LOS ANGELES (AP) — A measles outbreak that originated at Disneyland has grown to 87 cases.

The California Department of Public Health said Monday most of the infections — 73— are in California. The rest are in Arizona, Utah, Washington, Colorado, Oregon, Nebraska and Mexico.

Measles has been spreading since an outbreak linked to visits to California Disney parks last month. Most of those infected were not vaccinated, and health officials have urged people to get the measles shot.

Measles is a contagious illness spread through the air by coughing and sneezing. It was largely eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, but it can enter the country from abroad.

The U.S. experienced a record number of measles cases last year, with 644 infections reported from 27 states.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A bill to eliminate bar closing times in Nebraska is drawing stiff opposition from cities as well as advocates who fight against drunken driving and binge drinking.

No one testified in favor of the bill Monday during a hearing of the Legislature’s General Affairs Committee. Opponents included the city of Lincoln, the League of Nebraska Municipalities and Project Extra Mile, which works to stop underage drinking.

Sen. Tyson Larson of O’Neill says he introduced the bill so businesses could decide for themselves.

Nebraska imposes a 1 a.m. closing time for bars, but gives local governments the option to extend theirs to 2 a.m. with a supermajority vote of a city council, village board or county board. Omaha and Lincoln have allowed bars to close at 2 a.m. since 2010.

A new Walmart Supercenter is opening Wednesday, Jan. 28, following a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony at 7:30 a.m.

The new store is located at 201 Pony Express Lane and is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The store will provide Ogallala residents with a broad assortment of groceries and merchandise, along with a fuel station and full service pharmacy.

Residents can shop for more than a million additional items online on Walmart.com and pick them up at the new Ogallala Walmart store for free, often as quickly as the same day.

“I’m pleased that Walmart will be in Ogallala, as the store has created approximately 200 jobs and provides a retail option previously not available to us that will help generate greater sales tax revenue for the city,” said Ogallala City Manager Aaron Smith. “Also, last year Walmart gave over $11 million in Nebraska, and we look forward to working with this new store on projects in this community.”

The new store employs approximately 200 full- and part-time associates. Store manager, Christel Armstrong, began her Walmart career in 2002 as an hourly asset protection associate.

“With this new store, we are excited to bring the first Walmart gas station to Nebraska,” said store manager Christel Armstrong. “Whether in the cold of winter or the busy summer when tourists flock to Lake McConaughy, Walmart will provide customers with a convenient and affordable shopping option.”

“This store will have a full-grocery offering, a strong selection of general merchandise, and, through free Site-to-Store delivery from Walmart.com, there will be convenient access to millions of products at Walmart’s everyday low prices,” said Tom Wait, vice president, Walmart real estate strategy and analytics. “I was born and raised in Ogallala, and my folks still live there, so I know how high the cost of living can be for basic grocery items and general merchandise. That’s why I am very excited to be bringing Walmart’s low prices to town. This store will be an amazing addition to the community.”

The store will be giving away prizes during their “A Big Family Welcome” celebration on Saturday, January 31, from Noon-3:00 p.m.  Customers will get a chance to meet Armstrong, and enjoy fun family activities and free food samples while supplies last.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska bill that would eliminate the mandatory waiting time between keno games is again facing opposition in the Legislature.

A lobbying group for Nebraska cities argued in favor of the measure during a legislative hearing Monday, while anti-gambling advocates voiced opposition.

The bill by Sen. Tyson Larson of O’Neill would remove the minimum five-minute waiting period between games. A similar measure that reduced the waiting period won first-round approval in the Legislature in 2013, but wasn’t passed before the session ended.

The bill would generate an estimated $1.3 million for Nebraska’s general fund and other cash funds over two years. The city of Omaha and the League of Nebraska Municipalities support it, saying keno revenue helps pay for community projects. Opponents say it would feed gambling addictions.

 

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Cigar aficionados are calling on Nebraska lawmakers to exclude cigar bars from the state’s smoking ban.

Advocates argued in a legislative hearing Monday that a recent court ruling robbed cigar shops of the exception they deserve.

The statewide ban has excluded cigar bars, hotel guest rooms and tobacco-only retailers since 2009. In August, the Nebraska Supreme Court ruled that the allowances for cigar bars and tobacco-only retailers amounted to unconstitutional special legislation.

Supporters call cigar smoking a hobby, not an addiction, and tout cigar bars as community gathering places.

Sen. Tyson Larson of O’Neill, who introduced the bill, says patrons and employees in cigar bars choose the smoky settings and asked the committee to return to the status quo.

A representative for the American Cancer Society testified in opposition.

CHADRON, Neb. (AP) — Chadron State College officials have said a report about an armed man on campus proved to be false.

The dorms were locked down for about six hours Saturday night and Sunday morning as police searched the campus. A 16-year-old boy arrested in connection with a stolen vehicle south of the campus had told officers that an armed man was involved and in the area.

College officials locked down the dorms but didn’t make a public announcement at the Chicoine Center, where a basketball game was being played. Students who’d been at the game were allowed back into their dorms after showing identification.

The boy was arrested on suspicion of several crimes, including terrorist threats, theft by unlawful taking and false reporting.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A bill that would treat electric-assist bicycles the same as regular bikes has won first-round approval from Nebraska lawmakers.

Senators advanced the proposal on Monday with a 33-0 vote. The bill would allow electric-assist bicycles to use bike lanes and bike paths. They would be regulated as bicycles instead of motor vehicles, which have stricter requirements.

Sen. Jim Smith of Papillion says he introduced the bill so that people with joint pain or other physical ailments can continue to ride bikes. An electric motor gives riders a power boost that can be used on steep hills.

The bill would apply to electric motors that produce no more than one horsepower, and which are able to propel the bicycle at no more than 20 mph.

 

SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. (AP) — The Scottsbluff airport board may have to find another airline to provide subsidized flights to Denver.

The U.S. Transportation Department said in an order late last week that Beachwood, Ohio-based Aerodynamics Inc. has failed to show it is fit to operate as an air carrier under the direction and control of Scott Beale, its majority shareholder and CEO. The Western Nebraska Regional Airport board selected Aerodynamics in October to recommend to the Transportation Department for Essential Air Service flights.

In its rejection of Aerodynamics, the department noted that Beale had lost a civil fraud lawsuit and owed the winner $600,000.

Scottsbluff airport director Darwin Skelton says the airport was given time to explore options, and he says the company could conceivably solve the problem by replacing Beale as CEO.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska officials are reminding various businesses about a spring deadline to file required annual and biennial reports.

Limited liability companies, limited liability partnerships and nonprofit corporations have until April 1 to file the paperwork. The businesses could be administratively dissolved if the deadline isn’t made, which affects liability protection and credit worthiness.

By law, those that do not meet the deadline and pay the appropriate fee will be administratively dissolved.

Online filing is available via links on the front page of the Nebraska secretary of state’s website at www.sos.ne.gov .

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Entries are being sought for the 2014 Nebraska Severe Weather Awareness Poster Contest.

The contest is open to all fourth-grade students in Nebraska public and private schools as well as home-schooled fourth-grade students.

The first-place winner gets a $125 gift card.

All entries must be received by a local emergency management director/coordinator or postmarked on or before Feb. 27. A list of directors/coordinators can be found at www.nema.nebraska.gov .

Questions regarding the contest should be directed to the local emergency management director/coordinator or to contest chairwoman Laura Hintz at 402-288-5613 or knoxema@gpcom.net.

Contest rules and other information can also be obtained at the Nebraska Association of Emergency Management website, www.naem.us .