LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska lawmakers are proposing several new bills intended to attract military retirees to the state and retain those who are here.

Six senators touted legislation on Wednesday that would benefit veterans with hiring preferences, tax exemptions and workforce training.

Sen. Sue Crawford of Bellevue says one of the bills, which she introduced on Wednesday, would let private companies give hiring preferences to veterans and their spouses.

Other bills include a measure from Sen. Jeremy Nordquist of Omaha to subsidize on-the-job training for veterans and legislation by Sen. Adam Morfeld of Lincoln to more effectively transfer military training to civilian experience.

The package of bills piggybacks on veteran-themed legislation that passed last year. The senators have partnered with the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Good Life for Veterans campaign.

A vehicle fire in the parking lot of a Kearney restaurant is being called “suspicious” by authorities.

At around 11:15 p.m., on January 13, the Kearney Police Department and the Kearney Volunteer Fire Department responded to the report of a vehicle on fire in the parking lot of Perkin’s Family Restaurant, 609 2nd Avenue East.

A subject, later identified as Jason Warta, of Gibbon, was observed running from the area.

Authorities say Warta was later located in the Prairie View Apartments area, with severe burns to the lower portion of his body.

Warta was taken to CHI Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, and was later transferred to the burn unit of CHI Health Saint Elizabeth in Lincoln.

Police say the vehicle was completely destroyed, and they have deemed the fire’s cause as suspicious in nature.

A Kearney Volunteer Fire Department official told local media that a mobile meth lab was the suspected cause of the fire.

The case is still under investigation.

Warta’s medical condition is unknown, and no charges have been filed at this time.

A Wellfleet man is facing numerous felony charges following a disturbance on Tuesday.

Deputies responded to a disturbance in the Wellfleet area on January 13.

Upon arrival, deputies made contact with 18-year-old Keith Urbanek.  Deputies say Urbanek was apparently not getting along with his stepfather, and was waiting in his vehicle when law enforcement arrived.  They say a 16-year-old female runaway, from Colorado, was also in the vehicle.

According to deputies, Urbanek granted permission to search his vehicle, which led to the discovery of multiple glass tubes, prescription pills and other items of drug paraphernalia.  Additionally, deputies found numerous materials and equipment used to make methamphetamine in the trunk of the vehicle.

In the end, Urbanek was charged with felony possession of prescription narcotics, felony possession of methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine ingredients, possession of drug paraphernalia-manufacturing equipment and felony child abuse.

Urbanek was transported to the Lincoln County Detention Center and jailed.  The runaway juvenile was returned to her parents in Colorado.

Since 2010 The North Platte Public Schools Foundation has awarded NPPS employees staff scholarships for their continued education. This school year over two dozen applications came in for the 2014-15 Staff Scholarships and the Foundation is proud to award 4 North Platte Public School educators for their continued education efforts.

Philep Willey, an AP Literature and English instructor at NPHS, is working on a technology endorsement so that he can introduce technology based programs in his classroom that will simulate real world job experiences.

Brittany McDaniel, Speech and Theatre Instructor at NPHS, is working on her Master’s Degree with goals of offering more rigorous assignments and projects to align with the newly adopted Fine Arts Standards in Nebraska.

Niki Ruda, Speech and Language Pathologist in the Early Childhood Program, is finishing up the required courses to complete her Certificate in Autism Spectrum Disorders and Severe Disabilities.  Utilizing the latest research supporting a family-centered practice is a model that our ECP is currently using.

Janet Henne, Resource III Instructor at the NPHS, is working towards her Master’s Degree in Education-Special Education, with plans to provide her students with a variety of ideas and devices to assist them with independence.

The NPPS Foundation acknowledges that a better educated staff equates to a better education for our students. The NPPS Foundation is committed to promoting development and assisting NPPS in pursuing higher education and has awarded over $10,000 in Staff Scholarships since its inception. We are pleased to have been able to make this opportunity possible for our dedicated staff.

