NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (AP) — A severe thunderstorm packing heavy rain and damaging winds raced has raced through parts of western Nebraska.

Residents and city officials in North Platte and other communities reported downed trees, power outages and rain runoff that accumulated more than axle deep in some spots on Thursday night.

The National Weather Service says nearly 1.4 inches of rain fell on North Platte in about 70 minutes.

Hail 2 inches in diameter was reported about 15 miles north of the city, and 1.5-inch hail was reported seven miles west of Thedford in Thomas County.

No injuries have been reported.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Union Pacific will cut hundreds of management jobs as the amount of coal shipped by railroads continues to plunge.

The Omaha company reported late last month that coal volume dropped 26 percent in its most recent quarter and said it believed that demand for coal would remain weak for the rest of the year.

Pacific spokesman Aaron Hunt said Thursday that the cutbacks were job eliminations, not just temporary layoffs. He wouldn’t confirm a specific number or say where the cuts would fall in the coming months.

The company says severance packages will be available for some who will lose their jobs.

Local storm reports as of 10:30 pm, August 13, 2015

LBF Thu Aug 13 2015 22:40:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Cherry 6 WSW Brownlee NE HAIL 1 public
LBF Thu Aug 13 2015 23:30:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Thomas 7 W Thedford NE TSTM WND DMG 0 trained spotter 6 inch diameter trees limbs down over the highway along with dime size hail.
LBF Thu Aug 13 2015 23:41:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Thomas 5 S Thedford NE TSTM WND GST 60 public
LBF Thu Aug 13 2015 23:42:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Thomas 5 S Thedford NE TSTM WND GST 60 public
LBF Thu Aug 13 2015 23:49:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Thomas 1 SE Hi 83 Mile Marker NE HAIL 0.88 public nickle size hail with 50 mph winds.
LBF Fri Aug 14 2015 00:00:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Logan 8 WSW Stapleton NE HAIL 2.5 public
LBF Fri Aug 14 2015 00:00:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Brown 19 S Ainsworth NE HEAVY RAIN 4.5 public 4.5 inches of rain fell within the hour as storm passed over.
LBF Fri Aug 14 2015 00:03:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Thomas 5 NW Hi 83 Mile Marker NE HAIL 0.88 public nickle size hail with 50 mph.
LBF Fri Aug 14 2015 00:05:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Logan 13 NNW Stapleton NE TSTM WND DMG 0 public estimated 60 mph wind gust. numerous 6 to 8 inch long tree branches down and pea size hail.
LBF Fri Aug 14 2015 00:39:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Lincoln 15 N North Platte NE HAIL 1 nws employee
LBF Fri Aug 14 2015 00:44:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Mcpherson 1 N Ringgold NE HAIL 1 public
LBF Fri Aug 14 2015 00:56:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Lincoln 15 N North Platte NE HAIL 2 nws employee
LBF Fri Aug 14 2015 01:25:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Lincoln North Platte NE TSTM WND GST 65 mesonet
LBF Fri Aug 14 2015 01:25:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Lincoln North Platte NE TSTM WND GST 65 mesonet
LBF Fri Aug 14 2015 01:26:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Lincoln North Platte NE TSTM WND GST 60 public
LBF Fri Aug 14 2015 01:26:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Lincoln North Platte NE TSTM WND GST 60 public
LBF Fri Aug 14 2015 01:27:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Lincoln 3 ENE North Platte NE HAIL 1.75 nws employee golf ball size hail measured at the nws office.
LBF Fri Aug 14 2015 01:29:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Lincoln S North Platte NE TSTM WND GST 70 public
LBF Fri Aug 14 2015 01:29:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Lincoln S North Platte NE TSTM WND GST 70 public
LBF Fri Aug 14 2015 01:29:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Lincoln S North Platte NE HAIL 1.75 public
LBF Fri Aug 14 2015 01:46:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Lincoln 8 SW North Platte NE TSTM WND GST 60 public
LBF Fri Aug 14 2015 01:48:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Lincoln 8 SW North Platte NE TSTM WND GST 0 public
LBF Fri Aug 14 2015 01:58:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Lincoln North Platte NE TSTM WND DMG 0 broadcast media trees down on west 1st street in north platte.
LBF Fri Aug 14 2015 02:00:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Lincoln 11 NE Wellfleet NE TSTM WND GST 60 public
LBF Fri Aug 14 2015 02:00:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Lincoln 11 NE Wellfleet NE TSTM WND GST 60 public
LBF Fri Aug 14 2015 02:09:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Lincoln Hershey NE TSTM WND GST 60 public
LBF Fri Aug 14 2015 02:09:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Lincoln Hershey NE HAIL 1.25 public
LBF Fri Aug 14 2015 02:09:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Lincoln Hershey NE TSTM WND GST 60 public
LBF Fri Aug 14 2015 02:12:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Lincoln North Platte NE TSTM WND DMG 0 nws employee tree branches down, some 6 to 8 inches in diameter. live power lines down. large tree split in half from wind.
LBF Fri Aug 14 2015 02:24:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Lincoln North Platte NE TSTM WND DMG 0 public report of power out across city of north platte and power lines down.
LBF Fri Aug 14 2015 02:25:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Lincoln 9 E Wellfleet NE HAIL 0.88 public
LBF Fri Aug 14 2015 02:28:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Lincoln 12 E Wellfleet NE TSTM WND GST 50 public in addition to the 50 mph winds, hail was estimated to be about dime size.
LBF Fri Aug 14 2015 02:28:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Lincoln 12 E Wellfleet NE TSTM WND GST 50 public in addition to the 50 mph winds, hail was estimated to be about dime size.
LBF Fri Aug 14 2015 03:00:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Frontier 6 S Curtis NE TSTM WND GST 60 public in addition to the strong winds, nickel size hail was falling.
LBF Fri Aug 14 2015 03:00:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Frontier 6 S Curtis NE TSTM WND GST 60 public in addition to the strong winds, nickel size hail was falling.
LBF Fri Aug 14 2015 03:29:00 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) Lincoln 3 ENE North Platte NE HEAVY RAIN 1.38 official nws obs rain began shortly after 815pm cdt and lasted till approximately 925pm cdt

