BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Oil pipeline accidents have become increasingly frequent in the U.S. as Congress pushes for approval of the Keystone XL pipeline.

An Associated Press review of government accident records shows their numbers growing each year since 2009, reversing a decade-long declining trend.

Keystone would pass near where 30,000 gallons of crude spilled into Montana’s Yellowstone River earlier this month.

The recent breach temporarily fouled a city’s water supply and became the latest in a string of spills to highlight ongoing problems with maintenance of the nation’s crude pipeline network.

Yet in the politically charged debate over Keystone, its detractors aren’t the only ones seizing on the Yellowstone spill.

So are lawmakers who support the project including Montana Sen. Steve Daines.

He says Keystone would be safer than older pipelines like the one that broke.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Supreme Court Chief Justice Mike Heavican says the state has a growing need for rural attorneys and for language interpreters to serve the courts.

Justice Michael Heavican told lawmakers Thursday that a shortage of lawyers in rural areas has contributed to an increase in Nebraskans who represent themselves in court. His comments came during his annual State of the Judiciary address.

The chief justice also pointed to the state’s increased reliance on interpreters for criminal defendants, victims and witnesses.

Nebraska supplied interpreters in 46 different languages for 24,000 appointments last year, a 20 percent increase from the previous year. Heavican says Spanish is still the most in-demand language.

Gov. Pete Ricketts has recommended an additional $250,000 annually for interpreter services in his budget proposal to lawmakers.

COURTESY OF THE NORTH PLATTE POLICE DEPARTMENT

01/28/2015 00:28:59 SUSPICIOUS PERSON “100 S JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 00:31:50 2ND DEGREE CRIMINAL TRESPASS “1900 Rodeo Rd
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 01:07:56 OPEN DOORS OR WINDOWS “1500 E 4TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 01:24:48 OTHER DISTURBANCE “2300 E PHILIP AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 01:55:10 DISTURBING THE PEACE AND QUIET “500 S WILLOW ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 02:27:20 B.E.A.T. COMM POLICING “1000 S DEWEY
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 03:16:59 ASSIST OTH AGENCY “1400 N SYCAMORE ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 03:47:17 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “LBF,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 03:46:44 2ND DEGREE CRIMINAL TRESPASS “400 E 6TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 05:29:45 2ND DEGREE CRIMINAL TRESPASS “600 W Leota ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 06:41:37 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “5400 E Lee Bird DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103”

01/28/2015 06:53:54 SUSPICIOUS PERSON “W 1ST ST /S OAK ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 07:28:05 2ND DEGREE CRIMINAL TRESPASS “600 W Leota ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 08:52:27 WELFARE CHECK “2100 CEDARBERRY RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 09:36:57 SUSPICIOUS PERSON “N CARR AV /W 2ND ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 09:55:17 TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGNALS “E 4th /N Jeffers
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 10:01:08 EXPIRED PLATES/REGISTRATION “1900 E 4TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 10:14:26 TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGNALS “E 4th /N POPLAR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 10:15:19 EXPIRED PLATES/REGISTRATION “E FRANCIS ST /S Poplar ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 10:18:28 EXPIRED PLATES/REGISTRATION “E 4TH ST /N BICENTENNIAL AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 11:08:12 DOG-STRAY FR CITIZEN “1400 N SYCAMORE ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 11:43:36 DOG BITES “200 W LEOTA ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 12:05:07 SPEEDING “1800 W 9TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 12:05:45 TRAFFIC HAZARD “1600 S JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 12:18:37 EXPIRED PLATES/REGISTRATION “W 6TH ST /N VINE ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 12:29:47 EXPIRED PLATES/REGISTRATION “W 5TH ST /N WILLOW ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 13:14:34 VIOL OF PROTECT ORD-DOM ABUSE “NORTH PLATTE,
1 NORTH PLATTE
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 13:19:26 SPEEDING “1000 W 4th ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 13:27:51 LOOSE ANIMALS “2300 E 4TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 13:59:37 ILLEGAL TURN “E 6TH ST /N JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 14:12:04 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF “700 W 5TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 14:18:40 EXPIRED PLATES/REGISTRATION “E 12TH ST /N Cottonwood ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 14:23:06 FOUND PROPERTY “900 W A ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 14:43:00 FAILURE TO YIELD ROW “W 4TH ST /N Buffalo ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 15:30:44 OPEN DOORS OR WINDOWS “1000 W 8TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 15:34:03 CITIZEN ASSIST “1500 W 5TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 15:37:03 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF “300 W PHILIP AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 15:47:24 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “W 6TH ST /N MAPLE ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 15:47:29 WELFARE CHECK “100 S ELDER AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 15:54:08 ANIMAL COMPLAINT OTHER “1400 N SYCAMORE ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 16:07:13 WATCH FOR/INFORMATION “600 RODEO RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 16:09:14 FOUND PROPERTY “1600 W 3RD ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 16:27:57 H&R ACC-NO ALC RELATED “3000 W 6TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 16:40:36 H&R ACC-NO ALC RELATED “900 E 10TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 17:03:28 EXPIRED PLATES/REGISTRATION “800 S JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 17:15:27 SPEEDING “600 N JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 17:45:13 OTHER DISTURBANCE “1000 S DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 17:47:38 ANIMAL COMPLAINT OTHER “2100 W 18TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 19:27:48 ABUSE OF VULNERABLE ADULT “200 N ASH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 19:32:29 CITIZEN ASSIST “500 N MILES AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 20:03:18 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “3100 RODEO RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 20:13:34 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “700 W D ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 20:43:02 LOITERING (CITY ORDINANCE) “S DEWEY ST /E C ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 20:47:55 ANIMAL COMPLAINT OTHER “N SHERIDAN AV /W 13TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 20:56:41 CITIZEN ASSIST “1600 E 2ND ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 21:10:12 WELFARE CHECK “2000 W 3RD ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 21:26:22 HARRASS-ANNOY PHONECALLS “300 N JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 21:47:48 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “3700 SUNSET DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 23:02:04 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “AIRPORT,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/28/2015 23:02:13 EXPIRED PLATES/REGISTRATION “RODEO RD /N ASH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/29/2015 00:40:19 ALARM-BURGLARY CALL IN “2500 E 4TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/29/2015 02:43:17 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “AIRPORT,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/29/2015 07:00:17 ALARM – OTHER “300 N DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/29/2015 07:22:45 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “LEE BIRD FIELD,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103”

