An Illinois man may be spending his Christmas in the Lincoln County Detention Center after he was busted with weed on Interstate 80 near North Platte.

According to the Nebraska State Patrol, a Trooper conducted a traffic stop on a speeding 2013 Ford Escape just after Noon on Sunday at the east North Platte exit.

The Trooper made contact with the driver, 52-year-old Napoleon Griffin of Cahokio, Ill.

As the Trooper spoke to Griffin, he smelled what he suspected was marijuana inside the vehicle.

Consent was given to search the vehicle, and Troopers soon found 10.6 pounds of weed inside a suitcase in the trunk.

Griffin was arrested on charges of possession of marijuana with intent to deliver and possession of more than one pound of marijuana.

He was jailed at the Lincoln County Detention Center.

The parent company of the North Platte Post, Mix 97.1, Q-Country 107.3 and ESPN Radio 1410 AM has purchased cable television systems in Colorado and Nebraska.

Hays, Kansas-based Eagle Communications acquired the cable systems serving Central City, Neb., and Burlington, Colo., last week from USA Communications, based in Kearney, Neb.

Eagle Communications has more than 270 employees-owners and operates cable TV systems and radio stations in Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri and Colorado. The company also offers broadband and telephone services in most of the areas it serves.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

 

 

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — Authorities have released the name of a trucker who died after being run over by his own rig in south-central Nebraska.

The Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office identified the man as 54-year-old Tommy Schutte, of rural Kearney.

The accident occurred Thursday evening after Schutte pulled his semitrailer off U.S. Highway 30 west of Kearney onto the side of an intersecting road. The Sheriff’s Office believes Schutte got out of his truck and was trying to work on it when it rolled backward over him.

He was taken to Kearney’s Good Samaritan Hospital, where he died.

A North Platte woman has been jailed on a felony charge after she allegedly stole a purse from a camper.

According to Officer Rodney Brown, at around 3:45 p.m. on December 12th, officers responded to the 100 block of East 11th on the report of a missing purse.

The victim, an 18-year-old female, and her father told police that a purse had been taken from their camper.

According to the victim, Stephanie Lopez had recently been in the camper.

On December 22nd, an officer met with Lopez and, following further investigation, determined there was probable cause to arrest her for felony possession of stolen property.

Lopez has numerous theft convictions dating back to 2005.

She is being held on $25,000 bond.

 

(AP) — State Auditor Mike Foley says Nebraska failed to take advantage of nearly $5.8 million in federal funding that could have been used to make homes more energy-efficient or reduce residents’ utility bills.

Foley on Monday blamed the Department of Health and Human Services, which manages the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

Foley says he believes the money went unused because the department doesn’t understand what federal and state rules allow. He says the state could have spent the money on a home-weatherization program or on unpaid energy bills, which would have reduced ratepayers’ costs.

The auditor’s office says DHHS also exceeded its limit for administrative expenses by more than $656,000. In a written response, the department says it will reimburse the federal government $431,000 for the administrative costs.

12/20/2013 01:40:53 13-025035 60-6119 VIOL TRAFFIC CONTROL DEV “E E ST /S DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/20/2013 01:47:10 13-025036 60-6219 MOTOR VEH LIGHT REQUIREMENTS “RODEO RD /N HAYES AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/20/2013 03:20:47 13-025037 4060 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “AIRPORT,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/20/2013 03:44:07 13-025038 7100 ALARM-GENERAL “500 E PHILIP AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/20/2013 05:50:09 13-025039 4011 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “2300 S JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/20/2013 06:26:13 13-025040 7012 ESCORT- ADAMS & SWANSON “ST PATRICKS,
415 N CHESTNUT ST # 1045
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/20/2013 06:27:23 13-025041 7012 ESCORT- ADAMS & SWANSON “1800 N JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/20/2013 07:06:17 13-025042 4060 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “LBF,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/20/2013 07:17:33 13-025043 28-511 THEFT BY EXER CONTROL- ALL OTHER “1600 N BUFFALO BILL
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/20/2013 07:17:59 13-025044 4002 CITIZEN ASSIST “1600 N BUFFALO BILL
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/20/2013 07:27:15 13-025045 4011 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “600 S CHESTNUT ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/20/2013 07:40:12 13-025046 60-6186 SPEEDING “3600 W PHILIP AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/20/2013 07:42:50 13-025047 MO76.02 PARKING PROH CERTAIN AREAS “1800 W 3RD ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/20/2013 08:10:13 13-025048 4011 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “1400 Rodeo Rd
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/20/2013 08:14:46 13-025049 4011 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “1200 W 6TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/20/2013 08:44:06 13-025050 60-6213 RECKLESS DRIVE “1200 W 2ND ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/20/2013 09:00:40 13-025051 MO90.04 CARE OF ANIMALS “600 E 5TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/20/2013 09:53:12 13-025052 4005 WELFARE CHECK “200 S Chestnut
North Platte, NE 69101”