Four Mid-Plains Community College students will benefit from scholarships they received through the Sandhills Area Foundation. They are Bobbi Mooney and Carolyn Petersen, of Valentine, Jessica Lovitt, of Mullen, and Shayna Kramer, of Whitman.

Mooney and Petersen, non-traditional students at MPCC, each received $1,000. Lovitt and Kramer, both of whom will begin classes at MPCC during the upcoming fall term, were each presented scholarships worth $1,250.

Additionally, Brent Nollette, received $1,000 to pursue a master’s degree in agronomy through the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He is the husband of Jennie Nollette, MPCC’s Valentine Extended Campus coordinator.

The foundation handed out 47 scholarships this year worth a total of $60,250, according to Steve Brown, SAF president.

The SAF was established as a public charity in 1998. Its mission is to enhance the quality of life for all people in the Sandhills through the use of contributed funds entrusted to its stewardship.

Always one of the top three reasons fairgoers attend the Nebraska State Fair, Fair Food will not disappoint when the gates open on August 28th  in Grand Island.

State Fair facilities director, Jaime Parr says, “The favorites will always be at the fair.  Funnel cakes, corn dogs, hamburgers, cotton candy and deep fried candy bars, but we look for vendors who want to try new things and this is a banner year.”

Parr said, “Fairgoers will love the Willie Wonka Burger, that’s a seasoned burger with a melted peanut butter cup, smoked cheddar cheese, and jalapeno crisps on a gourmet bun.  That’s one of the new offerings from Cactus Jacks along with the Ragin’ Cagun and Tumbleweed Burgers.”

A & J Concessions will feature a couple of pork entrees like Bacon in a Blanket, and Fried Spam on a stick.    Parr said the recipe is simple, “You take spam, put it on a stick, dip in in funnel cake batter and deep fry until you reach perfection.”

Hardenbrook’s Concessions will feature a Double Bacon Corndog with Maple Syrup Dipper, or the Jalapeno Cheese Corndog with Nacho Cheese.  Westmoreland’s will have the all new Pumpkin Spice Funnel Cake. The list of new items does not stop there.

Parr said. “I talk to a lot of folks who consider themselves “grazers” of fair food.  They describe themselves as an individual who attends the state fair every day or at least several days, and eat something new on every trip. No two days are ever the same.”

With over 70 food vendors on the grounds, fairgoers will find the perfect food for their discerning palate from one end of the fairgrounds to the other.

Parr said, “Whether you’re a grazer or a hard core fan of a single food group, the Nebraska State Fair has it all from cold to hot, spicy to mild, and believe it or not, a fresh salad is always an option at the fair.”

“If folks would like to study up on their options for this year’s fair, Parr said, “They can visit StateFair.org and use the keyword search to make their culinary quest ahead of time.”

The Nebraska State Fair begins August 28 in Grand Island.

