LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Beer makers could receive a tax break under a bill that would boost the market for Nebraska-grown barley and hops.

Sen. Ken Schilz of Ogallala introduced a bill Tuesday that would offer a non-refundable tax credit to breweries using Nebraska-grown crops.

The measure would apply to manufacturers if at least 10 percent of the crops used in brewing were grown in Nebraska. Manufacturers could receive up to a 35 percent tax credit if 70 percent or more of their grains were grown in the state.

The bill says beer-related crops include barley, hops or any other grain customarily used in the manufacture of beer.

The state has already lowered taxes for Nebraska wineries that source 75 percent of their products from within the state.

North Platte Community College is preparing for a journey “beyond imagination” – one that will never be replicated.

Jim Wand, hypnotist, will perform at 7 p.m. Jan. 20 in the McDonald-Belton Theater. His show is free and open to the public.

“Wand is great and puts on a show suitable for all in attendance,” said Joshua York, assistant student activities director for NPCC. “He is one of the entertainers our students always ask for.”

Wand is considered to be one of the top hypnotic entertainers in the world. He has made more than 9,000 appearances in the U.S. and eight foreign countries and is a regular at casinos, clubs, colleges and corporate events.

Over 95 percent of his bookings are repeat and referral engagements. This won’t be his first trip to North Platte.

“Wand has a long-standing history with NPCC and has been coming here for quite some time,” said York. “He gets thousands of requests each year and chooses a select number of venues to perform at. We are honored to have him back.”

Wand has been involved with hypnosis for more than 30 years and has a Ph.D. in the field of psychology. He is founder and owner of Wand Enterprises, The Hypnosis Agency, in East Dubuque, Ill.

The list of celebrities he has worked with includes: Jay Leno, Conan O’Brien, Chris Rock, Carrot Top, Larry the Cable Guy, Sylvester Stallone, George Strait, The Judds and Rascal Flatts.

Wand has also appeared on the national FOX special, “WOW”, Comedy Central and nearly every other major TV network. Each performance is custom-designed for the audience he presents to.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska state school board member has dissociated himself from a blog posting that referred to President Barack Obama as a “half breed.”

On Monday Board of Education member Pat McPherson said on his “Objective Conservative” blog that he strongly disavowed the post’s racist tones and that he’d taken action to avert any future racist references.

The post included this reference:

“Now our great Black Leader (actually, if he were a Republican the liberals would call him what he is — a half-breed) in Washington wants to give everyone a free community college education.”

McPherson says he didn’t write the piece but took responsibility for not editing it before it was posted earlier Monday by someone he wouldn’t name. The post was removed.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska lawmaker and several advocacy groups say they’ll work this year to increase state aid for schools while reducing what rural districts have to generate through property taxes.

Sen. Al Davis of Hyannis unveiled a proposal Tuesday to lower the percentage of agricultural land that districts can tax, while guaranteeing $500 per-pupil in state “foundation aid” for every school. The proposal would also allow districts to impose a local income tax, tied to a property tax cut.

Reducing the percentage of farm and ranch land that districts can tax would let more districts qualify for state equalization aid under Nebraska’s funding formula.

Renee Fry of the OpenSky Policy Institute says the bill would move local governments away from their reliance on property taxes while preserving state aid for schools.

 

COURTESY OF THE NORTH PLATTE POLICE DEPARTMENT

01/12/2015 00:27:41 IMPROPER LN USAGE “1100 N JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/12/2015 00:39:43 SPEEDING “900 N JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/12/2015 02:35:02 OTHER DISTURBANCE “2300 E D ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/12/2015 02:50:39 NON-CRIMINAL/GENERAL “600 W LEOTA ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/12/2015 03:30:08 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “AIRPORT,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/12/2015 07:38:01 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “LBF,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/12/2015 08:00:15 SPEEDING “N GRANT AV /W 1ST ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/12/2015 08:11:32 CITIZEN ASSIST “2400 W 9TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/12/2015 08:47:09 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “1600 JACKSON AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/12/2015 10:10:16 DRIVING UNDER SUSPENSION “700 W 11TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/12/2015 10:15:43 CAT-STRAY FR COUNTY CONTRACT “1400 N SYCAMORE ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/12/2015 11:45:53 DOG-SURRENDER “1400 N SYCAMORE ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/12/2015 11:46:28 DEAD ANIMAL CALL “W FRONT ST /N CUSTER AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/12/2015 12:19:03 MOTORIST ASSIST “W FRANCIS ST /S JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/12/2015 12:46:36 EXPIRED PLATES/REGISTRATION “E D ST /S DEWEY
NORTH PLATTE, NE ”