12/20/2013 10:24:59 13-025053 28-519 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF “300 S SYCAMORE ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/20/2013 10:29:10 13-025055 6020 PROP DAMAGE-NO ALC RELAT “E 4TH ST /N Poplar ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/20/2013 10:31:11 13-025056 28-511 THEFT BY EXER CONTROL- FROM BUILDING NO TRESPASS “300 S WALNUT ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/20/2013 11:26:57 13-025059 7504 ASSIST OTH LAW ENF “700 S JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/20/2013 11:46:28 13-025060 4011 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “300 W 6TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/20/2013 12:15:09 13-025061 28-511 THEFT BY EXER CONTROL- ALL OTHER “400 E 6TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/20/2013 12:37:16 13-025062 28-507 BURGLARY “3200 W D ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/20/2013 12:38:15 13-025063 5502 BARKING DOGS “3200 W C ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/20/2013 12:41:14 13-025064 28-507 BURGLARY “400 S DIXIE AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/20/2013 13:44:57 13-025065 4005 WELFARE CHECK “200 W 2ND ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/20/2013 14:32:16 13-025066 5602 CAT-STRAY FR CITIZEN “1400 N SYCAMORE ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/20/2013 15:00:47 13-025067 28-511.01 THEFT BY SHOPLIFTING “500 E PHILIP AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/20/2013 15:23:32 13-025068 6016 INJUR ACCID-NO ALC RELAT “W 1ST ST /S ASH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/20/2013 15:25:42 13-025069 28-1322 DISTURBING THE PEACE AND QUIET “100 E C ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/20/2013 15:46:15 13-025070 4002 CITIZEN ASSIST “1000 S DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/20/2013 15:56:57 13-025071 4011 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “600 W LEOTA ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/20/2013 16:39:33 13-025073 6602 72 HR PARKING VIOLATION “300 N MCCABE AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/20/2013 16:36:27 13-025074 6020 PROP DAMAGE-NO ALC RELAT “177 MM I80
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/20/2013 17:35:38 13-025075 28-511 THEFT BY EXER CONTROL- ALL OTHER “1500 N JACKSON AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/20/2013 18:22:39 13-025076 6000 TRAFFIC ACCIDENT-GENERAL “200 E LEOTA ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/20/2013 18:25:01 13-025077 4010 SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE “300 N DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/20/2013 18:30:31 13-025078 4005 WELFARE CHECK “100 W 6TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/20/2013 18:35:13 13-025079 4005 WELFARE CHECK “NORTH PLATTE,
1 NORTH PLATTE
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/20/2013 18:46:07 13-025080 60-6196 DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE “E D ST /S WALNUT ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/20/2013 19:04:15 13-025081 60-6123 TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGNALS “S DEWEY ST /E PHILIP AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/20/2013 19:16:14 13-025082 60-6119 VIOL TRAFFIC CONTROL DEV “PHILIP AV / Poplar ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103”

12/20/2013 19:15:19 13-025083 5510 ANIMAL COMPLAINT OTHER “700 S SYCAMORE ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/20/2013 19:38:12 13-025084 6600 GEN PARK & TRAFFIC “1200 E 4TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/20/2013 20:35:02 13-025085 60-6186 SPEEDING “1700 W 4th
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103”

12/20/2013 20:58:38 13-025087 60-6123 TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGNALS “W 4TH ST /N JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/20/2013 21:09:02 13-025088 60-6123 TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGNALS “W 9th /N WILLOW
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103”

12/20/2013 22:12:19 13-025089 28-511.01 THEFT BY SHOPLIFTING “500 E PHILIP AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/20/2013 22:58:49 13-025091 4008 SUSPICIOUS PERSON “500 N JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/20/2013 23:05:07 13-025092 60-399 FICTITIOUS PLATES “E / Jeffers
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103”

12/20/2013 23:24:36 13-025093 28-1322 DISTURBING THE PEACE AND QUIET “2300 E Philip APT
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103”

