nebraskans

Posted on April 3, 2019

Tax Commissioner Tony Fulton has authorized an automatic waiver of penalty and interest on certain income tax returns due on or after March 1, 2019 and before July 31, 2019 if the returns are filed and the tax paid on or before July 31, 2019.

This waiver of penalty and interest is solely for the taxpayers whose business or primary residential location is in counties eligible for relief from the IRS and in the areas within zip codes identified by NEMA as most likely experiencing significant flooding due to the natural disaster; and only applies to taxes administered
by the Nebraska Department of Revenue (DOR). This relief includes farmers, ranchers, and fishermen who were granted relief to file and pay 2018 returns that were due March 1, 2019.

The automatic waiver applies to returns or payments of individual, corporate, estate and trust income taxes, and also for partnership and S corporation returns
required to be filed or remitted on or after March 1, 2019, and before July 31, 2019, if filed by July 31, 2019.

This relief may be expanded to other taxpayers if the IRS expands tax relief to any other Nebraska counties impacted by the disaster. Please refer to the linked information, which lists those areas where taxpayers qualify for automatic relief. This list may be updated as the situation develops.

For taxpayers adversely impacted by the natural disaster whose business or primary residential location is outside the counties identified in the IRS release or was not in the list of identified zip codes, the Tax Commissioner may grant penalty or interest relief depending on your individual circumstances. Please complete and mail or fax to 402-471-5927 a Request for Abatement of Penalty, Form 21, or Request for Abatement of Interest, Form 21A, and explain your hardship to request this relief. Tax, penalty, and interest do not need to be paid prior to July 31, 2019 in order to apply for an abatement of penalty and interest.

DOR understands the difficulties that these catastrophic natural disasters present with regard to tax responsibilities and wants to help those adversely impacted, including those outside of the federally declared disaster area. DOR will work with businesses and individuals regarding any tax returns and taxes due. For further information, please call 800-742-7474 (NE and IA) or 402-471-5729, or visit DOR’s website.

List of Counties Included

Nebraska Capitol now providing ‘lactation module’ to mothers

Posted on April 3, 2019

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Mothers who are breastfeeding or need to express milk now have a private place to do so at the Nebraska Capitol.

The Office of the Capitol Commission says the new “lactation module” opened Wednesday on the Capitol’s ground floor. It’s available in Room 1421 to mothers working in or visiting the building.

Access to the module is available through the “Mamava” app or by checking out a key from the Capitol Security Office, also on the ground floor.

The commission says anyone with questions about the module can call 402-471-6691.

Visitor’s Bureau seeking grant applicants

Posted on April 3, 2019

Since its inception in 2006, the Improvement Fund of the North Platte/Lincoln County Visitor’s Bureau has awarded more than $1.8 million to Lincoln County organizations for brick-and-mortar improvements and expansions to local attractions and visitor services. The Improvement Fund process is governed by the Nebraska Visitors Development Act, Neb. Rev. Stat. §81-3701 through 81-3724, et seq.

Due to the overwhelming number of applicants seeking these funds, the North Platte/Lincoln County Visitors Bureau Advisory Committee has implemented an intent to apply requirement to the application process.

An “intent to apply” in the form of a letter must be sent to the NP/LCVB by July 1, 2019, stating an estimate of the amount to be requested in the grant application, the total project cost, a brief description of the proposed project and the organizations involved in the project. Organizations that do not submit an intent to apply will not be eligible for submitting an application for Improvement Funds. Qualified organizations are 501(c)3, not-for-profit, or divisions of local government.

Following a review of the intent to apply, the staff of the NP/LCVB will schedule a meeting with potential applicants to discuss the project and determine if it is eligible for funding under the guidelines of the Nebraska Visitors Development Act.

The intent to apply must be returned to the NP/LCVB office by Monday, July 1, 2019. For those projects given approval to submit a full application, the application will be made available immediately upon approval, and the due date will be September 30. Organizations that do not submit an intent to apply or miss the deadline will not be able to submit a grant application for Improvement Funds.

For more information contact Lisa Burke or Muriel Clark at the North Platte/Lincoln County Visitors Bureau at 101 Halligan Drive, 308.532.4729, [email protected] or[email protected].

NPPD Activity Log (4.2.19-4.3.19)

Posted on April 3, 2019April 3, 2019

Call Date

Call Time

Call Number

RMS CFS Description

Location Of Incident

04/02/2019