LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A push to increase hunting and fishing permit prices to fund the Game and Parks Commission has hit a roadblock in the Nebraska Legislature.

Sen. Ernie Chambers steered Thursday’s debate away from a bill to increase caps on fees the commission can charge and toward his efforts to end mountain lion hunting in the state.

The bill’s sponsor, Sen. John McCollister of Omaha, says increasing user fees would help the commission pay rising operational costs to maintain trails and outdoor recreation sites. The bill has gained support from sporting groups, conservationists and the tourism industry.

Chambers says he will keep fighting the bill because the Natural Resources Committee killed his proposals to end Nebraska’s mountain lion hunting season.

Senators will continue first-round debate Tuesday.

UPDATE (3/10/16 7:30 pm)

After searching Thursday afternoon and evening, the Lincoln County Dive Team failed to locate Ronald Kubiak’s Chrysler in the NPPD canal.

Authorities believe Kubiak’s vehicle went into the canal after tire tracks were observed upstream from where his body was found on Wednesday afternoon.

The Dive Team will search again on Saturday.  Assistance will be sought from the Nebraska Games and Parks Commission on Monday if Saturday’s search is unsuccessful.

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office has identified the body found yesterday in the Nebraska Public Power District canal, just south of Sutherland.

Deputies responded to the Gerald Gentleman Power Plant yesterday afternoon after it was reported that a body had been found in the canal leading up to the plant.

Deputies were able to remove the body from the canal, and also discovered vehicle tracks leading into the canal upstream from where the body was found.

Chief Deputy Roland Kramer says the body was that of 50-year-old Ronald Kubiak, of Sutherland.

The Lincoln County Dive Team will attempt to extract Kubiak’s vehicle, a 1993 Chrysler Concorde, from the canal later today.

An autopsy will be conducted at the Central Nebraska Cremation and Mortuary Service, in Gibbon.

The investigation is ongoing, according to Kramer.

RELATED CONTENT:

http://www.northplattepost.com/2016/03/09/lcso-body-found-in-canal-near-gerald-gentleman-plant/

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Prison officials say the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services is investigating a second incident of physical violence against staff this week.

The department says an officer was assaulted by an inmate Wednesday evening at the Nebraska State Penitentiary in Lincoln after he ordered the inmate to return to his cell. A second officer helped in subduing the inmate and was also struck.

The first officer struck was taken to a nearby hospital for non-life-threatening injuries and released.

Department Director Scott Frakes says he is “troubled” by the event but commends prison employees for a quick, team-oriented response.

Three prison staffers at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution were assaulted by inmates Monday.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska’s net tax receipts in February were roughly in line with projections made last year.

The Department of Revenue reported Thursday that the state collected about $279 million last month, which is less than 1 percent above the certified forecast of $277 million.

Net sales-and-use taxes were more than 4 percent below the state forecast, while net individual, net corporate and net miscellaneous taxes were higher than projected.

Net receipts for the current fiscal year total nearly $2.7 billion, which is virtually unchanged from the certified forecast.

The projections were approved in October by the Nebraska Economic Forecasting Advisory Board.

CHADRON, Neb. (AP) — A former Dawes County jailer accused of unintentionally aiding an escape attempt has been given probation.

Court records say Sherry Whitinger last week was sentenced to 18 months of probation and 90 days in jail, which can be waived if she follows her probation terms. The records say Whitinger pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of introducing escape implements. Prosecutors dropped a charge that she’d had sex with an inmate.

Prosecutors say Whitinger had provided inmates with a cellphone that was recovered from an inmate who surrendered before he could get out of the county courthouse during an escape attempt in September. Chadron radio station KCSR reports (http://bit.ly/1QP7gXu ) that authorities say Whitinger’s other violations of jail policies gave the inmate insights into weaknesses of the jail’s security camera system.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A divided legislative committee has advanced a proposal that would use federal Medicaid dollars and state money to provide health insurance to low-income Nebraska residents.

Senators voted 4-3 on Thursday on the newest version of a bill intended to cover childless adults who have fallen into the so-called Medicaid coverage gap.

