LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Prison reform advocates are asking Nebraska lawmakers to end mandatory minimum sentences for certain gun and drug crimes, saying the get-tough-on-crime approach has backfired.

Their comments on Wednesday came as Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha presented a bill to eliminate the minimums for mid-level felony charges.

Chambers says such laws were popular when they were approved, but now the state is dealing with overcrowded prisons.

ACLU of Nebraska lobbyist Alan Peterson says mandatory minimums would help ease prison crowding and give offenders an incentive to behave, because they could qualify right away for good-time credit on their sentences.

Representatives for Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert and the police department oppose the bill, arguing that it would undermine their efforts to clamp down on gun crimes and gang violence.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A watchdog group is criticizing emails that were sent to the personal accounts of Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts and other top aides, discussing state business.

Jack Gould of Common Cause Nebraska says all such discussions should take place on state accounts. The emails were obtained by the Nebraska Democratic Party in response to a records request.

The emails were sent last month by Jessica Moenning, a private adviser whom Ricketts pays with his own money. One contained a copy of Ricketts’ State of the State speech; the other discussed a job opening.

Although the emails were released, the arrangement has drawn criticism from groups that say Moenning should be a state employee if she’s advising Ricketts.

Ricketts spokesman Taylor Gage says state employees should use state accounts to conduct business.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska lawmaker who voted to ban workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity is trying to pull the proposal back into committee.

Sen. Bob Krist of Omaha asked the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee to reconsider the bill after it was sent to the floor on a 5-2 vote.

Krist says he had second thoughts Monday evening after another committee member made what he considered offensive remarks about the Catholic church. Krist says he also does not believe the language of an amendment to add a religious exception will be effective.

Krist says he will still work to help the bill advance, but he believes the committee needs more time for discussion. The committee needs five votes to reconsider its vote.

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — A 19-year-old student accused of making bomb threats to the University of Nebraska at Kearney has been convicted of a lesser charge.

Matthew Skinner, of Ogallala, pleaded guilty on Monday to attempted threat to use or place a bomb. Court records had lowered the original felony charge to a misdemeanor in exchange for Skinner’s plea. His sentencing is scheduled for April 9.

Anonymous threats were posted in September against a residence hall, another building on a library. The university says the social network Yik Yak cooperated with university police in tracking the posts.

A university spokeswoman says Skinner remains enrolled but isn’t allowed to live in the residence halls.

MAXWELL, Neb. (AP) — A 60-year-old man accused of killing his wife on their farm in western Nebraska has pleaded not guilty to a charge of first-degree murder.

Emerson Craig entered his plea in Lincoln County District Court on Monday. The judge set a status hearing for April 27.

Authorities responded to the farm near Maxwell in April on a report that a woman was trapped under a large, round hay bale. They say that when they arrived they found that Emerson Craig had removed the hay bale. Fifty-two-year-old Heidi Craig was pronounced dead at the scene.

The autopsy reports say she died of blunt force trauma and strangulation.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A former Omaha police official has been appointed to the Nebraska Board of Parole.

Gov. Pete Ricketts announced Wednesday that he has chosen Virgil Patlan, of Omaha.

Patlan served on the Omaha Police Department for 25 years, and was a member of Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert’s security detail. He also provided security for the Omaha Housing Authority and worked as a gang and youth violence investigation unit detective.

Patlan is the co-founder of the Latino Peace Officers Association (Omaha Chapter), the Burlington Road Neighborhood Association-Omaha, and the This Is Your Neighborhood Anti-Gang and Graffiti Program.

Patlan served in the U.S. Army and the Nebraska National Guard. His term begins on Feb. 17 and expires on Sept. 8. His annual salary will be $77,223.

Patlan’s appointment fills the board’s final vacancy.

(AP)-Doctors are reporting a major advance in stroke care. They say that stents similar to ones that are used to open clogged heart arteries also can be used to clear a blood clot in the brain, and that this cuts the risk a patient will end up disabled.

The key to surviving a stroke is getting help fast. The first treatment usually is clot-dissolving medicine but it doesn’t always work. Three studies tested mesh cages called stents that are pushed through a blood vessel to trap and remove the clot. The treatment was so successful that all three studies were stopped early so it could be offered more widely.

The studies were discussed Wednesday at an American Stroke Association conference in Nashville.

