Eagle Radio in North Platte is excited to announce the hiring of Brice Kesler as Sports Director and Voice of  The NPHS Dawgs and North Platte Community College Athletics.

Kesler comes to Eagle after spending the past 3 years in Goodland, KS where he began his professional radio career as Sports Director, Play by Play Announcer of the Northwest Tech basketball team and as Morning Sports Show Host. Kesler has a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas.

Kesler takes over duties from outgoing Eagle Radio Sports Director Robert Lovell, who has accepted a radio position in his home state of Utah. Kesler is excited for the opportunity to work with Eagle Radio in North Platte “I’m excited to become part of the family there and feel I will fit right in with the rest of the North Platte Eagle crew.”

Eagle Radio North Platte General Manager Lewys Carlini says, “Brice Kesler is an energetic Sportscaster with exceptional knowledge of sports.” “Brice will continue our excellent tradition with ESPN 1410. He has proven to have the voice/skillset to paint play by play so the listener can know exactly what is happening on the court or field.” “Eagle North Platte is proud to have Brice Kesler as part of our North Platte team.”

Kesler begins his role with Eagle North Platte on May 4^th, 2015. Kesler will not only be the Voice of the North Platte Bulldogs and North Platte Community College but will also carry daily duty with “The Blitz” at 12 Noon Monday through Friday on ESPN 1410 AM.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The new CEO of Nebraska’s Department of Health and Human Services is promising to hold the department accountable to state lawmakers and the public.

Courtney Phillips said Thursday that she plans to dig into the specific causes of problems with services such as ACCESSNebraska, the system that Nebraskans use to apply for and renew their public benefits. Phillips told a legislative committee that a new performance-tracking system will help the department make improvements.

Gov. Pete Ricketts appointed Phillips to the job in February, but she has to be confirmed by lawmakers. She previously worked as deputy secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals.

Phillips says she also wants to recruit more department employees from Nebraska high schools, colleges and universities, and reduce turnover.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — City and state officials have tied green ribbons around more than 200 ash trees to provide a visual example of how Lincoln could be affected by the emerald ash borer.

Students from McPhee Elementary School helped band the trees last week as part of an Arbor Day project. Lynn Johnson, director of the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, says the banded trees are in high-traffic areas, including the University of Nebraska-Lincoln East Campus.

The ribbons are meant to help residents recognize ash trees. They also represent a tree that eventually could die because of damage done by the invasive insect.

The emerald ash borer, which could be headed to the area and likely already is in Nebraska, has destroyed thousands of trees in the eastern U.S.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska is one step closer to paying high school students a lower minimum wage.

Senators voted 31-13 Wednesday to advance a measure by Sen. Laura Ebke of Crete that would create a class of “young student workers,” employees under 18 who would continue earning $8 an hour, or 85 percent of the federal minimum, even after Nebraska’s minimum increases to $9 in 2016.

Ebke says the measure allows small-town grocers to afford to hire student workers.

But Democratic opponents ran the bill through the maximum four hours of debate before its second vote, calling it an incentive for students to drop out of school and an insult to voters who raised the standard minimum last November.

The bill must survive a third vote to pass.

MCCOOK, Neb. (AP) — A 54-year-old Culbertson woman is accused of stealing more than $800,000 when she worked for a livestock auction company in McCook.

Trina Hoyt is charged with felony theft and is scheduled for arraignment in Red Willow County District Court next week. Hoyt is accused of writing 26 unauthorized checks on Tri-State Livestock Commission Co. accounts between January 2012 and December 2013 and depositing them into her own accounts.

Hoyt, who has bonded out of jail, told The Associated Press on Thursday that, “Yeah, I made a mistake, but everybody makes mistakes.”

She says she and her husband have “paid the $800-some-thousand back” by giving their land and equipment to Tri-State. Associated Press attempts to reach a Tri-State representative were unsuccessful.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Gov. Pete Ricketts has vetoed a proposed increase in government aid for low-income families, calling it well-intentioned but unsustainable.

