(AP) — Gov. Dave Heineman says the best way to provide property tax relief is for local governments to control their spending.
Heineman restated that property and income taxes are too high during a press call Wednesday morning.
He says last year 25 counties raised property taxes more than 10 percent. Heineman supports lowering the valuation of farm- and ranchland from 75 percent to 65 percent.
Some argue that state mandates have forced counties to raise property taxes.
Heineman says it’s about prioritizing where the money is going to be spent. He offered to address specific mandates if counties had a problem.
(AP) — State Auditor Mike Foley has committed himself to the Nebraska governor’s race, ruling out speculation that he might seek re-election.
Foley filed for governor on Wednesday, saying he was going to “put it all on the line” in the crowded Republican primary race. Foley is one of six GOP candidates looking to replace Gov. Dave Heineman, who will leave office next year because of term limits.
Foley filed ahead of the Tuesday deadline, saying he wanted to end rumors that he might run for re-election as auditor. His announcement comes days after Attorney General Jon Bruning announced that he will run for governor.
Foley has served as auditor for eight years, and likely would have sailed to a third term if he had run for re-election.
An Ogallala man has been charged with multiple felonies after he allegedly stabbed a man.
At around 6:40 p.m. on Tuesday, Ogallala Police responded to a residence in the 700 block of West H Street.
Police say officers made contact with the parents of 34-year-old Brian Brawley, who said Brawley told them he was going to stab someone.
Officers received reports of a fight at the location, however, there were no suspects present when they arrived.
A witness told officers that they had seen a man with a stab wound. Police say the victim returned to the scene and was transported to a local hospital for treatment of a stab wound to the back. He was later flown to a Greeley, Colo. hospital.
Brawley was later located and taken into custody.
He is lodged at the Keith County jail on charges of attempted murder, use of a weapon to commit a felony, terroristic threats and disturbing the peace.
No further information on the condition of the victim was released.
Two North Platte men who were charged with theft from DJ Automotive last week are now facing additional charges.
According to Officer Rodney Brown, 19-year-old Matthew Clinton and 35-year-old Hollis Littlefield were arrested on February 5 after police linked them to several thefts from vehicles at DJ Automotive, 203 Rodeo Rd.
In a news release Wednesday, Brown said that follow-up investigation involving stolen property at Littlefield’s residence in the 1400 block of West 14th Street, tied the duo to another theft which occurred outside the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission District Headquarters, 301 East State Farm Rd, on January 29.
A 56-year-old male victim alleged that someone stole a set of golf clubs, two firearms, fishing poles and several knives from a pickup parked at that location.
The property was valued at around $1,375.
As a result, on February 11, both Littlefield and Clinton were jailed on an additional felony theft charge.
Littlefield was also charged with possession of stolen firearms after police say he disposed of the guns.
Brown said the stolen firearms, identified as a .22 Marlin Rifle and Remington 12g shotgun, have not yet been recovered.
(AP) — A new report says Nebraska’s high school seniors are trailing students in other states when it comes to scoring well on Advanced Placement exams.
A College Board report released Tuesday says nearly 10 percent of Nebraska’s high school seniors scored a 3 or higher on an AP exam last year. The exams give high school students a way to earn college credit. Many colleges and universities require at least a 3 before they award credit.
Nationally, 20 percent of seniors scored at least a 3 on an AP exam last year.
The report says the percentage of Nebraska students who earned a 3 or higher increased since 2003, when only 3.5 percent achieved that score.
A Nebraska Department of Education spokeswoman says state officials are reviewing the report.
Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 36. Northwest wind 5 to 14 mph becoming south southwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 25. South wind 7 to 14 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 21 mph.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 49. West wind 7 to 13 mph.
Thursday Night: A slight chance of flurries after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 23. West northwest wind 10 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 44. West northwest wind 9 to 18 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 28 mph.
(AP) — School board documents say the Scottsbluff Public Schools district has settled a lawsuit filed over a 2011 “huffing” incident at Westmoor Elementary School.
A memo in the board meeting packet says the lawsuit was settled for $50,000. All but the $2,500 deductible was paid by an insurance provider.
The mother of two Westmoor students sought nearly $4,500 for medical expenses. The lawsuit said a district employee had included children in huffing from whipped cream cans and cans of a substance used to clean electronics. “Huffing” is the intentional inhalation of chemical vapors to attain a high or euphoric effect. It can have health effects ranging from dizziness to heart failure.
The employee was convicted of misdemeanor child abuse and another charge.
(AP) — Motorcyclists will still be required to wear helmets when they ride in Nebraska.
Opponents succeeded Tuesday in blocking a bill in the Legislature that would have repealed the state’s helmet requirement. The measure by Sen. Dave Bloomfield of Hoskins would have exempted riders older than 21 from the law.
Lawmakers voted 25-22 to cease debate on the bill and force a vote. Thirty-three votes were needed to stop the legislative filibuster. Lawmakers started discussing the bill on Thursday.
Bloomfield says the issue was one of personal choice and freedom. Opponents say repealing the law would increase health care costs and make the roads less safe.
Before long, it will be time, once again, for us all to unleash our inner leprechaun And what better way to show your Irish side than a parade.
Organizers of the the Third Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade are seeking entries.
The parade, which is once again being organized by local Irish Band, The Flatrock Irregulars, will take place on March 15th at 10:00 a.m.
Organizer Don Kurre says the parade will start at 2nd and Dewey Streets, then proceed north on Dewey to 6th Street, east to Bailey and south on Bailey back to 2nd.
An after-party with the Flatrock Irregulars will take place at the Espresso Shoppe, 5th and Dewey, at the conclusion of the parade.
Entry forms can be found at www.flatrockirregulars.com, or by contacting Kurre at (308) 532-1688 or (308) 530-9486 or Stu Meesenburg at (308)-534-3915.
(AP) — Gov. Dave Heineman says the best way to provide property tax relief is for local governments to control their spending.
