LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A new report says computer technology and increased competition could lower the cost of Nebraska’s Medicaid program.

The report released Wednesday by the Platte Institute for Economic Research suggests that the state contract with more than two health plans for each of Nebraska’s Medicaid service regions.

The report says the increased competition would reduce the leverage that any one plan has over the state.

It also calls for new technology to confirm whether Medicaid recipients are eligible for the benefit. Jim Vokal, the group’s CEO, says Pennsylvania and Illinois have realized millions in savings by catching people who don’t qualify.

The Platte Institute released the report in advance of next year’s legislative session. The group opposes efforts to expand Medicaid under the federal health care law.

NEW YORK (AP) — A new study suggests that doctors in many hospitals are unnecessarily prescribing multiple antibiotics for several days when just one would do the job.

Health officials say overuse of antibiotics is helping to breed dangerous bacteria that are increasingly resistant to treatment.

Faced with an unknown infection, hospital doctors often prescribe a couple of antibiotics. But once the bug is identified, doctors are supposed to drop any unnecessary second antibiotic.

The research found that didn’t happen in three-quarters of the 500 hospitals included in the research.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released the paper Wednesday. The authors call it the first national study to look at the issue.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Federal prosecutors have reached a plea deal with a former executive accused of fraud in the financial collapse of Lincoln-based TierOne Bank.

Don Langford was the senior vice president and chief credit officer at the bank.

He pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to conspiring to commit securities fraud, wire fraud and making false entries in a bank’s books and record. He also pleaded guilty to making false statements.

Assistant U.S. Attorney General Leslie Caldwell says Langford had tried to cover up the bank’s losses.

FDIC took over TierOne in 2010, saying the bank had too many bad loans on its books and lacked sufficient capital to cushion losses. The bank’s assets were sold to a South Dakota-based bank.

A North Platte man is facing a felony charge after he allegedly stole a cell phone from a 16-year-old.

On June 15, the North Platte Police Department opened a theft investigation after receiving a complaint from the mother of a 16-year-old who had her Droid cell phone stolen.

Through the course of the investigation, an investigator learned that the phone may be in the possession of 25-year-old Jeremiah Fuoss.

On September 9, an investigator met with Fuoss, who is in jail on domestic violence charges, and questioned him regarding the theft.

Following questioning, it was determined that there was probable cause to charge Fuoss with theft.

According to Officer Rodney Brown, the charge is a felony due to prior theft convictions.

 

• Today: A 20 percent chance of showers before 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 58. North wind 15 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.
• Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41. North northeast wind 7 to 11 mph.
• Thursday: A 50 percent chance of rain. Cloudy, with a high near 50. East wind around 9 mph.
• Thursday Night: Rain likely before 1am, then rain and snow likely. Cloudy, with a low around 36. East northeast wind around 10 mph becoming north after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
• Friday: A slight chance of rain and snow before 10am, then a slight chance of rain between 10am and 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 52. North wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
• Friday Night: Patchy frost after 1am. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 33.
• Saturday: Patchy frost before 10am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 65.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Secretary of State John Gale says his office is reviewing whether Republican gubernatorial candidate Pete Ricketts can switch his running mate on the November ballot.

Gale will issue a decision Wednesday on whether to allow State Auditor Mike Foley onto the ballot instead of Lt. Gov. Lavon Heidemann. Heidemann resigned Tuesday and said he is withdrawing from the GOP ticket.

Attorneys for the Ricketts campaign say Nebraska’s constitution trumps a state law which imposes a Sept. 1 deadline for him to name a running mate.

Vince Powers of the Nebraska Democratic Party says there’s no legal way to make the switch because the deadline has passed. Powers says placing Foley on the ballot would expose the Ricketts campaign to a legal challenge from any Nebraska voter if he wins.

Recent rain in Hall County has prompted a recommendation for exhibitors and visitors to utilize free shuttle services if they are planning on attending Husker Harvest Days.

“The problem isn’t with the roadways, but with the event site parking lots,” said Captain Chris Kolb, Commander Troop C- Grand Island.  “Anything other than a four-wheel drive vehicle runs the risk of becoming stuck as the parking lots are extremely muddy.”

To facilitate an uninterrupted and safe flow of traffic to the event site, the Nebraska State Patrol is recommending only four- wheel drive vehicles (without trailers), be utilized to drive to the site.  Husker Harvest Days provides free shuttle service from several locations in Grand Island. Locations and times of the shuttle service can be found under the under the Directions to the Show link under the Visitor Resources tab on the Husker Harvest Days website, www.HuskerHarvestDays.com

Captain Kolb said, “By limiting the number of vehicles, we hope to prevent significant traffic backups on Husker Highway, should vehicles become disabled in muddy parking areas.”

As news of the virus that is sickening hundreds of children in multiple States makes its way through the social media universe, many people are fearful that it might strike in Nebraska.  If it does, the West Central District Health Department wants you to be prepared.

According to a news release from the WCDHD, hospitals in surrounding states say they are seeing more children than usual with severe respiratory illness, caused by the Enterovirus D68 (EVD68).

Several other states are investigating clusters of children with severe respiratory illness, which may be due to EVD68.

Most people who are infected with the virus have no symptoms, or very mild symptoms.  However, some infections can be serious.

The WCDHD says infants, children and teenagers are most likely to get infected and become ill from enteroviruses.  Children with asthma are at a higher risk for hospitalization.

Officials say there are more than 100 known types of enteroviruses, and each year, 10 to 15 million infections occur in the United States.

Prevention is the most effective way stay healthy.

The WCDHD offers the following tips:

• Wash hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, especially after changing diapers;
• Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands;
• Avoid kissing, hugging and sharing cups or eating utensils with people who are sick;
• Disinfect frequently touched surfaces, such as toys and doorknobs, especially if someone is sick in the home;
• Stay home when feeling sick, and obtain consultation from your healthcare provider.

If your child is sick, officials say it’s important to treat the symptoms, which include:

• Fever
• Cough
• Wheezing
• Flu-like symptoms

Children with cold-like symptoms that experience difficulty breathing should consult their medical provider immediately.

Most enterovirus infections in the Unites State occur seasonally, during the summer and fall.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Supreme Court has been asked to rehear the case challenging the state’s smoking ban.

The Nebraska Attorney General’s Office filed a motion on Monday. On Aug. 29 the court declared the ban’s exceptions for cigar bars and tobacco shops were unconstitutional.

The state said the court erred in ruling that the exceptions were contrary to the original intent of the 2008 Nebraska Clean Indoor Air Act.

The original case against the smoking ban was filed by Big John’s Billiards and has already gone before the Supreme Court twice.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska and Iowa Army National Guard units have delayed drills this month because of a federal funding shortage that has affected thousands of Army National Guard units across the country.

Nebraska National Guard spokesman Kevin Hynes said Tuesday that the delays affect about 20 Nebraska Army Guard units — about half of the state’s total. The state has about 3,500 soldiers in the Army Guard.

Col. Greg Hapgood of the Iowa National Guard says the delays affect most of the state’s 7,200 Army National Guard members.

The states’ Air National Guard units are not affected.

A $101 million funding gap has led to postponed Guard drills nationwide. Efforts are underway in Congress to get funding reallocated so drills can be held and National Guard members can get paid.