• Today: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 45. North northwest wind 7 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.
• Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 18. Calm wind becoming south southeast 5 to 7 mph after midnight.
• Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 52. South wind 5 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
• Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 25. South southeast wind 5 to 7 mph becoming north northeast after midnight.
• Saturday: A slight chance of rain and snow after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 37. North northeast wind 8 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
• Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 18.
• Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 30.

 

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — A central Nebraska village clerk has been accused of altering checks and cashing them to pay off a credit card.

The Buffalo County Sherriff’s Office arrested 49-year-old Wendy Stephens Tuesday. Stephens is the village clerk in Elm Creek.

According to an affidavit, a Village of Elm Creek audit revealed up to six checks believed to have been altered. The checks totaled more than $10,500 and were written from April to September.

Stephens’ attorney did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.

Stephens is being held on $2,000 cash bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 10.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Republican Ben Sasse has been named chairman of the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Livestock, Marketing, and Agriculture Security.

A news release Wednesday announcing the appointment says the subcommittee has jurisdiction over livestock issues, agricultural marketing programs, pest and disease management, agriculture security and dairy programs.

Sasse said Nebraska leads the country in red meat production and he looks forward to “standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Nebraska’s producers as we promote responsible policy and keep the future of agriculture strong.”

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska’s civilian and military retirees are once again asking lawmakers for tax breaks, saying a package approved last year didn’t go far enough.

The groups argued their case Wednesday as the Revenue Committee examined three proposed tax exemptions for Social Security benefits and military retirement pay.

One measure would provide a tax exemption to Nebraskans who are at least 65 years old. Another would give tax breaks to military retirees who live in Nebraska while working and collecting retirement income. A third would phase out Nebraska’s tax on Social Security income.

Senators are expected to focus on property taxes this year, but the committee chairman, Sen. Mike Gloor of Grand Island, says senators could also make changes to income tax exemptions.

SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. (AP) — Two men were transported to the hospital after they had been trapped under a collapsed cell phone tower in Scottsbluff.

The two were trapped under a Viaero Wireless tower that collapsed Wednesday. The Scottsbluff Fire Department responded to the scene.

Scottsbluff Fire Chief Dana Miller says responders were told one man fell about 10 feet, and the other fell more than 20 feet in the collapse. The tower is currently under construction.

Miller says the collapse occurred while the area is under a wind advisory, which states winds could reach 25 to 35 miles per hour and gusts could reach 50 miles per hour.

A message left with Viaero’s corporate offices in Colorado was not immediately answered. No further information has been released.

Mid-Plains Community College has released the Dean’s and President’s Lists, for the 2014 Fall Term.

