There were no violations found during compliance checks conducted by the Nebraska State Patrol at 14 businesses in Lincoln and Keith Counties.

During the effort conduct on Saturday, Oct. 18, all 14 of the businesses checked were found to be compliant after refusing to sell alcohol to a minor. The retail outlets checked included convenience, liquor and grocery stores, as well as restaurants and bars.

“The goal of compliance checks is to achieve voluntary compliance with our state’s alcohol laws,” said Investigative Services Major Bret Friesz. “We want to thank the 14 businesses checked for their commitment to helping prevent underage drinking by making sure alcohol purchases are made by those of legal age.”

Law enforcement performs compliance checks to ensure that businesses are complying with the state’s alcohol laws and to decrease youth access to alcohol.

Compliance checks were conducted thanks in part to a grant from the Nebraska Office of Highway Safety (NOHS).

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A new mapping tool developed by the University of Nebraska and other partners could help boost global crop yields while conserving land and water.

The Global Yield Gap Atlas was unveiled Monday at the annual Global Water for Food Conference. The conference draws experts from around the world to discuss how technology can ensure a global water supply for growing food.

Roberto Lenton, executive director of the university’s Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Institute, says the mapping tool allows users to estimate the “gap” between potential and actual crop yields.

The atlas relies on detailed plant, soil and climate data in specific areas. It’s a joint venture funded by the Water for Food Institute, the Wageningen University and Research center and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. (AP) — A Scottsbluff woman whose boyfriend is accused of beating her 3-year-old daughter has been charged with child abuse by negligence.

Twenty-four-year-old Cassandra Miller was arrested after a warrant was issued Friday. Online court records don’t list an attorney for her.

Her boyfriend, 25-year-old Cody Olbricht, is charged with felony child abuse causing serious bodily injury. Court records say the girl was hospitalized in late September after her grandmother noticed she had a fever and was lethargic and vomiting. Doctors determined the little girl had several injuries, including a lacerated liver and a brain contusion.

A court document says Scottsbluff police inspected the home and found little food in the refrigerator. Police say clothes and bedding in the girl’s room were stained with urine and stank.

DETROIT (AP) — Toyota is recalling 247,000 vehicles in high-humidity areas as an air bag problem that has plagued most of the auto industry continues to widen.

The recall posed Monday by U.S. safety regulators covers the 2003 to 2005 Corolla and Matrix, the 2002 to 2005 Sequoia and the 2003 to 2005 Tundra. Also included is the 2003 to 2005 Pontiac Vibe made by Toyota.

Inflators can rupture in air bags manufactured by parts supplier Takata, causing metal fragments to fly out when bags are inflated in crashes. The problem has caused serious injuries. So far, automakers have recalled about 12 million vehicles worldwide because of the problem.

The recall covers vehicles in South Florida, along the Gulf Coast, in Puerto Rico, Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Saipan and American Samoa.

On Monday, October 20, the 56^th Recruit Class of the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) began instruction. The class consists of 42 members identified through interviews and testing conducted over the past several months.

“Our recruiting process is an extensive one, as we strive to identify the top candidates to join our ranks,” said Colonel David Sankey, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “This is one of our largest classes in recent memory and we are excited to get Camp 56 underway.”

The new recruits will undergo 23 weeks of training with graduation planned for May 2015.  Instruction encompassing more than 1100 hours balances a paramilitary setting with an academic environment. Recruits are housed and trained at the NSP Training Academy in Grand Island.

Members of the 56^th Recruit Class are from four states including Nebraska. The class is made up of 38 males and four female recruits.