01/12/2015 13:18:45 PROP DAMAGE-NO ALC RELAT “1200 W 2ND ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/12/2015 13:30:18 WELFARE CHECK “100 REID AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/12/2015 13:41:26 SPEEDING “500 -600 Blk E Philip AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/12/2015 13:49:00 CAT-STRAY FR CITIZEN “1400 N SYCAMORE ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/12/2015 13:53:24 DOG-SURRENDER “1400 N SYCAMORE ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/12/2015 14:26:40 CITIZEN ASSIST “1300 MCDONALD RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/12/2015 14:30:51 EXPIRED PLATES/REGISTRATION “500 W 4TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/12/2015 15:22:53 GEN PARK & TRAFFIC “100 S HAYES
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/12/2015 15:37:31 TERRORISTIC THREATS “1100 S TABOR AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/12/2015 16:06:14 DEAD ANIMAL CALL “W 3RD ST /N BUFFALO BILL AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/12/2015 16:16:12 CITIZEN ASSIST “1300 W 10TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/12/2015 16:38:37 EXPIRED PLATES/REGISTRATION “100 E PHILIP AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/12/2015 16:55:18 NO PROOF OF INSURANCE “S DEWEY ST /E FRANCIS
NORTH PLATTE, NE ”

01/12/2015 17:04:30 CAT-SURRENDER “1400 N SYCAMORE ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/12/2015 17:04:16 CITIZEN ASSIST “700 E 13TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/12/2015 17:14:11 CAT-STRAY FR CITIZEN “1400 N SYCAMORE ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/12/2015 17:56:00 DISTURBING THE PEACE AND QUIET “W 9TH ST /N AUGUSTA AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/12/2015 18:11:20 REGISTRATION REQUIRED “W 4TH ST /N WILLOW ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/12/2015 18:39:50 THEFT BY SHOPLIFTING “1400 S DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/12/2015 19:55:43 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “400 S JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/12/2015 20:04:41 REGISTRATION REQUIRED “12th / Jeffers
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/12/2015 20:09:53 PREF RIGHT OF WAY-STOP AND YIELD SIGNS “E 2ND ST /N JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/12/2015 20:26:03 OTHER DISTURBANCE “1100 S Tabor
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103”

01/12/2015 20:39:34 CITIZEN ASSIST “1500 W 14TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/12/2015 20:55:18 MOTOR VEH LIGHT REQUIREMENTS “E PHILIP AV /S MEYER AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/12/2015 20:53:39 THEFT BY DECEPTION “2200 W 15TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/12/2015 21:15:32 MOTOR VEH LIGHT REQUIREMENTS “N MADISON AV / RODEO RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/12/2015 23:03:40 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “LEE BIRD FIELD,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

01/12/2015 23:26:45 BURGLARY “2300 E PHILIP AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

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 NO NEBRASKA OPERATORS LICENSE “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 SUSPICIOUS PERSON “1600 E 4TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

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

• Today: Cloudy, with a high near 25. South southeast wind 6 to 10 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.
• Tonight: A chance of flurries before 9pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 7. Wind chill values as low as -3. Southwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming northwest after midnight.
• Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 34. Wind chill values as low as -2. Northwest wind 5 to 7 mph.
• Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 12. Northwest wind 3 to 7 mph.
• Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 44. West northwest wind 8 to 11 mph.
• Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 18.
• Friday: Sunny, with a high near 49.

Administrators at Mid-Plains Community College issued a response Monday to President Barack Obama’s idea that tuition at community colleges should be free.

MPCC President Ryan Purdy said it’s too early to tell exactly what the proposal will mean for community colleges, but he does appreciate the national attention they are getting.

“It’s a great opportunity to identify community colleges as the way to bridge the gap in business, industrial and technical training,” said Purdy.

