LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A better-than-expected revenue forecast has allowed Nebraska lawmakers to set aside even more money for property tax relief.

Nebraska lawmakers gave the state budget second-round approval on Wednesday with an additional $8 million to offset property taxes. The revised bills would provide a total of $408 million over two years.

The Nebraska Economic Forecasting Advisory Board predicted last month that the state would collect more money than expected, giving senators an additional $9.7 million.

Sen. Heath Mello, chairman of the Appropriations Committee, says the increase is responsible and sustainable.

Lawmakers also voted to withdraw about $28 million from the cash reserve fund to pay for renovations to the Capitol’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning system. The withdrawals will take place over eight years to make the building more energy efficient.

LEXINGTON, Neb. (AP) — A 45-year-old Overton man has taken a plea deal and been convicted in the crash death of a 63-year-old woman near Cozad last summer.

Troy Olmstead is scheduled to be sentenced on June 16. Court records say he pleaded no contest to a charge of reckless driving. Prosecutors had lowered the charge from misdemeanor vehicular homicide and dropped two related charges in exchange for Olmstead’s plea.

The accident occurred June 21 about two miles west of Cozad on U.S. Highway 30. Dawson County authorities say Olmstead’s eastbound vehicle drifted into oncoming traffic and hit a westbound van being driven by Linda Waldon, of Holdrege. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Olmstead, his wife and daughter were hospitalized.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska lawmakers have reversed their decision not to confirm the state’s chief medical officer, despite criticism of his previous interactions with the Legislature.

Senators voted 34-6 on Wednesday to confirm Dr. Joseph Acierno, one day after rejecting him. Acierno was appointed by then-Gov. Dave Heineman in 2013 and appointed again by Gov. Pete Ricketts in December.

Sen. Heath Mello of Omaha filed a motion to reconsider the vote, arguing that senators should give Acierno the benefit of the doubt under a new governor’s administration.

Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha continued to fight the confirmation and accused his colleagues of bowing to pressure from the governor’s office.

Some lawmakers who worked with Acierno say he has been arrogant and blocked reform efforts in the Department of Health and Human Services.

GERING, Neb. (AP) — A man who surrendered 18 days after being listed as escaped from a work release program in Scotts Bluff County has been sentenced to prison.

On Monday 26-year-old James Thorpe was given two to five years.

He’d been assigned to work release while serving a sentence for forgery. He didn’t report to the Scotts Bluff County Detention Center as required on Feb. 3, and then he turned himself in on Feb. 21.

