NEW YORK (AP) — A new report shows this winter’s nasty flu season has peaked and is clearly retreating.

The flu reached its highest levels around the beginning of January, and stayed there for weeks. The government report out Friday shows flu has become less widespread and less intense in the last couple of weeks in most parts of the country.

Hardest hit this season has been the elderly. Flu-related hospitalization rates in people 65 and older are the highest since the government started tracking them nine years ago.

Among infectious diseases, flu is considered one of the nation’s leading killers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 24,000 Americans die each flu season, on average. The CDC issued the weekly report.

MINATARE, Neb. (AP) — The Minatare Chief of Police says that he and two of his officers will be reinstated after having their law enforcement certification suspended for failing to meet annual requirements.

Police Chief Robert Regester and officers Jim Lawson and Mike Youngquist were suspended on Feb. 11 because they failed to meet annual firearms training and continuing education requirements. Regester and Youngquist failed to meet both requirements, while Lawson only failed to meet the firearms training requirement.

Each year, officers are required to take a firearms test to certify their handgun skills, and complete 20 hours of continuing education. Each department must submit certification documents by Dec. 31.

The director of the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center said that the Minatare department was the only agency that had issues meeting compliance this year.

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — A Kearney company faces $7,600 in penalties because two of its workers fell from a roof last year in Grand Island, and one died.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is citing Roeder Construction. The agency says Roeder didn’t provide fall protection or appropriate safety training to prevent the death of a 42-year-old worker who fell off the residential roof and another worker who was injured in the same accident.

Roeder has 15 business days to request an informal conference with the OSHA area director or to contest the findings.

A public phone listed for Roeder Construction is no longer in service.

People love them for their stand-up comedy and performance poetry. Now North Platte will have the chance to experience another side of Ignatius “Iggy” Mwela and Chad Songy – known collectively as CoMeTrY.

“CoMeTrY put on an entertainment show at NPCC in the fall of 2014,” said Josh York, assistant student activities director. “The duo will return Feb. 16 to present an educational piece.”

Mwela and Songy will stress leadership development and diversity appreciation during a show that promises to be informative, relatable and entertaining. The subjects have special meaning for the CoMeTrY artists, whose paths took many twists and turns before leading them to careers in the entertainment world.

Mwela started out as a homeless teenager who worked his way up to a college degree, and eventually, an accomplished performance artist.

Songy was a successful collegiate basketball player and magna cum laude graduate with a degree in business administration. He was selected twice by “ESPN The Magazine” as an Academic All-Region honoree and was nominated in 2009 for the Bob Cousy Collegiate Point Guard of the Year Award.

CoMeTrY’s goal in North Platte is to encourage people to be the type of leaders that others naturally gravitate toward.

The acronym GRAV will be used to convey four values Mwela and Songy believe apply to all sorts of skills necessary in school, such as becoming a leader, appreciating diversity and preventing bullying. GRAV stands for Growth, Research, Approachability and Validation.

The show will be at 8 p.m. Monday in the McDonald-Belton Theater on the south campus of NPCC. It is free and open to the public.

 