Ricketts said in his veto letter Wednesday that the legislation would deplete the money available in existing block grants by 2020 and create a budget shortfall. The Republican governor says he’s willing to work with senators toward a longer-term solution.

The bill by Sen. Kathy Campbell of Lincoln would increase monthly payments to families participating in the Aid to Dependent Children program.

Under current law, a family of two gets $293 a month plus $71 for each additional person. Formula changes under the bill would increase the average payment by $112 a month.

The group Nebraska Appleseed says the support hasn’t increased in nearly 30 years.

Today: Sunny, with a high near 77. South southeast wind 10 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.
Tonight: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. South southeast wind 6 to 15 mph becoming northeast after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 22 mph.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 71. Northeast wind 6 to 9 mph.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47. Southeast wind 3 to 7 mph.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. Light south wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: A 10 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 51.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 83.

COURTESY OF THE NORTH PLATTE POLICE DEPARTMENT

04/28/2015 00:27:19 HARRASS-ANNOY PHONECALLS “900 E 3RD ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/28/2015 00:54:21 FICTITIOUS PLATES “W B ST / CIRCLE DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/28/2015 01:29:14 DISTURBING THE PEACE AND QUIET “100 S WILLOW ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/28/2015 02:04:03 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “5400 E Lee Bird Dr
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/28/2015 02:59:30 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “3200 S NEWBERRY RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/28/2015 06:57:54 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “5400 E Lee Bird Dr
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/28/2015 07:21:31 LOUD MUSIC “1900 W 3RD ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/28/2015 07:38:02 FICTITIOUS PLATES “E Francis /S JEFFERS
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/28/2015 07:38:47 ESCORT- ADAMS & SWANSON “ADAMS AND SWANSON FUNERAL HOME,
421 W 4TH ST # 1040
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/28/2015 09:26:18 THEFT BY EXER CONTROL- ALL OTHER “500 E 11TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/28/2015 09:35:38 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF “1000 N Cottonwood
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/28/2015 09:47:06 COURT SECURITY “300 N JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/28/2015 11:19:24 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “2700 W LEOTA ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/28/2015 11:36:27 CITIZEN ASSIST “700 S Jeffers ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/28/2015 11:31:31 SUSPICIOUS PERSON “3000 S NEWBERRY RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/28/2015 11:55:27 HARRASS-ANNOY PHONECALLS “400 W 4TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/28/2015 12:34:17 THEFT BY DECEPT BY USE OF CREDIT/CHARGE CARD “800 N JACKSON AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/28/2015 12:50:47 FOUND PROPERTY “200 W 3RD ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/28/2015 13:46:38 TRAFFIC ACCIDENT-GENERAL “E 4TH ST /N POPLAR ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/28/2015 14:12:59 FOUND PROPERTY “2700 W LEOTA ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/28/2015 14:18:06 OTHER DISTURBANCE “1200 E 4TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/28/2015 14:51:21 CITIZEN ASSIST “NORTH PLATTE,
1 NORTH PLATTE
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/28/2015 14:54:12 DOG-SURRENDER “1400 N SYCAMORE ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/28/2015 15:17:33 CITIZEN ASSIST “1200 W 11TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/28/2015 16:27:06 THEFT BY EXER CONTROL- ALL OTHER “400 E LEOTA ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/28/2015 16:36:01 TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGNALS “N Willow / RODEO RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/28/2015 16:42:34 CITIZEN ASSIST “1200 W 11TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/28/2015 16:46:23 CITIZEN ASSIST “2300 W 17TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101″

04/28/2015 16:54:50 DRIVING UNDER SUSPENSION ”
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101″