NSP 56th Recruit Class
NAME	City, State
Jake Arnold	Council Bluffs, Iowa
Tyler Black	Omaha, Neb.
Regan Braithwait	Norfolk, Neb.
Justin Brase	Grand Island, Neb.
Trevor Brass	Lincoln, Neb.
Brandon Buhlke	Gering, Neb.
Sarah Calvin	McCook, Neb.
Courtney Carey	Bennington, Neb.
Nathan Dermer	Omaha, Neb.
Joshua Dillinger	Altura, Minn.
Henry Dimitroff	Plattsmouth, Neb.
Austin Donner	Lincoln, Neb.
Nathan Eymann	Omaha, Neb.
Brian Farmer	Omaha, Neb.
Justin Ferguson	Lincoln, Neb.
David Flohr	Elkhorn, Neb.
Nicholas Gonzales	Omaha, Neb.
Quin Gooch	Omaha, Neb.
Curtis Gremm	Omaha, Neb.
John Hardin	Bellevue, Neb.
Michael Knuth	Hastings, Neb.
Thomas Lemire	Omaha, Neb.
Bryce Lingren	Sioux City, Iowa
Taylor Maahs	Lincoln, Neb.
Tyler Macnab	Omaha, Neb.
Brian Malone	Omaha, Neb.
Kyle McAcy	Omaha, Neb.
Chris McGuane	Folsom, Calif.
Dustin Nutsch	Lincoln, Neb.
Daniel Oliver	Kearney, Neb.
Jesse Pfeifer	Norfolk, Neb.
Michael Rice	Omaha, Neb.
James Roberts	Lincoln, Neb.
Zechariah Rose	Omaha, Neb.
Zachary Schmidt	Kearney, Neb.
Ryan Sillman	Omaha, Neb.
Dhankumar Singh	Aurora, Neb.
Jerry Smith	Alliance, Neb.
Brienne Splittgerber	Fremont, Neb.
Jesse Tobey	Lincoln, Neb.
Jeremy Wilhelm	Lincoln, Neb.
Adam Wright	Bellevue, Neb.

###

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — A message board project will force overnight closures on Interstate 80 in south-central Nebraska next month.

The Nebraska Roads Department says a stretch of the westbound lanes east of Kearney will be closed between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. on Nov. 5 and Nov. 10. Traffic will be diverted off the interstate onto a parallel roadway.

The project involves replacement of a message board and structure that span the interstate. The new board will be relocated east of the Kearney east bypass interchange.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The ongoing dispute between a major Nebraska health insurer and one of the state’s biggest medical networks is driving patients to other doctors.

Hospitals and clinics that aren’t affiliated with the Catholic Health Initiatives network have seen an influx of patients since CHI Health’s contract with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska expired Sept. 1.

The expired contract covered hospitals across Nebraska and doctors’ offices in Omaha.

Surgeries at Methodist Hospital and Methodist Women’s Hospital are up 18 percent to 20 percent since Sept. 1.

Discharges from the Nebraska Medical Center and Nebraska Medicine — Bellevue were up 8 percent in the quarter that ended Sept. 30.

Both the Methodist Physicians and Nebraska Medicine networks of doctors’ offices reported a surge in new patients.

• Today: Sunny, with a high near 75. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
• Tonight: Clear, with a low around 42. South southeast wind around 7 mph.
• Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 73. Breezy, with a south wind 8 to 13 mph increasing to 16 to 21 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph.
• Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 50. South southeast wind around 16 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.
• Wednesday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 68. South wind 10 to 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
• Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38.
• Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 72.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Two hundred Nebraska families that start college savings accounts this fall will receive a $100 boost.

First National Bank of Omaha says it hopes the payments will encourage people to start saving for college while their kids are young.

New accounts for children ages 8 or younger will qualify for the bonuses.

First National is the program manager for Nebraska’s NEST 529 college savings accounts that offer tax breaks to people saving for college. More details are available online at www.NEST529.com .

 

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is seeking applicants for its annual Nebraska Young Artist awards.

The awards recognize Nebraska 11th-graders who show talent in the visual arts, dance, music, theater, film and new media.

Applications must include a work sample and a recommendation letter from a teacher. They must be submitted online by Dec. 12 at https://go.unl.edu/nyaa .

The applications are judged by faculty from the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts. Winners will receive invitations to a recognition day on April 8.

Organizers say anyone with questions may contact Kathe Andersen at 402-472-9355 or kandersen1@unl.edu.