LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Gov. Pete Ricketts’ choice to lead the Nebraska State Patrol says he did nothing wrong in a case where the agency was accused of discriminating against a female employee.

Bradley Rice of Elkhorn said the same qualifying standards should apply to male and female troopers as a legislative committee vetted him during his appointment hearing on Wednesday.

The appointment was clouded by a 2006 lawsuit in which Sgt. Carla Schreiber claimed she had been denied promotions five times between 2004 and 2005 based on her gender.

Rice was part of the panel that rejected Schreiber. Schreiber was awarded damages and the rank of lieutenant in 2007.

At the hearing, troopers defended Rice’s integrity, fairness and leadership.

The committee is expected to advance the appointment to the full Legislature this week.

SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. (AP) — Police say they’re investigating a Scottsbluff teen’s connection to a series of vehicle thefts after spotting him driving a stolen car near Lake Minatare.

The 16-year-old was arrested on two counts of theft of a motor vehicle and one count each of possession of stolen property and driving without a license. He is accused of taking two cars reported stolen Tuesday morning.

The Associated Press typically doesn’t name juveniles charged with crimes.

Police responded after an off-duty officer spotted the teen driving in what he believed to be a stolen.

Capt. Brian Wasson says five vehicles have been reported missing within the last week. He says investigation is ongoing to determine if the teen was involved in the remaining three.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Gov. Pete Ricketts has announced three candidates to serve as director of the Nebraska Department of Roads.

Ricketts unveiled the names Wednesday as part of the national search to replace outgoing director Randy Peters.

The candidates are Jim Kowach of Silver Lake, Kansas; Kyle Schneweis of Lawrence, Kansas; and Richard Tetreault of Newport Center, Vermont.

Kowach is the director of engineering and design for the Kansas Department of Transportation. Schneweis is a partner at High Street Consulting Group, LLC, a planning, policy and financial consulting firm. Tetreault serves as director of Program Development/Highways & Chief Engineer at the Vermont Agency of Transportation.

Ricketts also interviewed Michael Flynn of Columbus, Ohio, but his office says Flynn withdrew his name.

NEW YORK (AP) — Anheuser-Busch is apologizing on a slogan that appeared on bottles saying Bud Light removes the word ‘no’ from drinkers’ vocabulary.

Photos of bottles with the slogan went viral on social media on Tuesday with widespread complaints about the slogan, particularly at a time of national debate about college rape.

The slogan is part of the beermaker’s two-year-old “Up for Whatever” campaign that includes a wide array of marketing such as a Super Bowl spot that showed a Bud Light drinker going through a live-action Pac Man game.

The company says the bottle-message campaign included more than 140 different messages and this one missed the mark. The company says it ceased production of the message on all bottles.

Contestants have been announced for the Miss Rodeo Nebraska and Miss Teen Rodeo Nebraska competitions June 14-17 in North Platte. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the annual Miss Rodeo Nebraska Pageant. Trying for the title of MRN is:

 

Emily Taylor

 

Emily Taylor, 24, is the daughter of Rick and Karen Arkfeld of Battle Creek and Mark Taylor of Colorado. She graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in December with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural journalism and an emphasis in advertising and public relations.

 

While at UNL, Emily was a member of the English and western equestrian teams and was active in both the Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow club and Abel Residents Association.

 

She plans to use her degree to pursue a public relations career in a major agricultural – based company, such as John Deere or Monsanto.

 

“Agriculture is near and dear to my heart,” said Emily. “I want to utilize the skills I have acquired to be an advocate for the industry and way of life that helps feed the world.”

 

As a first-generation cowgirl, Emily wants to encourage people from all backgrounds to become educated and more engaged in rodeo.

 

“I want to inspire all I come in contact with to embrace who they are,” said Emily. “Growing up in an area where rodeo isn’t prominent, I know how difficult it is to stay true to yourself when something you like isn’t popular or in style. I used my faith, family and friendships gained through rodeo and ag organizations to build my confidence and embrace my uniqueness.”

 

The Miss Teen Rodeo Nebraska contestants are:

 

Eva Oliver

 

Eva Oliver, 17, is the daughter of Chuck and Stacie Oliver, of Merriman. She will be a senior at Cody-Kilgore High School this fall.

 

Eva is a student aid and is involved in volleyball, basketball, FFA, sandhills leadership, one-act plays, speech and Cowboy GRIT, a student steering committee. GRIT stands for growing, revitalizing, investing and teamwork.

 

Eva’s hobbies include riding colts, playing sports, reading, helping with small fry basketball and spending time with family and friends.

 

After high school, Eva plans to attend the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis. She would like to achieve an associate’s degree in veterinary technology with minors in artificial insemination and animal nutrition. Her goal is to one day work at a local vet clinic that focuses primarily on cattle.

 

“I would like to be Miss Teen Rodeo Nebraska so that I would be able to travel around the state and not only share my love for rodeo, but also my passion for agriculture,” said Eva. “I would have the amazing opportunity to inspire young girls about the historical sport of rodeo and Nebraska’s phenomenal agriculture system.”

 

Jenna Langer

 

Jenna Langer, 17, is from Superior. Her parents are Jody and Larry Langer, and she has one sister, Lacey.

 

Jenna will start her senior year at Superior High School this fall. She is active in FFA – as the chapter sentinel, drill team, Student Council, Community Service Club, cross country, archery, drama and journalism. She has been on the honor roll for the past three years.

 

When not involved in school activities, Jenna can be found working on 4-H projects. She is president of both the Webber Wide Awake 4-H Club and the Jewell County Saddle Club and is a member of the 4-H Council and Jewell County Junior Leaders.

