GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — A recent study finds that Nebraskans spent more than $30 million to get rid of about 885,000 tons of recyclable waste in landfills.

The waste could have been worth $86.5 million had the materials been recycled instead.

The statewide study is by the Joslyn Institute for Sustainable Communications, the Nebraska State Recycling Association and the University of Nebraska.

The report, funded by a state grant, says that recycling the waste could have created new jobs.

The study says that it takes 10 people to recycle every 10,000 tons of waste compared to one person to dispose of it.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The University of Nebraska Medical Center and affiliated Nebraska Medicine clinics have launched a free online public education course on Ebola.

The medical center’s chancellor Dr. Jeffrey Gold says it’s important the public has access to accurate and trustworthy information based on facts and scientific evidence.

The course explains Ebola in easy to understand terms including signs and symptoms, how it is spread and coping with stress. It also explains how to talk with children during infectious disease outbreaks.

The course is available at unmc.edu/ebola and soon will be available through the iTunes Store, and the iTunes University app for iPad and iPhone users.

The medical center houses the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit, one of just four in the nation where two Ebola patients have been successfully treated and released.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Union Pacific has converted a boxcar into a mobile classroom that it will use to help teach emergency responders about railroads.

The Omaha, Nebraska-based railroad says the boxcar classroom will join its fleet of training equipment it uses with emergency responders.

Union Pacific vice president Bob Grimaila says the classroom will make it possible to expand the number of classes offered each year.

Already, Union Pacific trains about 2,500 local, state and federal emergency responders each year.

The classes give emergency responders a chance to see railroad equipment up close and better prepare for the possibility of a derailment.

• TodayCloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 46. East northeast wind 6 to 14 mph becoming south southeast in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
• TonightMostly clear, with a low around 23. South southeast wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
• SaturdayMostly sunny, with a high near 57. South southeast wind 13 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
• Saturday NightPartly cloudy, with a low around 33. South southeast wind 8 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.
• SundaySunny, with a high near 72. South wind 6 to 8 mph becoming west northwest in the afternoon.
• Sunday NightA 20 percent chance of showers after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38.
• MondayA 30 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 55.
• Monday NightPartly cloudy, with a low around 27.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit by a Nebraska prisoner who argued that he should be making minimum wage for his work behind bars.

Stephen Cavanaugh sued several state prison officials earlier this year, saying that over the past year, he was assigned to work as a food server, window washer and maintenance worker and paid between $1.21 and $2.25 a day.

His lawsuit says he should have been paid minimum wage of $7.25 an hour and asked a federal judge to award him nearly $3,400, plus $350 for his legal costs.

U.S. District Judge Laurie Smith Camp dismissed the lawsuit Wednesday, saying that while state law sets minimum wage, another state law specifically allows the prisons director to determine the hours prisoners work and their rate of compensation.

By Officer Rodney Brown-NPPD Public Information Officer

The North Platte Police Department would like remind those heading out on Halloween this year of a few season safety tips.  Whether you and your young ones are setting out on foot or driving the neighborhood in search for a bag full of treats please be extra cautious and observant for those kids that are anxious to ring the next door bell.  Below you will find a few of those reminders.

Walk Safely

• Cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks.
• Look left, right and left again when crossing and keep looking as you cross.
• Put electronic devices down and keep heads up and walk, don’t run, across the street.
• Teach children to make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them.
• Always walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible.  Children should walk on direct routes with the fewest street crossings.
• Watch for cars that are turning or backing up. Teach children to never dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.

Trick or Treat With an Adult

• Children under the age of 12 should not be alone at night without adult supervision. If kids are mature enough to be out without supervision, they should stick to familiar areas that are well lit and trick-or-treat in groups.

Keep Costumes Both Creative and Safe

• Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers and, if possible, choose light colors.
• Choose face paint and makeup whenever possible instead of masks, which can obstruct a child’s vision.
• Have kids carry glow sticks or flashlights to help them see and be seen by drivers.
• When selecting a costume, make sure it is the right size to prevent trips and falls.

Drive Extra Safely on Halloween

• Slow down and be especially alert in residential neighborhoods. Children are excited on Halloween and may move in unpredictable ways.
• Take extra time to look for kids at intersections, on medians and on curbs.
• Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and carefully.
• Eliminate any distractions inside your car so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings.
• Drive slowly, anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic and turn your headlights on earlier in the day to spot children from greater distances.
• Popular trick-or-treating hours are 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. so be especially alert for kids during those hours.

– See more at: https://www.safekids.org/tip/halloween-safety-tips#sthash.lqRFeVp8.dpuf

BROKEN BOW, Neb. (AP) — Central Nebraska officials have dedicated a new wind farm project near Broken Bow.

The Broken Bow II wind has 43 turbines, doubling the number in an area northeast of the city.

Construction began in January. The wind farm was placed into commercial operation on Oct. 1.

Power from the facility will go the Nebraska Public Power District, which bought it under a 25-year contract. Custer County now has the second-largest concentration of wind turbines in Nebraska.

Melissa Garcia, president and CEO of Custer Economic Development Corp, says the project will benefit local businesses.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska State Treasurer Don Stenberg and First National Bank of Omaha will present scholarships to winners of a student drawing contest who sketched pictures of what they envision becoming when they grow up.

The presentation Thursday at the Nebraska State Capitol will be to students from Nebraska’s 1st and 3rd Congressional Districts. Winners in Nebraska’s 2nd District were recognized Oct. 21 at the Millard Branch Library.

More than $11,000 in Nebraska’s 529 College Savings Plan scholarships and donations are being awarded as part of the contest this year.

Students from first grade through eighth grades are eligible for the contest.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska is making it easier for companies to monitor the driving records of employees who drive professionally.

Nebraska companies are required to submit information regularly about the driving records of anyone using company cars.

Previously, businesses had to submit requests for each employee driving record they wanted and pay $3 each time.

Now, the Department of Motor Vehicles is offering an online service that will send alerts whenever a driver has any new convictions, accidents or withdrawals in their record. The new monitoring service costs 6 cents per month.

More details about the service are available online at www.Nebraska.gov in the subscriber services section.

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska’s candidates for governor say they won’t interfere with a decision to build the new Central Nebraska Veterans’ Home in Kearney instead of Grand Island.

Republican Pete Ricketts and Democrat Chuck Hassebrook are both open to re-evaluating the way that future sites are selected.

Gov. Dave Heineman announced in July 2013 that the state would build the 225-bed Central Nebraska Veterans Home in Kearney, replacing the outdated Grand Island facility. Grand Island officials oppose the decision.

Ricketts says he doesn’t want to endanger federal funding for the project. Hassebrook says the decision has been made, but the state will have to start over if the funding is rejected.