CHADRON, Neb. (AP) — Authorities in the Nebraska Panhandle have arrested a National Guardsman who they say stole a fire truck form the U.S. Forest Service.

The 26-year-old man faces a felony theft charge. A Sidney police officer says the truck was stolen Sunday in Chadron and found near the Sidney Wal-Mart. The agency reported the vehicle was stolen by the guardsman who went absent without leave.

The suspect tells police he left the agency because of family issues. He is being held at the Cheyenne County jail.

• Today: Sunny, with a high near 54. Breezy, with a northwest wind 21 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph.
• Tonight: Areas of frost after 1am. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 26. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph becoming light. Winds could gust as high as 22 mph.
• Saturday: Areas of frost before 9am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 69. West wind 7 to 10 mph.
• Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 42. Northwest wind around 7 mph.
• Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 69. Breezy, with a northwest wind 9 to 14 mph increasing to 16 to 21 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph.
• Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 44.
• Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 69.
• Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 43.

1st CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

NAME: Jeff Fortenberry

AGE: 53

PARTY: Republican

EDUCATION: Bachelor in economics, Louisiana State University; master’s degrees in public policy from Georgetown University, and in theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Publishing sales, Sandhills Publishing of Lincoln; assistant director of downtown development, Baton Rouge, Louisiana; researcher for Gulf South Research Institute

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Congressman since 2005; Lincoln City Council, 1997-2001

FAMILY: Wife, Celeste; five daughters

___

NAME: Dennis P. Crawford

AGE: 54

PARTY: Democrat

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s from Creighton University; law degree from Catholic University of America

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Private practice attorney in Lincoln since 1986

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Nebraska Democratic Party, 2nd Associate Chair since 2012

FAMILY: Wife, Diane; three children

____

2nd CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

NAME: Lee Terry

AGE: 52

PARTY: Republican

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s at University of Nebraska-Lincoln; law degree from Creighton University

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Attorney, private practice on civil matters.

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Elected to the Omaha City Council, 1991; elected to Congress, 1998.

FAMILY: Wife, Robyn; three sons

___

NAME: Brad Ashford

AGE: 64

PARTY: Democrat

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree from Colgate University; law degree from Creighton University

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Omaha attorney; co-owner of Nebraska Clothing Company

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Chairman of the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee, has represented Omaha’s District 20 for 16 years, from 1987 to 1995 and since 2007

FAMILY: Wife: Ann; three children

___

NAME: Steve Laird

AGE: Not available

PARTY: Libertarian

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s at Arizona State University; Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Sales and business development executive for 15 years; now president of reference division of Infogroup in Omaha

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Ran unsuccessfully for 2nd District seat in 1998, 2006 and 2008

FAMILY: Wife, Arlisa

___

3rd CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

NAME: Adrian Smith

AGE: 43

PARTY: Republican

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in secondary education, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Buyers Realty; former Educational Service Unit No. 13, project manager in staff development; former research assistant, University of Nebraska Foundation

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Gering City Council, 1994-98; Nebraska Legislature, 1998-2006; Elected to Congress, 2006

FAMILY: Single

___

NAME: Mark Sullivan

AGE: 63

PARTY: Democrat

EDUCATION: Doniphan High School, 1969; Maintenance technician training, U.S. Air Force, 1970

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Farmer, runs 950-head feedlot. Served in the Nebraska Air National Guard

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: None

FAMILY: Wife, Karen, and four sons

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Tenured faculty at the University of Nebraska’s three undergraduate campuses are being offered money to retire early.

It’s an effort by the University of Nebraska system to save money on salaries. The deal is being offered to professors at the system’s Lincoln, Omaha and Kearney campuses.

Faculty must be tenured and over 62 years old to be eligible for the offer. They also must have worked at the university for 10 years.

At the system’s Lincoln and Kearney campuses, the payout is 90 percent of a professor’s annual pay. At the Omaha campus, the payout will be a full year’s pay but will be capped at $90,000.

Those who want to take the buy-out have to let their campus know by next month.

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — The Kearney City Council is considering a resolution denouncing what some say is a lack of communication with the public over a planned federal prisoner re-entry center in the central Nebraska city.

Federal officials announced in August that Louisville, Kentucky-based Dismas Charities had been awarded a $6.7-million bid to construct a 7,500-square-foot facility, to be completed in January. The 48-bed facility will house federal prisoners who have committed nonviolent crimes and will offer supervision and support for inmates nearing release.

