LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts has named a new director of the state’s behavioral health division in the Department of Health and Human Services.

Ricketts announced the appointment Wednesday of Sheri Dawson, the division’s current acting director. Dawson also has served as a deputy director and administrator in the department, among other roles. She previously was a nurse at Lincoln General Hospital, now known as Bryan Medical Center-West.

Dawson earned a bachelor’s degree in health sciences from Nebraska Wesleyan University and graduated with distinction from the Bryan Hospital School of Nursing.

Her appointment begins immediately. Her salary will be $135,000.

Behavioral health is one of six divisions within the Department of Health and Human Services.

WASHINGTON (AP) — For six and a half years, the White House has had a quick comeback to questions about its yet-to-be-announced decision on the proposed Keystone XL pipeline: Talk to the State Department.

Under a George W. Bush-era executive order, border-crossing oil pipelines require a presidential permit, granted only after a government-wide review coordinated by the State Department. President Barack Obama has deflected criticism about the delays by arguing his administration is following Bush’s directive in the ordinary way.

But an Associated Press review of every cross-border pipeline application since 2004 shows that the Keystone review has been anything but ordinary.

Since Bush’s order, the government has taken an average of 478 days to process all other applications. Keystone has been waiting nearly seven years — more than five times the average.

The Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry, in cooperation with local Chambers across the state, is preparing for its annual legislative forums.  In total, the State Chamber staff will visit 27 Nebraska communities this fall.

In North Platte, the Chamber’s forum will be held on Wednesday, August 26, 2015 at the Holiday Inn Express at 7am.  Please call 532-4966 or e-mail kathy@nparea.com to make a reservation.

This year’s State Chamber presentation will include a look at:

• Key business-related bills in the 2015 session of the Nebraska Legislature
• Important issues awaiting the Legislature in 2016
• The latest state rankings in areas important to the business community

All North Platte Chamber & Development members, as well as members of the news media, are invited to attend.  Elected leaders are also invited.

State Chamber President Barry Kennedy said: “Job creation and workforce issues, along with the economy and government regulation, continue to be the most pressing issues facing most Nebraska communities.  These legislative forums will give local leaders more insight into the factors helping and hurting our state’s economic climate and growth potential.”

The State Chamber is Nebraska’s largest statewide business association and has served as the voice of Nebraska’s business community since 1912.

The following reflect divorce decrees granted in Lincoln County District Court and published in June and July of 2015.

• Brandi S. Helmuth v. Jared J. Hellmuth
• Nicole K. Thompson v. Justin D. Thompson
• Meredith A. Erbert v. Donald M. Erbert
• Shalea M. Collins v. Johnny L. Collins, Jr.
• Brianna M. Dewey v. Colby T. Dewey
• Krystle A. Kargle v. Robert L. Kargle
• Alexanne Wilkerson v. Daniel Wilkerson
• Heather R. McCoy v. William G. McCoy
• Kristina K. Otzel v. Tyler M. Otzel
• David J. Essman v. Misti M. Essman
• Joseph Peterman v. Paige Toenniges
• Darin Soncksen v. Renee L. Garnett
• Jennifer L. Hunter v. Allen F. Hunter
• Kyle D. Craig v. Ashley M. Jansma
• Rob Fleharty v. Ashley Fleharty
• Courtney Wiborg v. Samuel Wiborg
• Tracy A. Miller v. Bradley A. Miller
• Marla D. Rojas v. Alfredo Rojas
• Samantha A. McCrea v. Matthew J. McCrea
• Dora R. Fritzler v. James L. Larive
• Julie L. Whitson v. Robert A. Whitson

The final night of the Fort Cody Summer Music Series is Thursday!  Don’t miss out on an amazing show with Shawn Cole.  Check out Scott Carlson’s conversation with FSCMS organizer, Rob Martinson.  For more information, check out the FCSMS on Facebook.

https://soundcloud.com/eagleradio-1/fort-cody-summer-music-series-season-finale-shawn-cole-with-rob-martinson-aug-2015

Today, Governor Pete Ricketts announced that he would hold a town hall in Ogallala on Friday, August 14^th.  The Governor invites the public to attend the town hall.

“Nebraskans are invited to join Governor Ricketts at his upcoming a town hall in Ogallala,” said Taylor Gage, the Governor’s Public Relations Director. “This is a great opportunity to hear an update on how our state is growing, and also to make your voice heard. The Governor looks forward to hearing their thoughts on how we can move our state forward together.”

Full details for the town hall to be held on Friday, August 14, 2015:

4:00-5:00 p.m.       Ogallala Town Hall, Petrified  Wood Gallery, 418 E 1^st. Street, OGALLALA

Questions should be directed to the Governor’s Office at 402-471-224

The North Platte D.A.R.E drug prevention program got a big boost today thanks to a new eatery in the city.

On Tuesday morning, Officer Rodney Brown and Chief Mike Swain of the North Platte Police Department accepted a check for $1,700 from Qdoba Mexican Grill.

According to Brown, the money was raised when Qdoba held a “soft opening” at their new North Platte location on May 20, and will go to support the North Platte D.A.R.E. program.

“D.A.R.E. is a staple here,” said Brown.  “You hear rumors all the time on how it’s going to go away, and some communities have given up on it, but I don’t see that happening here.

“The people we deal with the most for substance abuse and violence are the ones who say they want it [the program] here.”

D.A.R.E., which was started in 1983, is a police officer-led series of classroom lessons that teaches children from kindergarten through 12th grade how to resist peer pressure and live productive drug and violence-free lives.  In North Platte, the program is offered to students in fifth grade.

Qdoba, 109 Halligan Drive, has been in operation since late May of this year.  Its management said they look forward to supporting the community of North Platte and feel the D.A.R.E. program is an excellent program to support.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A federal appeals court has upheld a lower judge’s ruling striking down Nebraska’s now-negated ban on gay marriage and civil unions as unconstitutional.

The decision by the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday was largely a formality, as a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in late June legalized gay marriage across the county.

But the formality was necessary, the appeals court said, because while the Supreme Court’s ruling grants gay couples the right to marry nationwide, the ruling came on appeals regarding the same-sex marriage bans in Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee — not Nebraska.

Tuesday’s ruling came in the case of seven same-sex couples in Nebraska who sued last year for the right to marry in Nebraska or to have their marriages in other states recognized by Nebraska.