COURTESY OF THE NORTH PLATTE POLICE DEPARTMENT

05/05/2015 00:31:23 SPEEDING “E 9TH ST /N POPLAR ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/05/2015 00:46:36 OPEN DOORS OR WINDOWS “1500 N SYCAMORE ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/05/2015 02:13:00 ASSAULT- 3RD DEGREE- MINOR INJURY “1000 S TABOR AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/05/2015 04:13:02 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “LEE BIRD FIELD,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/05/2015 04:48:02 OTHER EQUIP VIOLATION “E PHILIP AV /S COTTONWOOD ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/05/2015 04:53:51 CITIZEN ASSIST “900 N Jeffers
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/05/2015 07:29:45 BARKING DOGS “1100 W 6TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/05/2015 07:48:36 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “LBF,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/05/2015 09:10:04 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “3200 S NEWBERRY RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/05/2015 09:13:32 NON-CRIMINAL/GENERAL “2300 RODEO RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/05/2015 11:02:08 NO REGISTRATION “W 21ST ST /N BUFFALO BILL AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/05/2015 11:06:46 GEN PARK & TRAFFIC “300 N JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/05/2015 12:04:48 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “NORTH PLATTE
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/05/2015 12:01:10 NON-CRIMINAL/GENERAL NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/05/2015 12:50:36 WELFARE CHECK “1000 S TABOR AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/05/2015 13:29:02 WELFARE CHECK “300 S SILBER AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/05/2015 14:31:05 IDENTITY THEFT “NORTH PLATTE,
1 NORTH PLATTE
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/05/2015 14:42:10 LOOSE ANIMALS “900 N EMORY AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/05/2015 14:57:13 TRAFFIC ENFORCE GENERAL “W PHILIP AV /S JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/05/2015 14:58:38 CITIZEN ASSIST “2300 RODEO RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/05/2015 15:17:52 GEN PARK & TRAFFIC “1200 MCDONALD RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/05/2015 15:35:12 THEFT BY EXER CONTROL- FROM BUILDING NO TRESPASS “2400 Rodeo RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/05/2015 15:58:34 LOST PROPERTY “1200 S JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/05/2015 16:30:22 CITIZEN ASSIST “W 9TH ST /N MADISON AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/05/2015 16:40:51 CITIZEN ASSIST “400 E 6TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/05/2015 16:47:18 SUSPICIOUS PERSON “100 S ELM ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/05/2015 16:53:41 INJUR ACCID-NO ALC RELAT “ALPHA ST /S SHERIDAN AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/05/2015 18:35:56 BRAKE AND TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS “N ASH ST / RODEO RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/05/2015 18:36:29 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “400 W 4th ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/05/2015 18:50:03 OPER MV TO AVOID ARREST-FELONY “2400 W 9TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/05/2015 19:09:38 GEN PARK & TRAFFIC “1400 S DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/05/2015 20:58:17 INJUR ACCID-NO ALC RELAT “W FRANCIS ST /S JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/05/2015 21:04:20 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “900 E 16TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/05/2015 21:56:10 WELFARE CHECK “2300 E D ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/05/2015 23:18:06 2ND DEGREE CRIMINAL TRESPASS “900 N JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/05/2015 23:32:30 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “LEE BIRD FIELD,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/05/2015 23:41:02 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “200 E 9TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/06/2015 00:32:35 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “800 N DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/06/2015 01:08:02 CITIZEN ASSIST “300 N JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/06/2015 01:18:51 MOTOR VEH LIGHT REQUIREMENTS “E 13TH ST /N JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/06/2015 01:20:11 LOUD PARTY “1300 E 12TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/06/2015 01:31:57 HARRASS-ANNOY PHONECALLS NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

05/06/2015 01:34:32 BURGLARY “2200 W 4TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/06/2015 02:55:14 DISTURBING THE PEACE AND QUIET “1500 S JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/06/2015 04:04:34 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “LEE BIRD FIELD,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/06/2015 05:45:45 GEN PARK & TRAFFIC “200 E 4TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/06/2015 06:39:49 2ND DEGREE CRIMINAL TRESPASS “N BUFFALO BILL AV /W FRONT ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/06/2015 07:08:15 FOUND PROPERTY “3100 W 2ND ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/06/2015 07:22:26 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “LEE BIRD FIELD,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103”

After nearly 9 months of construction, NEBRASKAland DAYS has moved into their new permanent office on the grounds of the Wild West Arena, and today celebrated that move with a Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening.

The project was the result of a joint effort between NLD at the North Platte Community College Building Division.

The 3000 square foot facility features enough office space for permanent and seasonal staff as well as meeting facilities for its Board of Directors. It also contains a good amount of storage for the Celebration’s mass archive.

“This project has been a dream of our organization for decades,” said Executive Director David Fudge. “It’s fulfilling to see it happen.”
The College’s second year Building Program students were responsible for much of the work. The students framed the structure, placed walls and insulation up, installed windows, and sided the outside.

Ryan Purdy, Mid-Plains Community College President said, “NEBRASKAland DAYS has been a great partner with Mid-Plains Community College for many years with the College’s Rodeo team and also the Annual Celebration. We were happy to provide assistance on this project and showcase our student’s talent on this facility.”