The City Council will hold a special meeting Friday to vote on the resolution, which would state that without efforts to educate Kearney citizens, there may not be community support for the facility.

If passed, the resolution would be nonbinding.

NebraskaLand University is scheduled to begin the first session on Monday, October 6, 2014 in the Husker Room on the third floor of the NebraskaLand National Bank, 1400 South Dewey. The session begins promptly at 7:00 p.m.  Nearly 50 students applied and a total of 31 students were accepted to participate in the program this year.  President and CEO, Mike Jacobson, will kick off the session with a welcome message and introduction.

NebraskaLand University is a six course financial literacy program designed to educate students on budgeting, savings, credit, loans, career development, identity theft protection and more.  The curriculum uses a combination of established financial literacy materials and unique lessons plans created and instructed by Senior and Executive Officers at NebraskaLand National Bank.

Each student is required to complete four of the six classes in order to graduate and receive a $250.00 scholarship.  Students must also complete projects and homework as assigned as well as an essay.  Essays will be reviewed and judged by a Bank committee.  One student will be the recipient of an additional $1,000.00 scholarship based on essay criteria.  Students receive invaluable financial lessons as well as career development and wealth building knowledge.

10/01/2014 01:15:20 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “200 E 9TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/01/2014 01:46:56 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “AIRPORT,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/01/2014 01:57:22 MOTOR VEH LIGHT REQUIREMENTS “RODEO RD /N MAPLE ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/01/2014 03:38:37 FAILURE TO YIELD ROW “W PHILIP AV /S WILLOW ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/01/2014 04:23:31 NO LICENSE PLATES 60 323 “500 S DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/01/2014 05:33:15 NO PROOF OF INSURANCE “RODEO RD /N JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/01/2014 06:07:49 SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE “W G ST /S WILLOW ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/01/2014 06:31:11 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “LBF,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/01/2014 07:56:08 ESCORT- ADAMS & SWANSON “400 W 4TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/01/2014 08:13:30 FOUND PROPERTY “1400 E 4TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/01/2014 08:20:20 CAT-SURRENDER “1400 N SYCAMORE ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/01/2014 09:39:52 HARRASS-ANNOY PHONECALLS “1200 E 4TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/01/2014 09:59:03 VIOL TRAFFIC CONTROL DEV “W PHILIP AV / MCDONALD RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/01/2014 10:02:37 2ND DEGREE CRIMINAL TRESPASS “RED CEDARS COMMUNITY,
3301 W 2ND ST 32
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/01/2014 10:11:01 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “W FRONT ST /N ELM ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/01/2014 10:16:58 ANIMAL COMPLAINT OTHER “1400 N SYCAMORE ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/01/2014 10:20:23 CAT-SURRENDER “1400 N SYCAMORE ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/01/2014 10:58:48 DISTURBING THE PEACE AND QUIET “1500 S JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/01/2014 11:12:52 FORGERY- 2ND DEGREE “1300 E 12TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/01/2014 11:21:57 PROP DAMAGE-NO ALC RELAT “100 S OAK ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/01/2014 11:52:56 GEN PARK & TRAFFIC “200 W 3RD ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/01/2014 12:05:53 72 HR PARKING VIOLATION “300 W G ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/01/2014 13:06:38 THEFT BY EXER CONTROL- ALL OTHER “100 N JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/01/2014 13:05:13 SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE “W 14TH ST /N HAYES AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/01/2014 13:49:05 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF “2200 E 5TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/01/2014 14:29:37 CAT-SURRENDER “1400 N SYCAMORE ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/01/2014 14:37:58 THEFT BY EXER CONTROL-GAS FROM SELF SERV STATION “1000 N JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/01/2014 14:41:39 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “1400 E 14TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/01/2014 17:03:15 ANIMAL COMPLAINT OTHER “1100 E 9TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/01/2014 17:15:17 TRAFFIC ENFORCE GENERAL “E 1ST ST /S DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/01/2014 18:53:00 PROP DAMAGE-NO ALC RELAT “Rodeo RD /N Jeffers ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/01/2014 19:06:49 DRIVING UNDER SUSPENSION “1300 S OAK ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/01/2014 19:35:15 CITIZEN ASSIST “1400 W 6TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/01/2014 20:00:26 SPEEDING “500 N Buffalo Bill
North Platte, NE 69101”