GERING, Neb. (AP) — A 22-year-old Bayard man convicted of stealing from a co-op in western Nebraska has been given 30 months of probation.

Online court records say Nathan Wheeler was sentenced Wednesday in Scotts Bluff County District Court. Wheeler also was ordered to pay restitution of nearly $3,900.

An arrest affidavit says Wheeler took the money from June through early September last year when he worked at Panhandle Co-op in Scottsbluff. The affidavit says Wheeler told a Scottsbluff officer that if a customer was paying cash, he would manually override the cash discount, enter a higher discount price per gallon and pocket the difference.

The affidavit says Wheeler admitted the thefts but disagreed about the total taken.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal meteorologists say the current El Nino is already the second strongest on record for this time of year and could be one of the most potent weather changers of the past 65 years.

The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration recorded unusual warmth in the Pacific Ocean in the last three months. El Nino (ehl NEEN’-yoh) is a heating of the equatorial Pacific that changes weather worldwide, mostly affecting the United States in winter.

NOAA’s Mike Halpert said Thursday the current El Nino likely will rival past super El Ninos in 1997-1998, 1982-83 and 1972-73.

El Nino usually brings heavy winter rain in California, and much of the southern and eastern U.S. Halpert said that’s no guarantee and even past super El Ninos haven’t delivered the rain that California now needs.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The producer of “Sesame Street” and HBO are going into business together.

Under a new partnership announced Thursday by Sesame Workshop and HBO, the premium cable channel will carry the next five seasons of “Sesame Street” on HBO and its related platforms.

PBS, the long-time home of the children’s program, will continue to air the show as well.

The deal allows Sesame Workshop to produce almost double the content as in previous seasons and provide the show free to PBS and member stations after a nine-month window, HBO and the nonprofit Sesame Workshop said.

Where are you going to be on 21 August, 2017? What is happening on 21 August, 2017? The first total solar eclipse to touch North America since 1979!

According to GreatAmericanEclipse.com, Nebraska is one of the top choices for experienced eclipse chasers and the reason is clear: great weather prospects, longer duration than points west, better visibility than points east, and wide-open and uncrowded highways.

We are inviting national and international eclipse chasers to consider a visit to the Nebraska Sandhills to experience the total solar eclipse! The Central Nebraska Sandhill communities of Tryon, Stapleton and Arnold, as well as the Platte River Valley community of North Platte are teaming up to create a once-in-a-lifetime experience for eclipse chasers!

The festival viewing sites in the Nebraska Sandhills provide two minutes and 34 seconds of totality, and that long duration takes place in some of the biggest, darkest and clearest skies in all America, creating a 74% probability of favorable viewing conditions on eclipse day.

The community of North Platte, while experiencing only one minute and 52 seconds of totality will be host to several “edger” viewing opportunities, at many diverse sites.  In the days leading up to 21 August, 2017, we will be hosting a number of educational and cultural enrichment activities, geared for all ages. Programs under consideration are historical presentations of Native American and early settlers’ reaction to past eclipses; Make and take art workshops; Astronomy education for all ages; Area historical and cultural presentations; And some good old-fashioned entertainment!

The ranching communities in the Nebraska Sandhills will be top destinations to immerse visitors in life on what is still largely a frontier! Ranchers are being encouraged to open their homes to offer unique lodging opportunities; Cattle drives, brandings and trail rides are in the works; Ranch rodeo demonstrations; Pit barbecues; Dances; Cowboy Poetry; Birdwatching and Nature Viewing; Geography and Archeology presentations; Driving tours; Aerial tours; Photography tours. . . . The possibilities are endless.

Nightly star parties in the dark Sandhills hosted by local astronomers should also be considered.

All of this leads up to the main event – the 21 August, 2017 Total Solar Eclipse! The communities of Tryon and Stapleton will be hosting festival viewing sites, complete with plenty of parking; Dedicated viewing space; Educational presentations; The comfort of tents, food, beverages, entertainment, souvenir vendors, and, of course, porta-potties. The sites will range in size from accommodating a few hundred to several hundred. Mass transit from North Platte’s hotels will be available. We are hoping to add the community of Arnold as well.

This truly international event will take intensive planning and marketing. On August 21, 2015, exactly two years out from the 2017 event, a planning meeting will be held at the North Platte / Lincoln County Visitors Bureau, 101 Halligan Drive. Anyone interested in joining in on the celebration is encouraged to attend. For more information contact Muriel Clark at 308-532-4729 or mclark@visitnorthplatte.com.