 

Jenna is also a member of the Superior United Methodist Church where she serves as the youth advisor for the Ad Council. In her free time, Jenna enjoys barrel racing, trail riding, working on the family farm, gardening and running.

 

After graduation, she plans to attend a university and study agriculture education with the goal of one day becoming an agriculture teacher or extension agent.

 

Jenna said she would like to be Miss Teen Rodeo Nebraska so that she could educate people about the sport of rodeo and serve as a positive role model for children.

“I want to inspire kids in the same ways that other rodeo queens inspired me,” said Jenna.

Taytum Dickman

Elwood is home to 17-year-old Taytum Dickman. The daughter of Jedd Dickman and Amanda Snyder will be a senior at Lincoln North Star High School in the fall.

Taytum is part of the newly formed Lincoln North Star Young Political Club, where she serves as treasurer. The club spreads awareness about legislative updates and aides candidate elections.

Taytum also participates in student athletic training throughout the fall and winter seasons, helping the main trainers with injured athletes.

Her extracurricular activities include: volunteering, spending time with friends and family, running, baking and helping with her family’s ranch.

Taytum is involved in 4-H where she shows horses, cattle, pigs, fish and has completed many home interior and baking projects. She has been president of the Gosper County 4-H club, The Jiffy Juniors, for three years.

Taytum plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in biology and eventually start her own veterinary practice.

 

Joeli Walrath

 

Joeli Walrath, 16, is the daughter of Jamie and Jaci Walrath, of Ashton. Joeli will be a senior at Loup City High School this fall.

She loves being outdoors, riding her horses, painting and cooking. Other interests include Nebraska High School Rodeo, cheerleading, dance, Student Council, National Honor Society, FFA and 4-H.

Joeli is a lifetime youth member of the American Quarter Horse Association and is a member of St. Francis Church.

When she isn’t in the arena, she enjoys visiting schools and talking to students about rodeo and the western way of life.

Joeli has developed the RO.P.E. Program to educate children about having a healthy approach to life. RO.P.E. stands for Respect, taking Ownership, being Proud – yet humble and always reaching for Excellence.

Her future plans are to attend college, become a veterinarian and raise a family on a ranch in the Nebraska Sandhills.

Joeli aspires to be Miss Teen Rodeo Nebraska so she can combine her love of rodeo and the RO.P.E. Program with representing the state she loves and sharing the western heritage with everyone she encounters.

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Hy-Vee Inc. says it is recalling Hy-Vee Summer Fresh Pasta because of a potential listeria contamination.

The West Des Moines-based grocer said Tuesday that the company has learned that frozen vegetables in the salad could be contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes.

The company sold the salad from April 9 to April 27. Hy-Vee has pulled the salad from stores in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska and South Dakota.

Hy-Vee says people who bought the pasta salad between those dates should dispose of it or return it for a refund.

The company says there are no known listeria infections linked to the recall.

Listeria generally only affects the elderly, people with compromised immune systems and pregnant women. It can cause fever, muscle aches, gastrointestinal symptoms and even death.

Today: Sunny, with a high near 72. South southeast wind 5 to 9 mph.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 41. Southeast wind around 9 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 78. South southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 47. Southeast wind 8 to 11 mph becoming north northeast after midnight.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 72. Northeast wind 7 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 47.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 79.
Saturday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 51.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska zoos are one step closer to getting a tax break, although some lawmakers continue to criticize the measure as a snub to residents to whom they’ve promised property tax relief.

Senators on Tuesday advanced a measure by voice vote that would allow nationally accredited zoos or aquariums to avoid charging sales taxes on memberships and admissions.

The chief beneficiary would be Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo, ranked first in the world by travel website TripAdvisor with some 1.7 million visitors a year.

The second-round vote was briefly delayed by senators who say the measure gives special preference to an organization that already operates successfully without it. Sen. Heath Mello of Omaha says his bill represents investment into an important economic activity in the state.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Gov. Pete Ricketts is arguing against a bill to legalize medical marijuana in Nebraska, saying the state should wait for a review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Ricketts argued Tuesday that the state should defer to the FDA review process to determine whether the product is safe and effective. Supporters of medical marijuana have argued that the federal government still formally bans the drug and isn’t looking seriously at approval.

Lawmakers are expected to debate a legalization bill this year. In his weekly column, Ricketts argued that any legalization effort outside the federal process puts Nebraskans at risk.

The FDA has not approved marijuana but has allowed one drug with a synthetic version of a substance that is found in marijuana plants.

A North Platte woman is in jail on theft charges following a series of events that ended with a North Platte man being flown to a Denver hospital.

At around 5:00 a.m., on April 25, officers with the North Platte Police Department responded to a reported theft in the 2400 block of East 2nd Street.

Police say a 55-year-old male alleged that his ex-roommate, 30-year-old Quannalyn Makesroomforthem, had moved out sometime during the night and, in the process, had stolen two flat-screen TVs valued at around $350.

At around 7:15 a.m., the same morning, an officer responded to a residence in the 300 block of South Tabor Street, on the report of a stolen vehicle.

The 36-year-old owner of the vehicle reported that, sometime during the night, his unsecured 1990 Mazda was stolen from in front of his house.

Officers later learned that the vehicle had been involved in a one-vehicle accident in Thomas County.

The occupants of the vehicle were identified as Makesroomforthem and 30-year-old Burgess Running Enemy.

Both were transported to Great Plains Health, before Running Enemy, who was identified as the driver of the vehicle, was transported to a Denver hospital.

On the morning of April 27, Makesroomforthem was released from the hospital and placed under arrest for the theft of the TVs.  Due to prior theft convictions, the charge was enhanced to a felony.

Authorities say Running Enemy’s condition is unknown.