04/28/2015 17:08:17 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “700 N ASH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/28/2015 17:12:51 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “1500 S Jeffers ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/28/2015 17:20:33 OTHER DISTURBANCE “300 N DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/28/2015 17:27:40 ASSIST FIRE DEPT “2100 W 3RD ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/28/2015 17:45:16 LOOSE ANIMALS “100 N SYCAMORE ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/28/2015 18:14:56 ALARM-BURGLARY CALL IN “300 E 3RD ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/28/2015 18:18:11 2ND DEGREE CRIMINAL TRESPASS “2000 W 17TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/28/2015 19:05:49 EXPIRED PLATES/REGISTRATION “RODEO RD /N BUFFALO BILL AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/28/2015 19:12:26 EXPIRED PLATES/REGISTRATION “RODEO RD /N MAPLE ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/28/2015 19:11:50 DOG BITES “600 W LEOTA ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/28/2015 19:18:21 STANDBY TO PREV VIOLENCE “800 S ASH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/28/2015 19:31:35 NO LICENSE PLATES 60 323 “500 S COTTONWOOD ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/28/2015 19:55:01 HARRASS-ANNOY PHONECALLS “NORTH PLATTE,
1 NORTH PLATTE
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/28/2015 20:14:33 SUSPICIOUS PERSON “900 E 9TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/28/2015 20:29:13 EXPIRED PLATES/REGISTRATION “400 N JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/28/2015 20:39:28 PREF RIGHT OF WAY-STOP AND YIELD SIGNS “E F ST /S COTTONWOOD ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/28/2015 20:40:43 LOUD MUSIC “1700 ALPHA ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/28/2015 20:39:11 SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE “2000 BURLINGTON BL
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/28/2015 20:50:50 OTHER DISTURBANCE “2100 W 3RD ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/28/2015 20:53:26 ASSIST OTH LAW ENF “100 HOLIDAY FRONTAGE RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/28/2015 21:16:55 MOTOR VEH LIGHT REQUIREMENTS “N VINE ST /W 2ND ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/28/2015 21:21:46 LOST PROPERTY “200 RODEO RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/28/2015 21:31:31 TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGNALS “E 6th ST /N CHESTNUT ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/28/2015 22:15:40 SPEEDING “1800 W A ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/28/2015 22:52:33 CITIZEN ASSIST “600 W LEOTA ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/28/2015 23:11:03 DOMEST ASSAULT-MISD “2100 W 3rd ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/28/2015 23:14:20 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “AIRPORT,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/28/2015 23:27:28 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “3200 DETCO CR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/29/2015 00:04:43 FOUND PROPERTY “3200 S NEWBERRY RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/29/2015 00:22:35 TRAFFIC ACCIDENT-GENERAL “3200 S NEWBERRY RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/29/2015 00:35:49 ASSAULT- 3RD DEGREE- MINOR INJURY “1300 N ROOSEVELT
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/29/2015 01:17:42 2ND DEGREE CRIMINAL TRESPASS “600 W LEOTA ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/29/2015 01:21:54 MOTOR VEH LIGHT REQUIREMENTS “E 2ND ST /N JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/29/2015 01:21:25 ALARM-GENERAL “3700 S JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/29/2015 02:07:03 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “AIRPORT,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/29/2015 02:28:30 ALARM-BURGLARY CALL IN “3700 S JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/29/2015 02:49:04 MINOR IN POSSESSION OF ALCOHOL “1400 S Dewey ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/29/2015 02:57:10 NON-CRIMINAL/GENERAL “800 S BAILEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/29/2015 03:42:59 2ND DEGREE CRIMINAL TRESPASS “600 W LEOTA ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

04/29/2015 07:25:32 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “AIRPORT,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals has deferred arguments and a decision on four same-sex marriage cases until the U.S. Supreme Court rules on the issue.

The court announced Wednesday that it’s holding off on “any further consideration” of the cases from South Dakota, Arkansas, Missouri and Nebraska. Arguments were scheduled to begin on May 12 in Omaha, Nebraska.

All four states are appealing federal judges’ decisions to overturn gay marriage bans.

The Supreme Court began hearing arguments Tuesday and could decide by June whether gay couples can marry nationwide.

Attorney Josh Newville is representing six couples from South Dakota. Newville says a Supreme Court ruling could make the 8th Circuit cases moot, but there’s no guarantee justices will address all the questions before the 8th Circuit.