LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — State Sen. Ernie Chambers has told Gov. Dave Heineman in a letter that the governor would be incapable of running the University of Nebraska system.
Heineman has applied to replace system President J.B. Milliken, who has become chancellor of the City University of New York. Heineman must leave office in January because of term limits.
Chambers’ 42-page letter also went to the university’s Board of Regents. Chambers told Heineman the letter’s purpose was to show “why you are not possessed of the temperament, disposition, character or overall qualifications to serve as the president of the university and to suggest that you terminate your vain pursuit.”
Heineman’s spokeswoman Jen Rae Wang (wong) says the governor doesn’t have a response for Chambers.
A Big Springs man is facing a felony charge after he allegedly attempted to sell stolen goods to an undercover cop in North Platte.
On August 25, the North Platte Police Department initiated an investigation after receiving information from the Sidney Police Department that 26-year-old Stephen Barber had six stolen diesel fuel injectors in his possession that were valued at around $4,110.
Sidney Police alleged that Barber had stolen the fuel injectors from Maddox Motors of Sidney.
Police say on August 22, Barber contacted employees at Ag & Auto Diesel, in North Platte, and attempted to sell the fuel injectors.
On August 26, an undercover investigator met with Barber at Ag & Auto Diesel, where Barber allegedly attempted to sell the injectors for $2,000.
Barber was taken into custody and charged with felony possession of stolen property.
He was jailed at the Lincoln County Detention Center.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A former hospital administrator in western Nebraska has pleaded guilty to a child pornography charge as part of a deal.
65-year-old James “Jim” Parks entered the plea Wednesday in federal court in Lincoln to possession of child pornography.
A second child pornography charge was dismissed as part of a plea deal.
Parks is a former executive for Box Butte General Hospital in Alliance. He was arrested last year following an investigation into his work computer. Hospital officials say Park’s Internet history was questionable. Authorities later said Parks exchanged videos and photos that depicted children sexually.
Today: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 3pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 79. North northwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming calm.
Tonight: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. Northwest wind around 8 mph.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. West northwest wind 5 to 8 mph becoming north in the afternoon.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 58. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming light and variable after midnight.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 86. South wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 13 to 18 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 28 mph.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 62.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — An attempt to invalidate a ballot measure that would allow electronic betting on old horse races is now in the hands of the Nebraska Supreme Court.
An attorney for anti-gambling activist Pat Loontjer asked the court Wednesday to keep the measure off the November ballot, while a state attorney defended it as constitutional.
Loontjer’s attorney, Steve Grasz, says the measure forces voters to cast a ballot on separate issues — whether to allow the machines and how the money is spent. Opponents also say the measure’s promise of money for schools and property tax relief is misleading.
Supporters say the issue was vetted by the Legislature and still requires voter approval. Assistant attorney general L. Jay Bartel notes that the secretary of state’s office reviewed and approved the language.
A North Platte couple are facing multiple charges following their arrests on Monday night.
According to a Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office news release, during the late evening hours of August 25, the North Platte Police Department asked the LCSO to help them locate Bradley Clark.
Clark was wanted in a criminal mischief case that the NPPD was investigating. Deputies were also looking for Clark in regards to an incident in Sutherland.
At around 11:10 p.m., deputies located Clark in a vehicle in Sutherland.
A deputy made contact with Clark, a passenger in the vehicle, and the driver, April Crowley. A six-year-old girl was also a passenger in the vehicle.
As deputies spoke to the couple, it was discovered that an altercation had just occurred inside the vehicle.
Crowley alleged that Clark had assaulted her and, following an investigation, Clark was placed under arrest and charged with 3rd degree domestic assault.
As deputies questioned Crowley further, they suspected that she was under the influence of a controlled substance.
Crowley was examined by a NPPD Drug Recognition Expert, who determined that she was under the influence. As a result, Crowley was charged with driving under the influence of drugs. She was also also charged with child abuse for driving impaired while the child was in the vehicle.
