CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) — Former U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is heading to Harvard University this fall as one of two visiting fellows at the Ivy League school’s Institute of Politics.

Hagel is also a Republican former U.S. senator from Nebraska. He will join Jim Roosevelt at the institute at the John F. Kennedy School of Government. Roosevelt is a Democratic Party Rules and Bylaws Committee co-chairman and former Tufts Health Plan CEO.

Along with six resident fellows, the visiting fellows meet with students, faculty, and staff as part of the institute’s efforts to encourage interest in public life and increase interaction between the academic and political communities.

Institute Director Maggie Williams says it’s an extraordinary class of fellows who are “perfect guides to lead our students through the fascinating terrain of this election year.”

SEWARD, Neb. (AP) — A new exhibit at a museum in Seward highlights the role of paratroopers in the National Guard.

The Nebraska National Guard Museum formally unveiled its “Airborne!” exhibit Tuesday to celebrate National Airborne Day.

Mounted high on the wall, the exhibit includes a 30-by-10-foot replica of one soldier already plummeting, another waiting to jump and a foam model of a C-130 Hercules.

Museum historian Jerry Meyer says the model aircraft highly resembles an actual plane, but weighs a lot less.

It cost about $20,000 to create the exhibit.

The museum opened in the former armory on the edge of downtown Seward last year. The building was most recently used to pack parachutes for the Nebraska National Guard.

A North Platte man who allegedly thought he’d found a way to get around his gas being shut off is instead facing felony charges.

According to Investigator John Deal, at around 8:09 a.m., on August 10, officers met with a representative from Northwestern Energy at a residence in the 1100 block of East 8th Street.

The representative told officers that natural gas service had been shut off to the residence, but a new, unauthorized, meter had been installed.

Officers investigated and learned that the meter had been stolen from a business outside the city limits of North Platte.  Further investigation revealed that several units of gas had been fraudulently used at the residence.

Officers soon determined that their suspect, and the resident of the house, was  36-year-old Nicholas MacMillan.

Officers were unable to locate MacMillan until, on August 17, an officer spotted him on a skateboard near the intersection of 10th Street and Bryan Avenue.  He was taken into custody, without incident, and transported to the Lincoln County Detention Center.

He’s been charged with possession of stolen property and theft of services.  MacMillan is also facing county theft charges for stealing the gas meter.  Deal said the charges were enhanced to felonies due to prior convictions.

MacMillan’s bond has been set at ten percent of $5,000.

A North Platte woman is facing numerous charges after she decided to drive while under the influence of a powerful narcotic painkiller.

At around 5:00 p.m., on August 16, officers were dispatched to a traffic accident at 12th and Poplar Streets.  It was reported that one of the vehicles involved in the crash had left the scene.

The initial investigation revealed that a 2002 Honda Civic, driven by Michael Gould, of North Platte, was northbound on Poplar Street, approaching a stop sign when it was rear-ended by a black 2012 Lincoln Navigator.  Witnesses said the Navigator continued driving northbound before heading west on Rodeo Road.

A short time later, an officer located the suspect vehicle near the Family Dollar store, 521 Rodeo Road.  The officer attempted to make contact with the driver, later identified as 33-year-old Amy Becenti.

According to Investigator John Deal, Becenti was unconscious when the officer approached the vehicle.  At that time, it was unclear if Becenti was injured as a result of the accident or if it was a medical condition.  Additionally, the officer noticed two children in the back seat of the vehicle.  Both were uninjured and properly restrained.

Officers reported that Becenti eventually woke up and was transported to Great Plains Health.  According to scanner traffic, Becenti was combative with law enforcement and EMS.

While at the hospital, two Fentanyl patches, a powerful narcotic painkiller, were found on Becenti’s body. She also failed a preliminary breath test for alcohol.

Once medically cleared, Becenti was placed under arrest and transported to the Lincoln County Detention Center.  She’s been charged with driving under the influence, leaving the scene of an accident, felony possession of a controlled substance and child abuse.  Officers also located a glass pipe with marijuana residue in plain view in Becenti’s vehicle.  As a result, she was cited for possession of drug paraphernalia, an infraction.

As of late Wednesday morning, Becenti was being held without bond.

A signature NEBRASKAland DAYS Event has now been designated a Signature NE150 Event by the Nebraska Sesquicentennial Commission. The 2017 NEBRASKAland DAYS Parade will double as the Official Sesquicentennial Grand Parade. The Commission made the designation at its meeting last week, and the NEBRASKAland DAYS Board of Directors formally accepted the designation at its Board Retreat earlier this month.

“We’re obviously excited about the partnership that is being forged between the Commission and NEBRASKAland DAYS,” says NLD Executive Director David Fudge. “As Nebraska’s Official State Celebration, we knew we wanted to contribute to NE150 in whatever way we could.”

Founded by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission in 1964, the NEBRASKAland DAYS Parade predates the Celebration itself by one year. It was originally held in Downtown Lincoln  as a way to highlight everything Nebraska has to offer. Participants were invited from all over the State.

“The 2017 Parade will have a similar mission,” says Fudge. “Nebraska should be proud of what we have to offer, and we hope to be able to highlight that during not only the parade, but throughout our 2017 Celebration.

