DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Egg prices have surged higher as the death of millions of hens from bird flu is beginning to tighten supplies.

The Midwest price of a dozen large eggs rose to $1.88. That’s 58 percent higher than they were a month ago when the bird flu first hit Iowa chicken farms.

Prices have been climbing at a rate of about 5 percent a day for the past week as supplies become tighter.

Rick Brown, an egg industry analyst with commodity market firm Urner Barry, says it’s because 10 percent of chickens that lay eggs for food are dead or dying from bird flu.

Eggs used principally as an ingredient in ice cream, mayonnaise and other products are up even more, about 162 percent to $1.65 a dozen since April 22.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Human traffickers could face harsher penalties and lawsuits under a new law signed by Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts.

Ricketts approved a law Tuesday that would allow victims or their parents to sue the traffickers.

The law will also allow prosecutors to file more severe felony charges against traffickers, including those who use threats or violence, and those who target victims younger than 16 years old.

Supporters called the bill a public health issue and pointed to reports citing weak enforcement in the state.

The bill by Sen. Jim Scheer of Norfolk was one of the main proposals backed by Attorney General Doug Peterson this year.

TECUMSEH, Neb. (AP) — Nine staff members have quit a Nebraska maximum security prison since inmates revolted last week and temporarily took over part of the facility, leaving two prisoners dead.

Officials allowed media inside the prison for the first time on Tuesday. Warden Brian Gage told Gov. Pete Ricketts that in addition to the staff who resigned after the May 10 disturbance, 40 other staff positions are unfilled.

Gage says the facility’s rural location 70 miles south of Omaha makes it difficult to recruit and retain older, experienced staff.

Officials say the disturbance began after officers confronted an inmate who was in the yard but was supposed to be on room restriction, and the prisoner refused to cooperate.

An investigation is underway. The 960-bed facility remains on “modified lockdown” with limited inmate mobility.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A recent report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City shows lower crop prices in 2014 hurt the wallets of Nebraska residents.

The report states Nebraska was the only state in the country where per capita personal income fell last year. In the neighboring states of Iowa and South Dakota, per capita income increased less than 1 percent in 2014.

The national average increase was 3.9 percent.

The report shows 2014 farm earnings in Nebraska decreased nearly 35 percent from 2013 levels. It adds that demand for farm loans is expected to rise partly due to lower farm income.

Two North Platte men are in custody on felony charges following a drug investigation by North Platte Police.

According to a news release, an officer opened an illicit drug investigation at around 8:00 a.m., on May 18, after obtaining evidence of suspected drug use at a residence in the 500 block of South Cottonwood Avenue.

As a search warrant was being secured to search the home for drugs, an officer observed the renter, 33-year-old Bryan Kayser, and a 28-year-old male leave the home in a maroon Dodge pickup.

The officer conducted an investigative stop and made contact with Kayser.

The officer then noticed a marijuana pipe inside the vehicle which prompted a search.

The search revealed a loaded .380 caliber Smith and Wesson handgun with ammo and a “sizeable amount of cash.”  Officers say further investigation revealed that the gun had been stolen in April from a residence in the 2400 block of West 6th Street.

Officers then searched the residence and located around 34 grams of suspected methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia commonly used in the distribution of meth.

Kayser was transported to the Lincoln County Detention Center and jailed on charges of felony possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, felony possession of a stolen firearm and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Officers then searched the bedroom of another resident, 29-year-old Jack Seals, and located an additional eight grams of methamphetamine and paraphernalia.  Seals was also jailed, and charged with felony possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver.

 

Authorities are searching for two North Platte teens after they drove into the raging South Platte River.

At around 11:23 p.m., on Monday, the North Platte 911 Center received a report that a vehicle had driven into the South Platte River.

Deputies from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and North Platte Fire and Rescue responded to the location, about one-half mile west of Buffalo Road on South River Road.

Deputies say some other teens were following a vehicle being driven by 17-year-old Alexis Wiezorek, when Wiezorek’s vehicle drove around some barricades and continued traveling on South River Road.

Witnesses said Wiezorek’s vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed and drove into the river, then floated down stream.

Authorities say the witnesses tried to reach Wiezorek and her passenger, 18-year-old Noah Ramos, but were unable to.

Deputies then discovered a second accident, finding three male teenagers all injured in the roadway.

The teens, identified as 18-year-old Devan Hovden, 22-year-old Francisco Rojo and 18-year-old Garret Axtel, said they had driven into the area to look for their friends who had driven into the river.

They advised that they were traveling at around 50 mph, and could not see that the road had washed out.  They said their vehicle then enter the river.

All three were transported to Great Plains Health with non-life threatening injuries.

Deputies say the North Platte Police Department, Nebraska State Patrol, Lincoln County Emergency Management and Midwest Air conducted an extensive search of the area, but have been unable to locate Wiezorek, Ramos or either vehicle.

Officials ask that all non-emergency personnel please stay away from the South Platte River.

Citizens who travel on closed roads will be arrested for trespassing.

Deputies say drugs and alcohol may be a factor in the accident.

The investigation is ongoing.

Today: Showers, mainly after 9am. High near 45. East wind 11 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Tonight: Showers, mainly before 4am. Low around 35. Northeast wind 8 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Wednesday: Scattered rain before 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 52. Northeast wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. Northeast wind 5 to 7 mph becoming calm after midnight.
Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 61. Light and variable wind becoming southeast 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44.
Friday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a high near 56. Chance of precipitation is 70%

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Farmers had trouble getting out in the field last week because of widespread rain across Nebraska, but most of the state’s corn crop has been planted.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Monday that 85 percent of the corn crop has been planted. That’s only slightly behind the average of 87 percent for this time of year.

The soybean crop isn’t as far along as the corn crop. Roughly 41 percent of the soybeans have been planted. That’s down from the average of 51 percent at this point.

Much of the state received an inch or more of rain last week, and lowland flooding was a problem in parts of southeast Nebraska. That slowed field work.

Jean Condon has been named the 2015 Postsecondary Teacher of the Year by the Association for Career and Technical Education of Nebraska.

Condon is a business office technology instructor at Mid-Plains Community College in North Platte and serves as the area division chair for the college’s Business and Technology division.

Condon was selected for the award based on excellence and dedication within the field of career and technical education.

“It is an honor and privilege to receive this award,” said Condon. “I am fortunate to have so many supportive colleagues at Mid-Plains Community College who make this a great place to work and grow professionally.”

Jody Tomanek, area vice-president of academic affairs and North Platte Community College, said Condon is very deserving of the recognition.

Condon has taught numerous courses for MPCC over the years, including management, business, office technology and personal and professional development.

She serves on several of the college’s committees and encourages faculty within her division to be active as well. Condon is also involved with state and national organizations, through which she has had numerous officer positions.

“Jean has a strong presence in the classroom and truly believes in educating students to be successful in their chosen field,” said Tomanek. “Jean is always the first one to think outside the box when it comes to teaching methods or mode of delivery. I can always count on her to do what is best for the student.”

Condon will be presented with the award during a luncheon June 3 at the Younes Conference Center in Kearney.

ACTEN is the professional association for career and technical educators in Nebraska. Established in 1946, ACTEN has some 375 members across Nebraska including teachers, administrators, career counselors, business partners and other professionals who support or advocate for career and technical education.