12/20/2013 23:56:34 13-025094 28-310 ASSAULT- 3RD DEGREE- MINOR INJURY “1300 MCDONALD RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/21/2013 00:28:29 13-025095 4060 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “AIRPORT,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/21/2013 00:55:46 13-025096 60-6219 MOTOR VEH LIGHT REQUIREMENTS “500 block W Philip
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103”

12/21/2013 01:50:51 13-025097 60-6219 MOTOR VEH LIGHT REQUIREMENTS “400 block E 4th
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103”

12/21/2013 01:52:38 13-025098 60-4120.02 PROVISIONAL OPERATORS PERMIT VIOLATION “500 W E
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103”

12/21/2013 04:06:30 13-025099 4060 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “AIRPORT,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/21/2013 04:44:08 13-025100 4002 CITIZEN ASSIST “1200 S DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/21/2013 05:34:15 13-025101 5506 LOOSE ANIMALS “E B ST /N SILBER AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/21/2013 06:11:38 13-025102 6600 GEN PARK & TRAFFIC “S JEFFERS ST /W LEOTA ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/21/2013 06:59:17 13-025103 6600 GEN PARK & TRAFFIC “W LEOTA ST /S JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/21/2013 07:08:28 13-025104 2440 OTHER DISTURBANCE “200 EUGENE AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/21/2013 07:33:25 13-025105 4060 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “LBF,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/21/2013 09:01:59 13-025106 4011 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “RODEO RD /N CARR AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/21/2013 09:21:46 13-025107 28-1322 DISTURBING THE PEACE AND QUIET “400 W 4TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/21/2013 09:40:24 13-025108 4011 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “200 N GARFIELD AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/21/2013 10:23:28 13-025110 4008 SUSPICIOUS PERSON “400 N DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/21/2013 10:47:18 13-025111 4002 CITIZEN ASSIST “4000 W PHILIP AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/21/2013 11:44:19 13-025112 2440 OTHER DISTURBANCE “E 4TH ST /N POPLAR ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/21/2013 11:40:18 13-025113 4000 NON-CRIMINAL/GENERAL “W 6TH ST /N SYCAMORE ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/21/2013 12:50:26 13-025115 6600 GEN PARK & TRAFFIC “1000 S DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/21/2013 12:59:13 13-025116 4002 CITIZEN ASSIST “W E ST /S WILLOW ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/21/2013 13:08:13 13-025117 2440 OTHER DISTURBANCE “3400 S NEWBERRY RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/21/2013 13:30:25 13-025119 6016 INJUR ACCID-NO ALC RELAT “400 W PHILIP AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/21/2013 13:40:34 13-025120 5602 CAT-STRAY FR CITIZEN “1400 N SYCAMORE ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/21/2013 13:50:07 13-025121 5602 CAT-STRAY FR CITIZEN “1400 N SYCAMORE ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/21/2013 14:01:21 13-025122 7006 MOTORIST ASSIST “E 4th ST /N Jeffers ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/21/2013 14:04:27 13-025123 5510 ANIMAL COMPLAINT OTHER “1400 N SYCAMORE ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/21/2013 14:52:40 13-025124 60-362 REGISTRATION REQUIRED “E 4TH ST /N SILBER AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/21/2013 15:15:11 13-025125 28-519 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF “2100 W 9TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/21/2013 16:36:58 13-025126 6046 OWN ACCIDENT REPORT “W 4th ST /N Willow St
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/21/2013 17:24:44 13-025127 4030 B.E.A.T. COMM POLICING “200 E 6TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/21/2013 17:32:44 13-025128 4005 WELFARE CHECK “900 N EMORY AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/21/2013 17:31:13 13-025129 MO90.05 LOOSE ANIMALS “1300 W 6TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/21/2013 18:49:28 13-025130 4011 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “1400 RODEO RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/21/2013 19:53:00 13-025131 60-6159 ILLEGAL TURN “6th/ Jeffers
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103”

12/21/2013 20:03:10 13-025132 4002 CITIZEN ASSIST “NORTH PLATTE,
1 NORTH PLATTE
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/21/2013 20:04:38 13-025133 60-6219 MOTOR VEH LIGHT REQUIREMENTS “400 N Jeffers
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103”

12/21/2013 21:24:25 13-025134 2440 OTHER DISTURBANCE NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

12/21/2013 21:27:49 13-025135 6498 OTHER EQUIP VIOLATION “RODEO RD /N WILLOW ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/21/2013 22:11:12 13-025136 6498 OTHER EQUIP VIOLATION “E 12TH ST /N EASTMAN AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/21/2013 22:44:55 13-025138 MO90.06 EXCESSIVE ANIMAL NOISE “1400 W 5TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/21/2013 23:07:37 13-025139 4060 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “LEE BIRD FIELD,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
North Platte, NE 69103”