To qualify for the President’s List, each student had to complete 12 or more credit hours in college-level courses and maintain a grade point average of 3.9 or greater on a 4.0 scale.

To be eligible for the Dean’s List, students had to complete 12 or more credit hours of college-level courses and maintain an overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 – 3.89 on a 4.0 scale.

President’s List

Nebraska

Arapahoe – Kyla Monie

Benkelman – Raquel Ohrman

Brady – Valerie Most, Dakota Terry

Broken Bow – Jeffrey Frede

Callaway – Laura Seng

Cambridge – Shelby Farr

Columbus – Ethan Lesiak

Cozad – Quinlan Leach, Hank Pflaster, Victor Ventura, Joshua Yeutter

Culbertson – Tanner Bauer, Taylar Hegwood, Andrea Miller

Geneva – Caroline Motis

Gothenburg – Eric Linnemeyer, Jessica Schaben

Grant – Ashley Kautz

Imperial – Jennifer Colton, Rosalia Torres

Indianola – Anissa Morosic, Brooke Ruggles, Ashley Ryan

La Vista – Trey Moore

Maxwell – Alex Gurciullo

Maywood – Clay Chittick

McCook – Anthony Armstrong, Morgan Bieker, Whitni Davis, Kassidy Gillen, Riley Gimeson, Hannah Goss, Katelyn Kinne, Vincent Lyons, James Mitnik, Makayla Payton, Tyler Rambali, Megan Ruppert, Emilene Sides, Natalie Sis, Brandi Smith,     Andrew Smith, Jamee Stewart

Milford – Racquel Luethke

Mullen – Clara Vinton

North Platte – Dustin Allen, Chelsey Anderson, Alexander Broadfoot, Melinda Brunswick, Ariel Clements, Colton Dailey, Karni Dickinson, Elizabeth Dowling, Laura Evans, Alexander Fourtner, Sarah French, Carolyn Gardner, Johnna Gifford, Johnny Guethlein, Laura Hagert, Morgan Hansen, Tanner Haws, Kaylin Hinton, Jacob Johanson, Kasandra Keith, Rachel Kosmacek, Makenzie Lienemann, Anthony Marquez, Austin Matthews, Samuel Montgomery, Emma Petersen, Robert Rouch, Amanda Ruda, Cara Sanchez, Eddie Schrack, Dawn Shirley, Christopher Smith, Lindsey Taylor, Jocelyn Waker, Shelby Webster, Kylie Wroot

Ogallala – Bradley Clinesmith

Omaha – Tara Crouch

Sidney – Sarah Mahr

Stapleton – Gerald Schaeffer

Sutherland – Joslyn Burke, Darien Myers, Kristen Nelson, Allison Stewart

Woodlake – Bree Hogenson

Arizona

Phoenix               – Casey Clifton

Colorado

Colorado Springs – Lucia Archuleta, Kendra Baucom, Amber Madigan

Fleming – Taylor King

Holyoke – Travis Ptomey

Iliff – Samantha Morgan

Longmont – Rachel Bashor

New Castle – Neal Schultz

Florida

Ocala – Rhonda Mbuthia

Idaho

Boise – Mackenzie Bilger

McCall – Clint Thomas

Illinois

Chicago – Kenyon Gist

Nevada

Las Vegas – Cole Schumacher

Washington

Aberdeen – Jason Lawrence

Montesano – Adam Collins

Wisconsin

Milwaukee – Jazmine Herd

Australia

Deception Bay – Luke Pittle

Canada

Richmond – Robin Harrison

Italy

Coseano – Marco Pascolo

 

Dean’s List

Nebraska

Anselmo – Rebecca Rossenbach

Arapahoe – Christen Williamson

Arnold – Jami Andre, Hannah Magill

Axtell – Gabrielle Nickel

Ayr – Kelsey Karr

Beaver City – Christal Whetstine

Benkelman – Joseph Rettele

Brady – Taylor Bourge, Alexis Franzen, Amy Medley, Jerry Mull

Broken Bow – Zackery Sanchez

Burwell – Julie Timmerman

Callaway – Holly Jorgenson

Cambridge – Logan Fetters, Amber Schultz

Chappell – Kody Collins, Jerelyn Straber

Cody – Ivan Rosfeld

Cozad – Christopher Smith

Crookston – Contressa Vigoren

Curtis – Quinten Chancellor, Taylor Stockman

Gothenburg – Dillon Larson, Kaytlyn Preitauer, Mariah Roe, Ashley Wilkerson

Grant – Caitlin Pelster

Hastings – Keely Confer

Hershey – Anessa Kivett

Imperial – Mason Holmes, Berenice Marquez

Indianola – Justine Jones, Kelsey Longnecker

Kilgore – Kimberly Rousey-Goodwin

Lincoln – Isabella Berg

Madrid            – Iris Almanza

Maxwell – Stephen Barkley

McCook – BreAnna Brown, Stephanie Budke, Madison Chitwood, Nichelle Funk, Ashton Harpham, Tara Jernigan, Samantha Kalinski, Lucas Post, Justin Samuelson, Brittney Vigil

