LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A third attempt to expand Nebraska Medicaid coverage under the federal health care law has failed.

Lawmakers voted 28-16 on Wednesday to bracket the bill, effectively killing it for the rest of this year.

Expanding Medicaid would have helped cover roughly 79,600 people in Nebraska by 2020, according to the latest estimates by the Legislature’s Fiscal Office. Had it passed, Nebraska would have joined 28 other states and the District of Columbia in offering expanded coverage.

Senators who opposed the bill cast it as an unaffordable expansion of government. Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts also criticized the measure.

The lead sponsor, Sen. Kathy Campbell of Lincoln, says she’ll keep looking at options for future years.

The North Platte Community Playhouse is excited to announce that the final production of their 2014/2015 Season, “Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure,” opens this Friday.

The world’s greatest detective has seemingly reached the end of his remarkable career when a case presents itself that is too tempting to ignore: The King of Bohemia is about to be blackmailed by a notorious photograph, and the woman at the heart of this crime is the famous opera singer, Irene Adler. With his trusted companion, Doctor Watson, at his side, Sherlock Holmes pursues first the case, and then the affections of Miss Adler—and in doing so, marches right into the lair of his longtime adversary, that malevolent genius of crime: Professor Moriarty. In this spirited, fast-moving and thoroughly theatrical adaptation, Steven Dietz presents Holmes at the height of his powers—surrounded by all the elements that fans of his exploits have come to expect: danger, intrigue, wit, humor and surprise. “The game is afoot, Watson—and it is a dangerous one!”

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at the Playhouse Box Office, 301 East 5^th Street, Monday-Friday from Noon-5:00 p.m., online at www.northplattecommunityplayhouse.com or at the door prior to each performance.  Tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for students.

Performances will be held April 10, 11, 12, 17, 18 and 19, with Friday and Saturday Performances beginning at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday Matinees beginning at 2:00 p.m.

Cast: 

Sherlock Holmes: Robert Allen

Watson: Gene Gilsdorf

King of Bohemia: Josh Gesinski

Irene Adler: Sheelagh Lucas

Moriarty: Justin Morgan

James Larabee: Sam Fornander

Madge Larabee: Wendi Shannon

Sid Prince/Clergyman/Policeman: Thomas McNeil

Young Swiss man: Phillip Ryan

Paperboy/Policeman: Philip Ryan

 

Director:  Andrew Lee

Assistant Director:  Lori Evans

2nd Assistant Director/Lights:  Carolyn Clark

Sound:  Tyrel Fear

Costume Designer:  Sue McKain

BRIDGEPORT, Neb. (AP) — Authorities have confirmed the rare sightings of a moose in the Nebraska Panhandle.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission says the moose has been spotted several times in the past several weeks by people in the North Platte River Valley. It was last reported in Morrill County.

The commission says moose are not common in Nebraska but sometimes are seen in the Panhandle. Wildlife biologists suspect the moose wandered over from Wyoming.

COLTON, Neb. (AP) — A 44-year-old Sidney man has died in a car collision with a train in the Nebraska Panhandle.

The accident occurred around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday on County Road 125 near Colton in Cheyenne County.

Sheriff John Jenson said in a press release Wednesday that Michael Kennedy was driving north when he failed to yield at the crossing and collided with the train. Kennedy was pronounced dead at the scene.

DALTON, Neb. (AP) — Authorities are seeking the driver of a car involved in a fatal collision in western Nebraska.

The two-vehicle accident occurred around 9:40 a.m. Tuesday about two miles south of Dalton on U.S. Highway 385. Cheyenne County Sheriff John Jenson says the vehicles made contact as the one driven by Martin Geiger Jr. attempted to pass the other. Geiger’s car ran into a ditch and rolled twice, ejecting Geiger and his passenger, 54-year-old Kathy Berger.

Jenson says Geiger died at the scene and Berger was flown to Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff.

The other vehicle left the scene, heading north on the highway.

SIDNEY, Neb. (AP) — Two groups say the Nebraska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission has violated state open meeting laws, and they want the state attorney general to void any action stemming from the commission’s March 24 hearing on a proposed Sioux County wastewater disposal well.

Bold Nebraska and the Nebraska Sierra Club filed a complaint Tuesday with the office of Attorney General Doug Peterson, asking for an investigation. Ken Winston with the Nebraska Sierra Club says the commission didn’t follow its own rules and state law.

Terex Energy Corp, of Broomfield, Colorado, wants to truck salty groundwater and chemical-laden fracking wastewater that result from oil searches and production to a ranch north of Mitchell.

Representatives for the commission and the attorney general didn’t immediately return requests for comment Wednesday from The Associated Press.

Columbus, Neb. – Nebraska Public Power District officials are keeping a watchful eye on continued attempts by individuals contacting utility customers and businesses demanding that they pay their electric bill or face shutoff within 20 minutes.

On Monday, NPPD reported that the phone scam was occurring in Norfolk and based upon past history, other communities across the state could be targeted within the next few weeks. “Once the public recognizes the ploy, the scammers will take advantage of another community in the state. We expect similar calls may begin occurring in some of our retail communities such as Kearney and Scottsbluff, but this deceitful scheme may not be isolated to just larger communities,” said NPPD’s Customer Care Business Manager Robyn Tweedy.

The individuals, posing as representatives of the power company, will tell the customer that they are overdue on their electric bill and must pay up within 20 minutes or be disconnected. They are then instructed to purchase pre-paid cards in order to make immediate payment.

Tweedy said that several local businesses in the Norfolk area were unfortunate victims of the deception with the calls coming at busy times of the company’s operation

“NPPD does not do business this way,” said Tweedy. “If a customer is overdue on their electric bill and subject to disconnection, it will be printed on their monthly bill with instructions on what they can do to settle the account. They should call the number printed on the bill, not the phone number of the individual making the phone request.”

The malicious practice is not affecting NPPD alone. It has happened in other states with other utilities, and has occurred in Nebraska several times in the past, as recently as last year. If an individual or business not served by NPPD receives a call demanding payment on their electric bill, they are encouraged to contact their local electric provider to check on their account before making any attempt to pay.

Any customers that receive such a call should not attempt to make a payment and contact local law enforcement and NPPD’s Centralized Customer Care Center at 1-877-ASK-NPPD (877-275-6773) to report the request.

Today: A chance of rain or drizzle before 9am, then a chance of drizzle between 9am and 1pm, then a slight chance of showers after 1pm. Areas of fog before 1pm. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 53. East wind around 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Tonight: A 40 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 37. East southeast wind 10 to 16 mph becoming north northeast after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 24 mph.
Thursday: Rain likely, mainly before 10am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52. Breezy, with a north northwest wind 15 to 20 mph increasing to 21 to 26 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 36 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 27. West wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 65. Light and variable wind becoming south 6 to 11 mph in the morning.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 38.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 71.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska lawmakers have voted to expand a popular tax credit for investors in high-tech startup companies.

Senators gave the measure first-round approval on Tuesday with a 25-0 vote. The bill by Sen. John Stinner of Scottsbluff would increase the amount of money available from $3 million a year to $4 million. Stinner says the program has won strong support from the business community.

The incentive program is aimed at so-called “angel investors” who provide capital for risky, undeveloped businesses, often involving new technology. In Nebraska, the tax credits have gone to software publishers in Omaha, data processing and surgical supply companies in Lincoln and a winery in Pawnee City, among others.

Two additional votes are required before the bill goes to Gov. Pete Ricketts.