COURTESY OF THE NORTH PLATTE POLICE DEPARTMENT

02/12/2015 00:41:33 GEN PARK & TRAFFIC “W A ST /S LINCOLN AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/12/2015 01:39:36 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “1200 JACKSON AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/12/2015 01:49:31 CITIZEN ASSIST “600 W LEOTA ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/12/2015 01:59:06 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “AIRPORT,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/12/2015 02:27:45 SPEEDING “RODEO RD /N CARR AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/12/2015 03:22:44 OTHER DISTURBANCE “700 E PHILIP AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/12/2015 04:16:15 ALARM – OTHER “1200 S JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/12/2015 07:02:19 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “5400 E Lee Bird Dr
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/12/2015 07:49:03 VIOL TRAFFIC CONTROL DEV “W FRANCIS ST / MCDONALD RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/12/2015 08:08:48 HARRASS-ANNOY PHONECALLS “600 N GRANT AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/12/2015 08:15:32 CITIZEN ASSIST “1400 RODEO RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/12/2015 08:19:22 ESCORT – CARPENTERS “CARPENTER MEMORIAL CHAPEL,
1616 W B ST 1400
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/12/2015 09:12:35 HARRASS-ANNOY PHONECALLS “400 E 10th ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/12/2015 10:22:20 CARE OF ANIMALS “E 9TH ST /N BAILEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/12/2015 10:42:39 ANIMAL DISPOSAL “LANDFILL STATION,
LANDFILL STATION
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/12/2015 10:48:10 OTHER DISTURBANCE “900 S TAFT AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/12/2015 10:57:29 ANIMAL COMPLAINT OTHER “1400 N SYCAMORE ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/12/2015 11:00:30 ASSIST OTH LAW ENF “700 S JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/12/2015 11:32:24 CITIZEN ASSIST “700 E 10TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/12/2015 11:44:42 CITIZEN ASSIST “800 N JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/12/2015 11:45:03 TRAFFIC ACCIDENT-GENERAL “E FRANCIS / JEFFERS
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/12/2015 11:56:34 WATCH FOR/INFORMATION “400 E LEOTA ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/12/2015 12:13:42 WELFARE CHECK “1000 N WALNUT ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/12/2015 12:19:45 WELFARE CHECK “800 E 6TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/12/2015 12:50:49 CITIZEN ASSIST “600 W LEOTA ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/12/2015 13:13:09 BURGLARY “200 RIVERSIDE DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/12/2015 13:19:31 TRAFFIC ACCIDENT-GENERAL “1200 W 2ND ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/12/2015 13:24:07 NON-CRIMINAL/GENERAL “1600 S JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/12/2015 13:31:18 DOG-STRAY FR CITIZEN “1400 N SYCAMORE ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/12/2015 13:32:42 CITIZEN ASSIST “300 W Leota ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/12/2015 15:21:10 WELFARE CHECK “2700 W A ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/12/2015 15:56:16 RABIES VACC REQUIRED “1200 E 4TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/12/2015 16:00:39 UNCONT JUV MALE “2300 E PHILIP AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/12/2015 16:02:35 SPEEDING “1800 RODEO RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/12/2015 16:26:43 EXPIRED PLATES/REGISTRATION “900 S WILLOW ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/12/2015 16:46:54 72 HR PARKING VIOLATION “E 11TH ST /N BAILEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/12/2015 17:04:43 NO LICENSE PLATES 60 323 “500 S JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/12/2015 17:07:12 CAT-STRAY FR CITIZEN “1400 N SYCAMORE ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/12/2015 17:31:25 TRAFFIC ACCIDENT-GENERAL “800 S Jeffers ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103”

02/12/2015 17:41:00 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “900 S TABOR AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/12/2015 19:02:09 MOTOR VEH LIGHT REQUIREMENTS “2300 E 4TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/12/2015 19:02:12 CONT SUBSTANCES- UNLAW DISTRIB AND MANUFACT “NORTH PLATTE,
1 NORTH PLATTE
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/12/2015 19:15:27 CITIZEN ASSIST “200 block S Chestnut
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103”

02/12/2015 19:16:49 STANDBY TO PREV VIOLENCE “800 S BAILEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/12/2015 19:40:29 FAILURE TO SIGNAL TURN “500 block S Dewey
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103”

02/12/2015 19:39:39 HARRASS-ANNOY PHONECALLS “800 S EASTMAN AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/12/2015 20:00:13 OTHER DISTURBANCE “200 S COTTONWOOD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/12/2015 20:11:13 NO NEBRASKA OPERATORS LICENSE “W WILLIAM AV /S JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/12/2015 20:12:42 HARRASS-ANNOY PHONECALLS “1800 W FRONT ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/12/2015 20:52:22 FICTITIOUS PLATES “1700 W 5th ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103”