12/21/2013 23:38:17 13-025140 28-901 OBSTRUCTION OF GOVT OPERATIONS “1400 RODEO RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/22/2013 00:05:03 13-025141 2460 HARRASS-ANNOY PHONECALLS “900 W 2ND ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/22/2013 00:30:15 13-025142 6300 TRAFFIC ENFORCE GENERAL “1400 RODEO RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/22/2013 00:34:29 13-025143 2420 FAMILY DIST-NO ASSAULT “600 W B ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/22/2013 01:00:47 13-025144 28-521 2ND DEGREE CRIMINAL TRESPASS “1100 S JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/22/2013 01:09:42 13-025145 28-1322 DISTURBING THE PEACE AND QUIET “1400 Rodeo Rd.
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103”

12/22/2013 05:35:19 13-025146 4060 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “LEE BIRD FIELD,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/22/2013 07:36:32 13-025147 4060 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “5400 Lee Bird Field
NORTH PLATTE, NE ”

12/22/2013 09:45:40 13-025150 28-512 THEFT BY DECEPTION “600 GILMAN AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/22/2013 10:43:10 13-025151 2440 OTHER DISTURBANCE “2400 W 16TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/22/2013 11:07:25 13-025152 4011 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “2300 W 13TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/22/2013 11:20:26 13-025153 4011 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “1400 RODEO RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/22/2013 11:46:51 13-025154 4010 SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE “3200 S JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/22/2013 13:30:08 13-025155 5004 LOST PROPERTY “3300 W 2ND ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/22/2013 13:36:10 13-025156 28-519 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF “1400 RODEO RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/22/2013 13:37:12 13-025157 2440 OTHER DISTURBANCE “900 W 2ND ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/22/2013 13:51:49 13-025158 5504 DOG BITES “NORTH PLATTE,
1 NORTH PLATTE
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/22/2013 14:03:01 13-025159 6602 72 HR PARKING VIOLATION “1200 W 11TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/22/2013 15:23:40 13-025160 6000 TRAFFIC ACCIDENT-GENERAL “E E ST E /S DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/22/2013 15:27:14 13-025161 7006 MOTORIST ASSIST “3400 S NEWBERRY RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/22/2013 16:01:10 13-025162 4005 WELFARE CHECK “N CUSTER AV /W 13TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/22/2013 16:12:01 13-025163 7006 MOTORIST ASSIST “E PHILIP AV /S NEWBERRY RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/22/2013 18:49:22 13-025164 4011 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

12/22/2013 18:51:21 13-025165 4011 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “2300 E PHILIP AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/22/2013 20:32:37 13-025166 60-6123 TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGNALS “Leota/ Dewey
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103”

12/22/2013 20:48:55 13-025167 60-6219 MOTOR VEH LIGHT REQUIREMENTS “500 block E 6th
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103”

12/22/2013 21:01:09 13-025168 4011 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “W E ST /S WILLOW ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/23/2013 00:06:01 13-025169 4060 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “AIRPORT,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

12/23/2013 00:10:21 13-025170 7504 ASSIST OTH LAW ENF “2300 E PHILIP AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

• Geoffrey Stewart Michaels, 28, North Platte and Lora Michelle Lease, 41, North Platte

 

• Jesse Dean Songster, 33, North Platte and Kahle Lynn LaShell, 28, North Platte

 

• Santos Ubence Banegas Castellanos, 33 and Rosa Linda Rivers, 57, North Platte

 

• Donn Wayne Hansen, 67, North Platte and Susan Lynn Cohn, 62, North Platte

• Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 19. Wind chill values as low as -8. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon.
• Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 4. Wind chill values as low as -10. South wind 5 to 9 mph.
• Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 43. Wind chill values as low as -4. South wind 5 to 14 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
• Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 17. West northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Union officials say a shortage of workers contributes to the problems at a state hotline for people applying for benefits like food stamps and Medicaid.

The ACCESSNebraska hotline was established in 2010 by the Department of Health and Human Services for people applying for benefits, including food stamps and Medicaid. It has been criticized for long wait times and poor service.

The leader of Nebraska’s public employees union, Mike Marvin, says there aren’t enough workers to handle all the calls.

In October, the state set up a new hotline to handle Medicaid eligibility questions. HHS spokesman Russ Reno says the changes this fall have helped.

But an audit of the program released last week says the hotline is still providing poor service.