COURTESY OF THE NORTH PLATTE POLICE DEPARTMENT

01/13/2015 00:31:04 SEX OFFENDER PENALTY FOR VIOL “2300 E PHILIP AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/13/2015 00:40:36 WRONG WAY ON ONE WAY “E 2ND ST /N JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/13/2015 01:47:56 PROP DAMAGE-NO ALC RELAT “2000 W 1ST ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/13/2015 02:52:38 LOITERING (CITY ORDINANCE) “3400 S Newberry RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/13/2015 02:52:27 DISTURBING THE PEACE AND QUIET “1600 W 6TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/13/2015 03:27:02 SUSPICIOUS PERSON “1200 W A ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/13/2015 04:25:51 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “5400 E Lee Bird Dr
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/13/2015 07:11:55 2ND DEGREE CRIMINAL TRESPASS “1600 E 4TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/13/2015 07:30:09 ESCORT – CARPENTERS NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103

01/13/2015 08:04:55 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “LEE BIRD FIELD,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/13/2015 08:13:45 VEHICLE INSPECTION “500 E WALKER RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/13/2015 08:40:32 CARE OF ANIMALS “2200 ALPHA ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/13/2015 08:50:11 B.E.A.T. COMM POLICING “600 MCDONALD RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/13/2015 08:53:25 EXPIRED PLATES/REGISTRATION “W WALKER RD /S JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/13/2015 09:16:55 EXPIRED PLATES/REGISTRATION “RODEO RD /N SHERIDAN AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/13/2015 09:22:01 ABANDONED VEHICLE “1300 S JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/13/2015 10:54:07 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “700 E 14TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/13/2015 10:35:35 VEHICLE INSPECTION “600 HALLIGAN DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/13/2015 11:30:11 SUSPICIOUS PERSON “900 E PHILIP AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/13/2015 11:34:04 LOOSE ANIMALS “W 10TH ST /N WILLOW ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/13/2015 11:35:37 VIOL TRAFFIC CONTROL DEV “S DEWEY AV /E PHILIP AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103”

01/13/2015 11:49:39 EXPIRED PLATES/REGISTRATION “600 W B ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/13/2015 12:25:02 CITIZEN ASSIST “1400 S DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/13/2015 12:40:06 DEAD ANIMAL CALL “W 1ST ST /S WILLOW ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/13/2015 12:51:19 FORGED INSTRUMENT- POSS OF A “1400 S DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/13/2015 12:00:12 THEFT BY SHOPLIFTING “1400 S DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/13/2015 12:54:39 DRIVING UNDER SUSPENSION “1300 N BUFFALO BILL AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/13/2015 13:17:02 EXPIRED PLATES/REGISTRATION “E 4TH ST /N JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/13/2015 13:29:54 DOG-SURRENDER “1400 N SYCAMORE ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/13/2015 13:39:05 TRAFFIC ACCIDENT-GENERAL “1400 S DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/13/2015 14:19:36 CAT-SURRENDER “1400 N SYCAMORE ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/13/2015 00:00:00 FORGED INSTRUMENT- POSS OF A “1400 S DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/13/2015 14:24:20 THEFT BY EXER CONTROL- FROM BUILDING/TRESPASS “600 N POPLAR ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/13/2015 14:59:45 VIOL OF PROTECT ORD-DOM ABUSE “1400 RODEO RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/13/2015 15:16:33 VEHICLE INSPECTION “3300 S JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/13/2015 15:18:22 PROP DAMAGE-NO ALC RELAT “N GARFIELD AV /W 3RD ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/13/2015 15:35:39 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “700 S JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/13/2015 16:31:04 DOG BITES “NORTH PLATTE,
1 NORTH PLATTE
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/13/2015 16:36:55 TRAFFIC ENFORCE GENERAL “1300 N ADAMS AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/13/2015 16:46:10 EXPIRED PLATES/REGISTRATION “1000 E 4TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/13/2015 17:10:51 2ND DEGREE CRIMINAL TRESPASS “200 S VINE ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/13/2015 17:18:52 SUSPICIOUS PERSON “100 N JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/13/2015 18:22:11 LOOSE CATS “2100 RODEO AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/13/2015 19:10:12 MOTOR VEH LIGHT REQUIREMENTS “JACKSON AV /W 14TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/13/2015 19:14:45 DRIVING LEFT OF CENTER “1700 W 4th
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103”