North Platte – Walker Baird, Wyatt Barrett, Gideon Basson, Tyron Brockmoller, Laura Brown, Tyler Calvin, Reanna Crane, Krysti Deckert, Jonathon Dinkel, Daniel Dodge, Jessica Eberspecher, Diane Emhovick, Jaeli Flanders, Joshua Grace, Tayler Hansen, Samuel Harper, Lori Hazen, Ashley Henkel, Donna Henne, Kari Hunt, Victoria Johnson, Jeremiah Johnson, Chantel Johnson, Danielle Kathol, Matthew Kellie, Forrest King, Jaymie Lieberth, Brianna Mason, Jacob McNeel, Leigha McPeak, Manuel Mendoza, Amber Messersmith, Russel Miller, Keri Miller, Rachel Mullen, Candice Myers, Velvet Nuzum, Michelle Olson, Rayanne Paulman, Jenna Perlinger, Ricki Reason, Sammantha Riedel, Sierra Schumm, Jasmine Simpson, Nicholas Skinner, Kari Slattery, Sherri Smith, Christopher Smith, Charles Sprinkle,             Sydney Standage, Stephanie States, Rachel Stroup, Haley Wright, Erin Zeigler, Samantha Zirnig, Jeffery Donnally

Ogallala – Hunter Reeves

Omaha – Mark Gilbert, T’Keyah Stapleton, Matthew Thomas

Oxford – Danielle Sheneman

Paxton – Tyler Cassell

Stratton – Thor Hidy

Sutherland – Marsha Coleman, Joli Hopping, Samantha Kennedy, Matthew Martinez

Trenton – Kristen Garner, Travis Jones, Morgen Wimer

Valentine – Katherine Nesi

Wilsonville – Kelsey Landreth

Alaska

Anchorage – Taylor Nichols

Arizona

Kingman – Allison Finkbeiner

Phoenix – Roberto Rodriguez

California

Benicia – Zachary Blair

Colorado

Aurora – Kyler Lundgrin, Sara Runia

Brighton – Kyle Hunter

Del Norte – Adrionna Fresquez

Greeley – Shelby Clark

Johnstown – Estrella Siedenburg

Littleton – Jessica Jarvis

Loveland – Destanie Micklich

Florida

Miami – Kylee Barry

Hawaii

Kula – Kaulanaikaika Funes

Iowa

Council Bluffs – Kendall Brooks

Kansas

Herndon – John Solko

Oberlin – Lacey Petrocco

Louisiana

Shreveport – Karim El-Amin

Minnesota

White Bear Lake – Jocylynn Cabrera

Missouri

St. Joseph – Kylan Kuritz

Nevada

Las Vegas – Derron Davis, Barry Lasseigne, Jessica Rivera

New Hampshire

Windham – Erin Preble

New Jersey

Millville – Ryan Pernelli

Ohio

Toledo – Fadil Robinson

Oklahoma

Skiatook – Sara Villalobos

Oregon

McMinnville – Flavia Virgili

Texas

Beaumont – Djimonii Jackson

Garland – Whitney Edwards

Vermont

West Braintree – Philip Dow

Washington

Raymond – Tyler Lundy

Wisconsin

Milwaukee – Javiona Green

Wyoming

Gillette            – Audrie Conner

Australia

South Melbourne – Deng Autiak

Sydney – Makuei Puondak

England

Staffordshire – Bradley Hill

Canada

Surrey – Cailin O’Hara

 

 

 

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A bill to allow smoking in designated cigar shops will be debated by the full Nebraska Legislature.

The General Affairs committee voted 7-0 Wednesday to advance the measure, with one senator abstaining.

The measure by Sen. Tyson Larson of O’Neill would exclude cigar shops from the 2008 Nebraska Clean Indoor Air Act, which aimed to protect citizens from secondhand smoke. Until last August, indoor smoking was allowed in cigar bars, hotel guest rooms and tobacco-only retailers.

In August, the Nebraska Supreme Court struck down the exceptions for cigar shops and retailers as unconstitutional. Larson’s bill would reinstate the exception for cigar shops under the justification that patrons and employees enter the smoky environments by choice.