His concerns include the red tape and accountability that would accompany such an action and whether Nebraska’s community colleges are staffed to handle any mandated compliance requirements.

“Free sounds great if you’re a student,” said Purdy. “But, from the taxpayer standpoint, the cost may exceed the anticipated outcomes.”

He said tuition makes up 20-35 percent of the general fund budgets of community colleges statewide.  According to Purdy, the tuition revenues that would have to be replaced by state and federal money would be in the tens of millions of dollars per year just for Nebraska alone.

Obama unveiled the proposal, known as America’s College Promise, on Friday, and the White House issued a press release about the matter.

“Today, more than ever, Americans need more knowledge and skills to meet the demands of a growing global economy without having to take on decades of debt before they even embark on their career,” the press release reads.

The proposal is likened to a movement about a century ago to make high school widely available. The White House credits that movement to a rapid growth in the education and skills training of Americans, which drove decades of economic growth and prosperity.

“America thrived in the 20th century, in large part because we had the most educated workforce in the world,” the press release reads. “But, other nations have matched or exceeded the secret to our success.”

Success of the new proposal would require a team effort, according to the White House. Community colleges would have to strengthen their programs and increase the number of students who graduate, states would have to invest more in higher education and training and students would have to take responsibility for their education, earn good grades and stay on track to graduate.

The White House maintains that if all states participate, an estimated 9 million students could benefit, and a full-time community college student could save an average of $3,800 in tuition per year.

MPCC officials don’t believe attendance costs should ever be a deterrent to people taking college classes.

“Our Mid-Plains Community College system prides itself on its accessibility, and probably more importantly, its affordability,” said Chuck Salestrom, area associate vice president of public information and marketing for MPCC.  “We have a wide variety of funding mechanisms in place to underwrite costs such as Pell Grants, scholarships and tuition waivers. If used correctly, a student can graduate here with little or no debt.”

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska’s local and tribal governments can now apply for a state designation as an “enterprise zone” for economic development.

The Department of Economic Development announced that the 180-day application period opened on Tuesday. The department will accept applications through July 6 from Nebraska villages, cities, counties and tribal governments.

Enterprise zones are areas considered economically distressed, with relatively high unemployment, poverty and a declining population.

The department will designate up to five areas. Omaha and Lincoln are eligible to receive one designation each. Each area designated must be within a single county, must have a population of at least 250, and must cover an area between one and 16 square miles.

NORTH PLATTE, Neb.–If you have a favorite spot to watch NEBRASKAland Days on Parade, you may have to hunt for a new one this summer.

NLD officials announced Monday, that the parade route will be altered for the 2015 celebration, due to a construction project by the City of North Platte and the Nebraska Department of Roads that will take place along Jeffers Street/Highway 83.

NLD Executive Director, David Fudge, said in a news release that the parade will still head west down Fourth Street, but will then turn South on Dewey Street, and conclude at H Street, where parade entries will be routed east to disperse.

Fudge said the route had to be changed because crews will be reconstructing Jeffers Street, from First Street to Sixth Street.

“We’ve talked about this a lot in the last 18 months,” said Fudge.  “We consulted with the City and the State, and jointly decided that Dewey was the best option.”

Organizers are asking parade-goers to be patient as they do everything possible to make the experience enjoyable for all.

“We understand the new route will be a bit of an adjustment for everyone involved,” Fudge said.  “We’re hopeful that those impacted will understand our predicament this year.”

This year’s celebration is June 17-27, with the parade being held on June 20.  For more information, visit nebraskalanddays.com.

 

 

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — A medical and emergency preparedness expert is set to discuss the Ebola virus at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

Dr. Sharon Medcalf will speak about the symptoms, origins and transmissions of Ebola, Nebraska’s bio-containment unit, and other issues on Jan. 19. The event will take place at Cunningham’s Journal bar and grill in Kearney at 5:30 p.m.

Medcalf is an assistant professor in the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s College of Public Health. She’s also the co-director of the Center for Biosecurity, Biopreparedness and Emerging Infection Disease.

The talk is presented by UNK’s chapter of Sigma Xi’s Science Cafe program. It’s free and open to the public.