01/13/2015 19:18:23 DISTURBING THE PEACE AND QUIET “100 AMES AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/13/2015 19:52:11 2ND DEGREE CRIMINAL TRESPASS “1400 S DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/13/2015 20:58:40 FICTITIOUS PLATES “E 3RD ST /N COTTONWOOD ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/13/2015 21:39:04 HARRASS-ANNOY PHONECALLS “1500 W 14TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/13/2015 22:42:19 CITIZEN ASSIST “100 W 11TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/13/2015 23:01:59 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “LEE BIRD FIELD,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/13/2015 23:01:45 OTHER DISTURBANCE “W E ST E / REYNOLDS AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/14/2015 00:05:20 EXPIRED PLATES/REGISTRATION “W WILLIAM AV /S OAK ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/14/2015 00:20:48 SPEEDING “BIRCHWOOD RD /S BUFFALO BILL AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/14/2015 01:04:42 NO LICENSE PLATES 60 323 “W E ST E /S JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/14/2015 01:22:21 SPEEDING “W 2ND ST /N JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/14/2015 01:27:49 SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE “W 6TH ST /N CARR AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/14/2015 02:04:15 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “LBF,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/14/2015 02:15:30 TERRORISTIC THREAT “700 E PHILIP AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/14/2015 03:03:48 DOMEST ASSAULT-MISD “1200 E 4TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/14/2015 04:06:52 NO LICENSE PLATES 60 323 “E 13TH ST /N JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/14/2015 04:31:15 MOTOR VEH LIGHT REQUIREMENTS “W PHILIP AV /S CARR AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/14/2015 06:32:29 OTHER DISTURBANCE “NORTH PLATTE,
1 NORTH PLATTE
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/14/2015 07:31:07 TRAFFIC ACCIDENT-GENERAL “W FRONT ST /N PACIFIC ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/14/2015 07:52:50 THEFT BY EXER CONTROL- THEFT OF MOTOR VEHICLE “500 S BRYAN AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

As part of its continuing effort to reduce the number of serious injury and fatality crashes on state roadways, the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP), will begin a six-month long initiative focusing on teen drivers and seat belt usage.

Beginning in mid-January and continuing through the end of June, the agency will provide educational programs utilizing its Rollover Simulators, Seat Belt Convincers, and Driving Simulator. The educational programs are made possible thanks in part to a $24,500 grant from the Nebraska Office of Highway Safety (NOHS).

According to the latest NOHS statistics, 71% of Nebraska’s teen drivers 19-years of age and younger involved in fatal crashes were not wearing seat belts.

“This effort provides our troopers an opportunity to connect with young drivers,” said Acting Superintendent, Lt. Col. Thomas Schwarten. “Through hands-on demonstrations we hope to gain voluntary compliance by raising awareness of the critical role seat belts play in saving lives.”

Those interested in scheduling a safety presentation should contact their nearest Troop Area Office:

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — CHI Health has laid off 156 workers across Nebraska and southwestern Iowa — about 1 percent of its workforce in the area.

The employees were notified on Tuesday.

CHI Health CEO Cliff Robertson says Catholic Health Initiatives, that nationwide system that includes CHI Health, last year asked its regional networks for cutbacks.

In its explanation for the layoffs, CHI Health didn’t discuss its contract squabble with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska. CHI has acknowledged that its patient load has dropped as a result of leaving the Blue Cross network.

Blue Cross says CHI Health charges 10 to 30 percent more than other Omaha hospitals. CHI Health says those figures are misleading and that its total cost of treatment is lower even if certain services cost more.

ALLIANCE, Neb. (AP) — Box Butte County commissioners have appointed a former U.S. attorney for Nebraska as their interim county attorney.

Joe Stecher was named to the position on Tuesday. He’s replacing Kathleen “K.J.” Hutchinson, who resigned effective Jan. 7.

Stecher, of Harrison, has a private practice and is the deputy county attorney for Dawes and Sioux counties.

Stecher was a Dodge County prosecutor before being appointed a deputy assistant U.S. attorney in 2002. He became U.S. attorney after Mike Heavican was appointed to the Nebraska Supreme Court.

Stecher and other U.S. attorneys lost their posts in 2009, after the change in U.S. presidential administrations.

• Today: Sunny, with a high near 38. Wind chill values as low as -1. West wind 5 to 7 mph.
• Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 12. Wind chill values as low as zero. West northwest wind 6 to 9 mph.
• Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 47. West northwest wind 7 to 10 mph.
• Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 18. West southwest wind 6 to 9 mph.
• Friday: Sunny, with a high near 54. West wind 9 to 11 mph.
• Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 25.
• Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 42. Breezy.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Medical residents who work in under-served parts of Nebraska could receive up to $120,000 in loan repayments under a new bill in the Legislature.

Sen. Kathy Campbell of Lincoln proposed a loan reimbursement program Tuesday for areas designated as having a shortage of health care professionals. The bill would largely apply to rural areas which lack doctors.

The bill would let residents receive up to $40,000 a year in reimbursement, up to a maximum of $120,000. Residents would have to be enrolled or accepted into an approved medical specialty program in Nebraska.

Borrowers would have to practice in an approved specialty for at least one year in a shortage area, and accept Medicaid patients. Those who end their practice would have to repay 150 percent of the remaining principal.