The child was placed in the custody of the Department of Health and Human Services. Crowley and Clark were transported to the Lincoln County Detention Center and jailed.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska government working group is seeking solutions to the burgeoning prison population in a state where crime has decreased 20 percent over the past 10 years.
The group, which includes the state governor and the chief justice of the Nebraska Supreme Court, met Tuesday in Lincoln. Those who attended the meeting heard a program director from the Council of State Governments Justice Center recount some numerical explanations. The reasons included longer sentences for some crimes and an increase in the number of people returned to prison because of parole violations.
Some solutions offered included updating state laws on felony theft.
The group will meet again in October and December. Its report is expected to be issued by September next year.
Fans attending high school football games across the state will once again be the focus of a special initiative designed to increase awareness of the need to wear your seat belt, every trip, every time.
The “Friday Night Lights” initiative is designed to help reduce serious injury and fatality crashes involving teen drivers by providing them with firsthand knowledge of what can happen when you don’t buckle up.
Fans at select high school football games will have the opportunity to experience a ride in the NSP Seat Belt Convincer and/or view a presentation of the Rollover Simulator prior to kick-off.
“Football is a team sport and highway safety is a team effort,” said Colonel David Sankey, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “Far too often teen drivers are seriously injured or killed in crashes in which they aren’t buckled up. We hope to encourage young drivers to join our team and make safety a priority every time they get behind the wheel.”
During breaks in the football action, troopers will use a T-shirt shooter to catapult shirts with a seat belt safety message to football fans. The shirts were purchased through a $10,000 grant to the Nebraska State Patrol Foundation from the AAA Nebraska/Cornhusker Motor Club Foundation.
Colonel David Sankey said, “We encourage teens to wear their t-shirts and help us promote seat belt safety.”
NEBRASKAland Days has announced that Thomas Rhett will be the other headlining at at next year’s celebration.
In a news release, organizers said Rhett will perform Friday, June 26, with Florida Georgia Line performing on Saturday, June 27.
Rhett, a Valdosta, Georgia native, exploded onto the country music scene with his 2013 album, “It Goes Something Like This.”
Rhett says the album was a long time coming.
“We held off for a very long time, longer than most,” Rhett said of the two-year process.
Ticket sales will begin on Thursday, August 28. A combo ticket package for both concerts with be available for $89, with single night tickets available for $39 and $59.
NEBRASKAland Days Executive Director, David Fudge, said the combo tickets will only be available through the Christmas season.
Fudge said patrons who previously purchased single night tickets will be contacted with the opportunity to upgrade to Combo tickets. He said that included the Golden Circle section, which is sold out for the Florida Georgia Line show.
A North Platte man, who was arrested on a warrant Tuesday evening, is facing numerous new charges.
At around 8:15 p.m., on August 26, on officer with the North Platte Police Department was on patrol when they observed Roman Reyes driving a gray GMC Yukon near the 300 block of West B Street.
The officer, knowing that Reyes had an active Lincoln County warrant for felony child abuse, conducted an investigative traffic stop.
The officer made contact with Reyes and placed him under arrest for the warrant.
According to Officer Rodney Brown, a search of Reyes’ person revealed a glass pipe containing suspected methamphetamine residue. A subsequent search of his vehicle led to the discovery of baggies containing trace amounts of methamphetamine, three hidden knives, burglary tools and suspected stolen car audio equipment.
As a result, Reyes was charged with felony possession of methamphetamine, felony possession of burglary tools and carrying a concealed weapon.
Additionally, two passengers in the vehicle, Laura Barnes and Robyn Jones, were found to have local warrants. They too were placed under arrest.
Brown said a search of Barnes’ person produced a small baggie containing less than an ounce of marijuana. She was also cited for possession of marijuana.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — State Sen. Ernie Chambers has told Gov. Dave Heineman in a letter that the governor would be incapable of running the University of Nebraska system.