Supporters have proposed an automatic three-year sunset on the program and an independent review of its fiscal impact so that lawmakers and the governor could decide whether to continue it. The federal government would cover most of the costs, but the state would draw $63 million over three years from Nebraska’s health care cash fund.

Opponents, including Gov. Pete Ricketts, say the proposed changes aren’t sustainable and would divert money from other state priorities.

Courtesy of the North Platte Police Department

03/09/2016 01:35:03 SUSPICIOUS PERSON “300 E H ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/09/2016 02:29:29 SUSPICIOUS PERSON “300 E H ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/09/2016 03:02:59 ALARM-GENERAL “500 E PHILIP AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/09/2016 03:37:38 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “NP AIRPORT AUTHORITY,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/09/2016 07:52:25 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF “W E ST / MCDONALD RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/09/2016 07:56:01 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “700 s MEYER AV
NORTH PLATTE, NB 69101”

03/09/2016 07:58:08 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “1400 S DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/09/2016 08:18:25 BURGLARY “1500 W 1ST ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/09/2016 08:38:42 CITIZEN ASSIST “500 E 9TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/09/2016 08:46:54 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “NP AIRPORT AUTHORITY,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/09/2016 08:49:26 THEFT BY EXER CONTROL- ALL OTHER “1200 W 3RD ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/09/2016 08:52:47 SPEEDING “1200 W PHILIP AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/09/2016 08:54:20 WELFARE CHECK “1500 W 1ST ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/09/2016 09:20:35 NON-CRIMINAL/GENERAL “300 WASHINGTON AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/09/2016 09:50:00 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF “E 14TH ST /N BRYAN AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/09/2016 09:51:37 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “300 S COTTONWOOD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/09/2016 09:54:36 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “1500 W 1ST ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/09/2016 10:32:14 GEN PARK & TRAFFIC “1600 SUNSET DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/09/2016 11:03:32 CITIZEN ASSIST “3300 W 20TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/09/2016 11:20:55 ASSAULT ON OFFICER- 3RD DEG “300 N JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/09/2016 11:29:22 CITIZEN ASSIST “3100 S JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/09/2016 11:38:20 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “1200 E 4th ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/09/2016 11:49:39 FOUND PROPERTY “300 EAST STATE FARM
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/09/2016 12:03:10 CITIZEN ASSIST “NORTH PLATTE,
1 NORTH PLATTE
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/09/2016 12:25:59 DISTURBING THE PEACE AND QUIET “700 E PHILIP AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/09/2016 13:08:06 FOUND PROPERTY “1500 W 2ND ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/09/2016 13:09:08 THEFT BY EXER CONTROL- ALL OTHER “410 N ASH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/09/2016 13:36:47 WELFARE CHECK “OSGOOD ELEMENTARY,
495 WEST STATE FARM RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/09/2016 14:05:38 WELFARE CHECK “SANDRIDGE APTS,
901 S BRYAN AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/09/2016 14:19:07 SPEEDING “1600 W 4th
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/09/2016 14:39:18 EXPIRED PLATES/REGISTRATION “700 E 4TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/09/2016 15:08:20 ASSIST OTHER AGENCY-GENERAL “2200 W 2ND ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/09/2016 15:32:01 THEFT BY EXER CONTROL- FROM MOTOR VEHICLE “W 4TH ST /N JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/09/2016 15:42:11 ASSIST OTH AGENCY “300 N JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/09/2016 11:21:31 COURT SECURITY NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/09/2016 15:47:22 FOUND PROPERTY “1200 S DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/09/2016 16:27:53 CITIZEN ASSIST “100 S WALNUT ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/09/2016 16:58:21 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “1200 S Tabor AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/09/2016 17:36:08 DISTURBING THE PEACE AND QUIET “1300 N CARR AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/09/2016 17:58:45 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF “1200 W 2ND ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/09/2016 18:33:44 H&R ACC-NO ALC RELATED “800 W E ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/09/2016 18:57:36 EXPIRED PLATES/REGISTRATION “800 S JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/09/2016 19:25:36 MOTOR VEH LIGHT REQUIREMENTS “RODEO RD /N BUFFALO BILL AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/09/2016 19:43:10 ASSIST OTH LAW ENF “NORTH PLATTE,
1 NORTH PLATTE
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/09/2016 20:12:50 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “2000 W 2ND ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/09/2016 20:21:43 MOTOR VEH LIGHT REQUIREMENTS “700 S JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/09/2016 20:37:41 SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE “800 S POPLAR ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/09/2016 20:42:34 HARASS MSG BY TXT OR INTERNET “1200 W 2ND ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/09/2016 20:48:16 MOTOR VEH LIGHT REQUIREMENTS “E 4th ST /N Bailey AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/09/2016 21:28:14 EXPIRED PLATES/REGISTRATION “W 4TH ST /N WILLOW ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/09/2016 21:29:30 NO PROOF OF INSURANCE “N BUFFALO BILL AV /W 3RD ST
North Platte, NE 69101”

