Senator John Harms, a longtime traffic safety advocate representing District 48, today introduced the Nebraska Roadway Safety Act, a legislative bill to modernize and improve five key traffic safety measures.  Senator Harms also designated the Act his priority bill for 2014.

“No other legislation we will consider this year has the ability to make such a positive difference in the lives of the individuals and families we serve,” stated Senator Harms, during a press conference held today in Lincoln.  “The Nebraska Roadway Safety Act will save lives and prevent needless injuries, impacting not only this generation, but many generations to come.”

Passage of the Nebraska Roadway Safety Act would maximize the benefits of our state’s safety belt law for adults and children, the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) law for novice drivers and the texting while driving ban that impacts all motorists, by moving these laws from secondary enforcement to standard or primary enforcement.

“Tragically, some of our state’s most important traffic safety measures were adopted as secondary enforcement laws,” stated Beverly Reicks, CEO/President of the National Safety Council, Nebraska.  “If we are serious about reducing vehicle crashes, deaths and injuries, we must adopt meaningful legislation.”

(AP) — A worker has been injured in a fall inside a grain bin in Cozad.

The accident at the Gavilon elevator operation was reported at 10 a.m. Wednesday. The worker was climbing down a ladder when he fell into the bin’s boot pit area, where there was some grain but no auger.

Firefighters used ropes and a basket to get the man out of the pit. He was taken to Cozad Community Hospital.

His name hasn’t been released.

(AP) — Nebraska schools would have to conduct at least three tornado drills a year and establish a response plan for when tornado sirens are sounded as part of a new bill in the Legislature.

Sen. John Murante of Gretna said Thursday that he introduced the measure after speaking with students and administrators in his district.

Murante says many schools already have tornado-response plans, but are concerned that they aren’t running enough drills. He says the state currently requires fire drills, but has no rules in place for tornadoes.

The bill would require schools to post routes to tornado shelters and practice moving students in an orderly fashion.

Three people from Illinois were arrested after a traffic stop on Interstate 80 near Ogallala in Keith County led to the seizure of 23.1 lbs. of marijuana.

Around 9:30 p.m. (MDT), on Wednesday, January 8, a trooper stopped a 2014 Chevy Tahoe for speeding on eastbound Interstate 80 near the Ogallala exit.  The trooper made contact with the driver and smelled a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle.

A probable cause search of the SUV led to the seizure of 23.1 lbs. of marijuana. The 22 vacuum sealed packages of marijuana were contained in garbage bags behind the seat in the rear cargo area of the vehicle.

The driver of the vehicle, Jesse A. Eggers, 29, Peoria, Ill., and passengers Cornia Sumner, 21, East Peoria, Ill., and Alfredo J. Acevedo, 29, Peoria, Ill., were each lodged in the Keith County Jail on charges of Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Deliver.

One thing that us Nebraskans know all to well is that when the temperatures drop, the gas bills rise, sometimes in a big way.

In light of recent weather, the Nebraska Public Service Commission is reminding Nebraskans about its cold weather rule, which applies to the state’s three investor-owned natural gas utilities-SourceGas, Black Hills and North Western.  From November 1 through March 31, these natural gas utilities must give customers an additional 30 days to pay their bill prior to disconnection.

The Commission recommends that customers experiencing difficulties in paying their gas bills should first contact their utility company to discuss making payment arrangements or inquire about assistance options.

Additionally, people in need of assistance can dial 2-1-1 to reach the United Way of the Midlands, which provides a referral service for programs available in communities throughout Nebraska.

A North Platte man is facing charges after he allegedly sexually assaulted a juvenile female multiple times.

On Monday, January 6, North Platte Police responded to the report of a sexual assault in the 2300 block of East 6th Street.

Officers met with a female juvenile who reported that 40-year-old Wesley Sharp had sexually assaulted her with digital penetration multiple times.

Investigator John Deal said the juvenile reported that she had slept over at Sharp’s house on January 5th.  She claims that Sharp insisted that the juvenile sleep in his bed along with his wife.  During this time, the juvenile told officers that she awoke to find Sharp assaulting her.

Then, on January 6, Sharp reportedly gave the victim a ride home.  Deal said that during the ride home, Sharp pulled the vehicle over near Cody Park and sexually assaulted her again.

The victim claims the abuse has been taking place over a three year period.

On Thursday, January 9, police made contact with Sharp and arrested him on a charge of first degree sexual assault of a child.

Deal said the investigation is ongoing.

(AP) — A tax-policy scholar is telling Nebraska lawmakers that there’s no conclusive link between state taxes and economic growth.

Therese McGuire told a gathering of lawmakers on Wednesday that academic research has shown no clear connection. Her comments came on the first day of the 2014 legislative session, as senators prepare for a debate over tax policy.

McGuire says state funding of education, health care and public safety play larger roles in economic development than state tax policy. She says companies also want stability in state-government budgets.

McGuire spoke to about 15 state senators, as well as lobbyists and political candidates in a presentation sponsored by the OpenSky Policy Institute, a Nebraska tax policy think tank.

Lawmakers introduced a series of measures Wednesday to cut property and income taxes.

(AP) — Nebraska farmers would have more chances to harvest hay along state highways under a measure introduced in the Legislature.

Sen. Tyson Larson submitted a bill Wednesday that would let farmers mow and harvest in state highway right-of-ways each year, starting on July 15. Current state law limits mowing and haying to once every other year.

Farmers would still have to apply to the Nebraska Department of Roads, which issues permits to residents who want access to the grass. Larson says state employees often mow the ditches, and letting farmers handle it would generate revenue for the state and agricultural producers.