The Parade is scheduled for June17, 2017 in North Platte.

A living legend will take center stage during the first night of the US Cellular Summer Jam Concert Series in 2017.

Alan Jackson will perform in the Wild West Arena as a part of his Keepin’ It Country Tour on Friday, June 23rd, 2017.

The man from rural Newnan, GA, who claims he is just a “singer of simple songs,” has sold nearly 60-million albums worldwide, ranks as one of the 10 best-selling male vocalists of all-time in all genres, and was recently listed as one of the Top 10 Country Artists of All-Time by Billboard. He has released more than 60 singles – registering 50 Top Ten hits and 35 #1s (including 26 Billboard chart-toppers).

He has earned more than 150 music industry awards – including 18 Academy of Country Music Awards, 16 Country Music Association Awards, a pair of Grammys and ASCAP’s Founders and Golden Note Awards. Jackson received the first-ever ASCAP Heritage Award in 2014 having earned the title of most-performed country music songwriter-artist of ASCAP’s first 100 years. He is a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Grand Ole Opry.

Jackson will be joined by Dwight Yoakam, who’s sold more than 25 million records worldwide. Yoakam has been nominated for GRAMMY Awards 21 times and won on multiple occasions. Nearly 40 of Yoakam’s singles have charted, with 14 peaking in the top 10.

Tickets will go on sale to Fan Club and NLD Sustaining members on September 1. Public On-Sale is September 6.

Work continues on the second night of the Concert Series. It will be announced as soon as it becomes finalized.

Ticket prices will be finalized within the next few weeks.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska has started a new fiscal year with lower than expected tax revenue, a sign that the state’s projected budget shortfall could worsen.

The Department of Revenue announced Friday that net tax receipts in July totaled $235 million, which is nearly 8 percent lower than the certified forecast of $254 million.

Net sales-and-use taxes and miscellaneous taxes were higher than projected, but net income tax receipts from individuals and corporations were lower.

The Nebraska Economic Forecasting and Advisory Board set the forecast in February.

Lawmakers and Gov. Pete Ricketts are preparing for a tight budget during the 2017 session. Ricketts has directed state agency leaders to look carefully at whether new hires are necessary, limit travel and delay hardware and software purchases.

Former North Platte Community College vice president Marilyn McGahan was honoredTuesday for her many years of service to NPCC.

When McGahan retired five years ago, the Mid-Plains Education Association, an organization of NPCC non-technical faculty members, purchased a tree in her honor.

It was planted on the south side of the Health and Science Center soon after construction on the building was completed.

The tree was officially dedicated on Tuesday and a plaque recognizing McGahan was unveiled. The ceremony was open to the public and was attended by many of McGahan’s former colleagues.

“This is just a great lasting tribute to one of the best college administrators I have ever met,” said Dr. Jody Tomanek, area vice-president of academic affairs and NPCC.

Roger Volentine, who had been the president of the MPEA at the time of McGahan’s retirement, said there were always three things about McGahan that impressed him.

“First, was her involvement with the Health and Science Center,” said Volentine. “A lot of the credit for it has to go to Marilyn because of all the planning that went into making the building a reality.”

He also recognized McGahan for leading faculty through the many technological advancements that occurred at the college over the years and praised her problem-solving skills.

“Some people are happy to help solve problems, and some aren’t,” said Volentine. “She always worked quickly to get issues resolved, and I always appreciated that about her.”

McGahan began working for the North Platte Junior College in 1971 as an adjunct instructor. At that time, she taught an accounting class and a typing class as part of the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act.

McGahan worked her way up to a full-time business instructor in 1974, then business division chair in 1997. She took over the role as NPCC’s vice president in 2003 – a title she kept until her retirement in 2011.

Beginning Friday, August 19 and continuing through Labor Day,Monday, Sept., 5, the Nebraska State Patrol will participate in the “You Drink, You Drive You Lose” (YDYDYL) campaign, a nationwide effort to remove impaired drivers from our roadways.

Troopers and communications specialists will put in overtime hours during the enforcement period thanks in part to a nearly $23,000 grant from the Nebraska Office of Highway Safety (NOHS).

“As motorists we all play a big role in travel safety,” said Colonel Brad Rice, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “Traffic volume is typically high as we wind down the summer travel season and that can lead to congestion and delays. We need everyone to do their part to stay safe by following the rules of the road.”

The Nebraska State Patrol encourages all travelers to plan ahead, allowing plenty of time to reach their destination. Motorists are reminded to pay extra attention in work zone, to obey the posted speed limit, always wear their seat belt and never drive impaired or distracted.

Impaired or reckless drivers can be reported to the Nebraska State Patrol Highway Helpline when safe to do so by dialing *55 from any cellular phone, or 1-800-525-5555from any landline. Emergencies should be reported to 911.

Travelers wanting to check the latest road or weather condition report can utilize 511, Nebraska’s Advanced Traveler Information System at < www.511.nebraska.gov >. A Nebraska 511 mobile app is also available to download at no cost for smartphone users. Simply search your app provided for Nebraska 511.

Col. Rice said, “Join us in our effort to save lives on our roadways. Watch out for the other guy, always buckle up and never drive impaired or distracted.”