COURTESY OF THE NORTH PLATTE POLICE DEPARTMENT

02/10/2015 00:04:24 WELFARE CHECK “1600 W 9TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/10/2015 01:17:54 DISTURBING THE PEACE AND QUIET “200 RODEO RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/10/2015 01:57:07 1ST DEGREE CRIMINAL TRESPASS “600 W 10TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/10/2015 02:33:20 NO PROOF OF INSURANCE “W FRONT ST /N SYCAMORE ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/10/2015 03:10:14 B.E.A.T. COMM POLICING “1100 S TABOR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/10/2015 04:22:41 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “LBF,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/10/2015 06:47:48 OPEN DOORS OR WINDOWS “E 5TH ST /N BAILEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/10/2015 07:08:04 PROP DAMAGE-NO ALC RELAT “W PHILIP AV /S WILLOW ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/10/2015 07:37:53 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “LBF,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/10/2015 07:43:47 OWN ACCIDENT REPORT “S DEWEY ST /E LEOTA ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/10/2015 08:26:26 DRIVING UNDER SUSPENSION “N ASH ST /W 10TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/10/2015 08:38:11 SUSPICIOUS PERSON “E FRANCIS ST /S CHESTNUT ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/10/2015 09:08:00 FOUND PROPERTY “500 S JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/10/2015 09:23:41 SUSPICIOUS PERSON “1100 S TABOR AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/10/2015 10:25:54 SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE “E 14TH ST /N SILBER AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/10/2015 10:41:38 LOOSE ANIMALS “100 S HAYES AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/10/2015 10:59:22 TRAFFIC ACCIDENT-GENERAL “3000 S NEWBERRY RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/10/2015 11:37:06 72 HR PARKING VIOLATION “1200 W PHILIP AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/10/2015 12:18:55 SUSPICIOUS PERSON “400 E FRANCIS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/10/2015 13:21:13 NON-CRIMINAL/GENERAL “NORTH PLATTE,
1 NORTH PLATTE
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/10/2015 13:38:02 VIOL TRAFFIC CONTROL DEV “E 4TH ST /N JEFFERS
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/10/2015 13:42:49 CITIZEN ASSIST “400 W 4th ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/10/2015 14:27:13 BRAKE AND TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS “S JEFFERS ST / REID AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/10/2015 14:39:14 THEFT BY EXER CONTROL- FROM BUILDING NO TRESPASS “200 EUGENE AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/10/2015 15:05:58 LOOSE ANIMALS “200 E 9TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/10/2015 15:35:24 ILLEGAL TURN “E 6TH ST /N JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/10/2015 15:35:26 OTHER DISTURBANCE “2100 W 17th ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/10/2015 15:51:58 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “W PHILIP AV /S WILLOW ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/10/2015 15:54:02 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “1600 E D ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/10/2015 09:45:00 FOUND PROPERTY “500 CENTENNIAL CR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/10/2015 16:18:15 PROP DAMAGE-NO ALC RELAT “100 E 2ND ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/10/2015 16:46:40 DOG BITES “2500 W 5TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/10/2015 16:56:41 DISTURBING THE PEACE AND QUIET “600 S WALNUT ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/10/2015 17:27:44 ANIMAL COMPLAINT OTHER “1400 N SYCAMORE ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/10/2015 17:47:21 WELFARE CHECK “1200 S DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/10/2015 18:28:03 CITIZEN ASSIST “800 N WALNUT ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/10/2015 18:49:02 NO REGISTRATION “E 8TH ST /N JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/10/2015 19:04:48 WELFARE CHECK “BUFFALO VIADUCT-NORTH,
1 BUFFALO VIADUCT
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/10/2015 19:16:48 MOTOR VEH LIGHT REQUIREMENTS “RODEO RD / JACKSON AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/10/2015 19:51:32 MOTOR VEH LIGHT REQUIREMENTS “E WILLIAM AV /S JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/10/2015 20:08:41 WELFARE CHECK “900 E 3RD ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/10/2015 21:11:19 MOTOR VEH LIGHT REQUIREMENTS “E 12TH ST /N DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/10/2015 21:14:32 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “NORTH PLATTE,
1 NORTH PLATTE
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/10/2015 22:12:27 WELFARE CHECK “900 E 4TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/10/2015 22:53:37 TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGNALS “N WILLOW ST /W B ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/10/2015 22:58:39 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “LEE BIRD FIELD,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/10/2015 22:58:18 DISTURBING THE PEACE AND QUIET “1400 Rodeo Rd
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/10/2015 23:51:50 SPEEDING “400 N Buffalo Bill AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/11/2015 02:03:15 DISTURBING THE PEACE AND QUIET “2300 E PHILIP AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/11/2015 03:26:18 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/11/2015 03:51:08 72 HR PARKING VIOLATION “1800 E D ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/11/2015 04:24:33 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “2300 W 13TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/11/2015 04:35:04 MOTOR VEH LIGHT REQUIREMENTS “E PHILIP AV /S DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/11/2015 04:56:14 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “2300 W 13TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/11/2015 06:55:33 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “LEE BIRD FIELD,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103”

02/11/2015 07:34:57 LOOSE ANIMALS “900 E 14TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/11/2015 07:38:22 TRAFFIC ENFORCE GENERAL “1900 W A ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

02/11/2015 07:52:07 TRAFFIC ENFORCE GENERAL “E 11TH ST /N JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

• Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 46. North northwest wind 8 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
• Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 17. North northwest wind 6 to 8 mph becoming east after midnight.
• Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 43. East wind 6 to 15 mph becoming south southwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 22 mph.
• Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 28. Light and variable wind becoming northwest 5 to 10 mph after midnight.
• Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 58. Northwest wind 9 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.
• Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 26.
• Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 38.
• Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 13.

 

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A bill that would ban workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity will be debated on the floor of the Nebraska Legislature.

An eight-member legislative committee advanced the bill Tuesday 5-2, with one member not voting.

The measure by Sen. Adam Morfeld of Lincoln would prohibit job discrimination for people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. A similar bill was debated last year, but blocked by a filibuster. The city of Omaha already has an ordinance in place banning discrimination against members of the LGBT community.

Committee members say they expect another filibuster this year.