With most of the building now completed, the staff can turn their full attention to NEBRASKAland DAYS 2015. “We’re 41 days out from today,” said Fudge. “It’ll be here before we know it!”

A North Platte man is facing charges following a reported drug overdose.

At around 4:28 p.m., on May 4, North Platte police and paramedics responded to the 900 block of West 4th Street, on the report of a male who had possibly overdosed on drugs.

Officers arrived and met with several witnesses and Joshua Salisbury.

According to police, Salisbury was sweating profusely and appeared to be under the influence of drugs, but refused to go to the hospital.

As officers spoke to witnesses, they learned that Salisbury was suicidal and threatened to shoot himself.

Again, officers attempted to convince Salisbury to go to the hospital but he refused.

At that point, officers determined that Salisbury was a threat to himself and placed him in emergency protective custody.

As officers attempted to take Salisbury into custody, he pulled away and attempted to punch them several times.

Salisbury was eventually taken into custody and transported to Great Plains Health.

On May 5, Salisbury was released from the hospital and placed under arrest.

He was transported to the Lincoln County Detention Center and jailed on charges of felony attempted assault on an officer and resisting arrest. He was also out on bond at the time and, as a result, was also arrested on a bond revocation warrant for violating the conditions of his bond.

 

Two brothers from North Platte are facing felony charges following a pursuit involving a stolen vehicle.

On May 1, an officer with the North Platte Police Department took a report of a stolen vehicle.  According to the victim, their 1997 Chevy pickup had been stolen from the 1000 block of Autumn Park Drive.

Other officers were briefed on a description of the vehicle and began actively looking for it.

On May 5, at around 6:50 p.m., an officer on patrol observed the vehicle, confirmed it was the stolen pickup and attempted to conduct a traffic stop, before losing sight of the vehicle near 9th Street and Buffalo Bill Avenue.

A short time later, the officer observed the pickup driving through a trailer court in the 2400 block of West 9th Street.

As the vehicle traveled toward the officer, he activated his emergency lights and ordered the driver, later identified as Brian Anderson, to stop.

The officer was able to get a good look at the driver and a passenger, identified as Timothy Anderson.

After stopping for a short time, the pickup fled west on 9th Street and continued to flee with the officer in pursuit.

Anderson then allegedly turned the pickup around and returned to the trailer court where the pursuit had started.

Police say Timothy Anderson, who was now driving the pickup, fled on foot and was apprehended a short time later.

About this time, a citizen contacted police and reported that Brian Anderson had stopped near 8th Street and Norris, then fled and hid behind a shed in the area.  They said Timothy Anderson slid into the driver’s seat and fled in the vehicle.

Officers responded and took Brian Anderson into custody without further incident.

The brothers were transported to the Lincoln County Detention Center and jailed.  Both have been charged with felony possession of stolen vehicle, felony flight to avoid arrest (2nd Offense) and driving under suspension.

 

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — A National Weather Service forecaster says there is a slight chance that storms carrying large hail and tornadoes could hit parts of the Great Plains stretching from Nebraska, through Kansas, Oklahoma and North Texas.

Richard Thompson at the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma, says tennis-ball-sized hail and tornados could form Wednesday afternoon. He says the storms will likely be widely spaced apart and that it’s too early to tell how many are projected or where in the region they could hit.

Thunderstorms and precipitation are projected for much of the affected area.

The severe weather is expected to taper off by about 10 p.m. but storms are projected daily throughout the region through Saturday.

Weather permitting; construction will begin May 11 on the interstate overpass bridges on Highway US-83, according to the Nebraska Department of Roads.

Work will be performed on both the northbound and southbound bridges.

The bridges will receive required preservation applications, which include expansion joint replacement, new guardrail, and a thin epoxy polymer overlay. Other work includes concrete repair of girders and abutments.

This work will be accomplished in two phases and is anticipated to be completed by early summer. Traffic will be reduced to one lane with reduced speed zones. The work will require 12 foot width restrictions.

Minor delays should be expected.