03/09/2016 22:10:59 CITIZEN ASSIST “1000 S DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/09/2016 23:20:25 HARASS MSG BY TXT OR INTERNET “1200 W 11TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/09/2016 23:36:49 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “NP AIRPORT AUTHORITY,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/09/2016 23:43:07 DOMEST ASSAULT-MISD “2300 E PHILIP AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/10/2016 00:06:14 SUSPICIOUS PERSON “300 HOLIDAY FRONTAGE RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/10/2016 00:55:55 DOMEST ASSAULT-MISD “2300 E PHILIP AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/10/2016 01:27:26 EXPIRED OPERATORS LICENSE “E 4TH ST /N JEFFERS
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/10/2016 01:35:07 SUSPICIOUS PERSON “W FRONT ST /N BUFFALO BILL AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/10/2016 02:21:46 SUSPICIOUS PERSON “3000 S JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/10/2016 03:01:43 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “NP AIRPORT AUTHORITY,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/10/2016 05:12:32 MOTOR VEH LIGHT REQUIREMENTS “E 12TH ST /N BAILEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/10/2016 05:56:55 BARKING DOGS “1000 E D ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/10/2016 07:16:29 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “2800 W 20TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/10/2016 07:38:30 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/10/2016 07:51:09 ESCORT- ADAMS & SWANSON “400 N CHESTNUT ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/10/2016 07:58:41 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF “2300 W D ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/10/2016 08:06:43 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF “2000 W D ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/10/2016 08:11:14 ASSIST OTHER AGENCY-GENERAL “NORTH PLATTE,
1 NORTH PLATTE
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/10/2016 08:31:46 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF “400 REID AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/10/2016 08:31:03 CITIZEN ASSIST “NORTH PLATTE,
1 NORTH PLATTE
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

03/10/2016 09:19:29 BARKING DOGS “1100 E D ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska residents will no longer have to get a cosmetology license for hair-braiding services under a new law signed by Gov. Pete Ricketts.

The law approved Wednesday lifts a restriction for small businesses that offer natural hair braiding.

Sen. Nicole Fox of Omaha has said she introduced the bill after hearing about the issue from a constituent. Getting a cosmetology license in Nebraska costs thousands of dollars in tuition at an accredited school and requires instruction on how to style and cut hair, among other skills.

Similar policies in other states have been held up as an example of government overregulation.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Lawmakers who want to extend health coverage to Nebraska’s Medicaid gap population are planning to propose a compromise they say would reduce uncertainty about the program’s costs.

A legislative committee will vote Thursday on the bill to insure that group using federal Medicaid dollars.

Previous attempts to expand Medicaid under the federal health care law have failed, but three senators say they’re working on an amendment that would end the program automatically after three years, unless lawmakers renew it. To pay Nebraska’s share, the amendment would use $63 million from the state’s health care cash fund.

The proposal would require the state to hire a consultant to analyze how much state revenue is generated and saved.

A spokesman for Gov. Pete Ricketts says the governor remains opposed to the legislation.