10/01/2014 20:02:33 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF “2800 RODEO RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/01/2014 20:03:24 MOTOR VEH LIGHT REQUIREMENTS “W 5TH ST /N ASH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/01/2014 20:13:54 OTHER DISTURBANCE “1800 W Front
North Platte, NE 69101”

10/01/2014 20:27:08 ASSIST OTH LAW ENF “NORTH PLATTE,
1 NORTH PLATTE
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/01/2014 20:48:54 MOTOR VEH LIGHT REQUIREMENTS “800 W Philip
North Platte, NE 69101”

10/01/2014 21:10:23 PREF RIGHT OF WAY-STOP AND YIELD SIGNS “W 5TH ST /N ASH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/01/2014 21:22:13 SUSPICIOUS PERSON “500 N ALLEN ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/01/2014 21:46:06 TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGNALS “E / Dewey
NORTH PLATTE, ne 69101”

10/01/2014 22:29:10 NO LICENSE PLATES 60 323 “E 4TH ST /N WELCH AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/01/2014 23:00:27 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “LEE BIRD FIELD,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/01/2014 23:52:08 ASSAULT- 3RD DEGREE- MINOR INJURY “2300 E PHILIP AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/02/2014 00:30:28 WRONG WAY ON ONE WAY “1400 S DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/02/2014 01:35:24 B.E.A.T. COMM POLICING “E 5TH ST /N DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/02/2014 02:00:57 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “LBF,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/02/2014 02:19:00 LOUD MUSIC “100 S CHESTNUT ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/02/2014 03:51:56 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF “1200 W 11TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/02/2014 04:02:40 MOTOR VEH LIGHT REQUIREMENTS “E 12th ST /N Jeffers ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/02/2014 04:40:55 MOTOR VEH LIGHT REQUIREMENTS “700 W 8th
North Platte, NE 69101”

10/02/2014 06:37:07 WELFARE CHECK “POPLAR VIADUCT,
1 POPLAR VIADUCT
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/02/2014 07:05:30 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “2200 E 5TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/02/2014 07:13:19 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “LBF,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/02/2014 07:52:28 TRAFFIC ENFORCE GENERAL “W FRANCIS ST / UNION AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/02/2014 08:12:51 LOST PROPERTY “1900 W A ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/02/2014 08:14:02 TRAFFIC ENFORCE GENERAL “1100 N CHESTNUT ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/02/2014 08:49:49 TRAFFIC ENFORCE GENERAL “700 W 9TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A monthly economic survey index for nine Midwestern and Plains states suggests economic growth in the region will slow down in the months ahead.

A survey report issued Wednesday says the overall September index dropped nearly three points to 54.3, from 57.2 the previous month.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss, who oversees the survey, says a drop in grain prices over the past year has led to a pullback in economic activity for the heavily agrarian region.

The survey results from supply managers are compiled into a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Survey organizers say any score above 50 suggests economic growth, while a score below that suggests decline.

The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

• Today: A 20 percent chance of showers before 10am. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 66. North northwest wind 11 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
• Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers after 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. Breezy, with a north northwest wind 8 to 13 mph increasing to 18 to 23 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 31 mph.
• Friday: Sunny, with a high near 55. Breezy, with a northwest wind 20 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph.
• Friday Night: Widespread frost after 1am. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 28. Northwest wind 8 to 13 mph becoming light west northwest after midnight.
• Saturday: Widespread frost before 9am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 70. Light west wind increasing to 8 to 13 mph in the afternoon.
• Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 43.
• Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 69.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A judge has dismissed a Nebraska businessman’s lawsuit against state banking regulators, but acknowledged that they may have singled him out because he criticized President Barack Obama.

U.S. District Judge John Gerrard ruled Tuesday that the Nebraska Department of Banking employees acted improperly when they inquired about statements made by Bob Bennie Jr. But Gerrard dismissed the lawsuit, saying their conduct didn’t go far enough to violate his free-speech rights.

Bennie, a Lincoln financial adviser and tea party activist, called Obama a “communist” and an “evil man” in a 2010 interview with the Lincoln Journal Star. He also appeared in television commercials riding a horse and promising new investment customers a $100 payment toward the purchase of a gun.

Bennie says he wants Gov. Dave Heineman to fire the employees.