02/12/2015 21:07:21 WATCH FOR/INFORMATION “N BUFFALO BILL AV /W 9TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/12/2015 21:12:27 IMPROPER PASSING “E 6TH ST /N TAFT AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/12/2015 21:14:45 IMPROPER LN USAGE “W B ST /S WILLOW ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/12/2015 21:39:41 GEN PARK & TRAFFIC “600 E 10TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/12/2015 21:44:39 EXPIRED INTRANSIT TAGS “E 9TH ST /N JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/12/2015 21:48:51 DRIVING UNDER SUSPENSION “E 4TH ST /N TABOR AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/12/2015 21:57:56 IMPROPER LN USAGE “E 4TH ST /N DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/12/2015 23:23:59 CARE OF ANIMALS “1400 S DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/12/2015 23:37:50 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “AIRPORT,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/12/2015 23:47:33 OTHER DISTURBANCE “E H ST /S BAILEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/13/2015 01:29:20 NO PROOF OF INSURANCE “RODEO RD /N MAPLE ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/13/2015 02:13:27 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “AIRPORT,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/13/2015 02:37:54 NO LICENSE PLATES 60 323 “W 1ST ST /S CUSTER AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/13/2015 03:43:57 DWI OVER .02 JUVENILE “E FRANCIS ST /S DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/13/2015 03:59:07 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF “500 N PACIFIC ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/13/2015 06:58:00 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “LBF,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

CRAWFORD, Neb. (AP) — A city council and fire board have decided they need grants to help build a replacement for their dilapidated fire hall in the Nebraska Panhandle.

The Crawford City Council and the Crawford Rural Fire board met Wednesday evening and discussed ways to pay for what could be a $3 million project in the city of about 1,000 people.

One of the firefighters in attendance said the fire hall roof could cave in as early as the next snowstorm.

Council member Skip Chubb says he thinks everyone wants a new fire hall, but “I just don’t think there is a way to fund it.”

City attorney Adam Edmund told the boards that “you can’t do a project of this size without having grant money.”

• Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 60. Northwest wind 6 to 10 mph.
• Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 26. West northwest wind 5 to 9 mph.
• Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 35. North wind 10 to 15 mph becoming east in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 22 mph.
• Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 11. Wind chill values as low as zero. Southeast wind 9 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
• Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 37. South southeast wind 8 to 16 mph becoming north northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 24 mph.
• Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 22.
• Washington’s Birthday: A 30 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 38

 

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska has formed a legal team for possible lawsuits that would force the state to address prison crowding.

The lawyer’s panel announced Thursday will advise the organization on ways to address the problem through the courts.

Executive director Danielle Conrad says decades of misguided policies have created a crisis situation that compromises public safety. She says lawmakers need to look at sentencing reforms among other changes, including the state’s use of prisoner segregation.

The Prison Litigation Advisory Panel includes 11 attorneys from around the state.

Nebraska lawmakers have pledged to take steps this year to reduce crowding. The inmate population in December was 59 percent above the total design capacity of the state prisons.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A Canadian oil pipeline company is temporarily suspending efforts to seize Nebraska land for the Keystone Pipeline XL amid a legal challenge.

A Holt County District judge issued a temporary injunction Thursday, keeping TransCanada from invoking eminent domain along the proposed Keystone Pipeline route in northern Nebraska.

TransCanada agreed to the order, hoping to get an accelerated trial schedule.

Landowners have sued over the project.

TransCanada filed legal papers in nine Nebraska counties three weeks ago to invoke eminent domain for the land that’s needed to construct, operate and maintain the pipeline. The Keystone Pipeline would carry an estimated 800,000 barrels of crude oil a day to Nebraska, where it would connect with existing pipelines headed for Gulf Coast refineries.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — TD Ameritrade executives say the U.S. economy is performing well, but economic and political uncertainty in the rest of the world could affect that this year.

The online brokerage held its annual meeting Thursday.

TD Ameritrade Chairman Joe Moglia says it would make sense for investors to bet on strength in the U.S. economy and weakness in much of the rest of the world.

Moglia says global events will affect TD Ameritrade. But company officials remain optimistic.

TD Ameritrade predicts earning between $1.45 and $1.70 per share in 2015, up from $1.42 in fiscal 2014.

TD Ameritrade said it earned $787 million, or $1.42 per share, in fiscal 2014 on $3.1 billion revenue. That was up from $675 million net income, or $1.22 per share, on $2.8 billion revenue.