(AP) — State Sen. Ernie Chambers is warning that he will oppose every proposal the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission brings to the Legislature as long as it allows mountain lions to be hunted.
Chambers, of Omaha, issued the warning Friday to Roger Kuhn, parks division administrator.
Kuhn was before the Legislature’s Executive Board with two requests to accept donations of land and a playground structure. Chambers said he would vote against the requests, because he is upset that the Game and Parks Commission has approved a mountain lion hunting season for next year.
Chambers said he considers mountain lions “to be regal animals.”
(AP) — New data released by the Nebraska Department of Education shows nearly nine in 10 students at public high schools graduated on time last school year — an improvement over recent years.
The overall state rate for 2013 was 88.5 percent, up from 87.6 percent in 2012 and 86.1 percent in 2011.
The report does show some demographic groups lagging behind the state graduation rate, with about 77 percent of African-American students, 79 percent of Hispanic students and 72 percent of Native American students graduating on time in May.
The report shows that 70 of the state’s 249 school districts graduated 98 percent or more of their high school seniors, earning those districts a shared, top rank statewide.
(AP) — A federal jury in Lincoln has awarded a former BNSF Railway worker more than $235,000 in his termination lawsuit against the company.
The jury sided with Kirk Ludlow in his claim that BNSF violated the Nebraska Fair Employment Practices Act when it fired him in 2010. Jurors rejected his wrongful discharge claim.
Ludlow, a former claims representative for the company in Alliance, alleged in his lawsuit that BNSF fired him because he refused to withhold evidence in a criminal forgery investigation.
BNSF argued that Ludlow was fired because of unrelated, on-the-job horseplay. A company lawyer says Ludlow accidentally struck a female janitor while doing a karate kick in July 2010.
Ludlow’s attorney, Kyle Long, had asked for at least $873,000 in damages.
(AP) — A special water master has found that Nebraska took more than its share of water from the Republican River in 2005 and 2006 and should pay Kansas $5.5 million for the breach.
But the recommendation submitted Friday to the U.S. Supreme Court rejected Kansas’ demands for $80 million and an order that would permanently shut off irrigation in more than 300,000 Nebraska acres.
The U.S. Supreme Court gave Kansas permission in 2011 to file a new petition over allegations that Nebraska used 25.7 billion gallons more in water that it should have in 2005 and 2006.
Use of the river’s water is governed by a 1943 compact between Colorado, Kansas and Nebraska. Colorado was given 11 percent of the water, while Nebraska was allotted 49 percent and Kansas 40 percent.
The Union Pacific Railroad received the Nebraska Community College Association’s 2013 “Friend of the College’ Award for its support of Mid-Plains Community College during ceremonies conducted during the NCCA’s annual meeting Nov. 4-5 in North Platte.
The UPRR has long been a supporter of MPCC and the community college structure. It has been utilizing MPCC’s training programs and facilities for more than four decades. Some details of the partnership include the following:
Since 2008, MPCC has provided craft training to 12,313 UPRR unduplicated employees.
Union Pacific engineers have been receiving locomotive simulator training on two full-scale UPRR provided computer-driven simulators for more than five 5 years.
UPRR has been highly active in recruiting students to MPCC. For example, UPRR is:
Participating in career fairs and having a recruiting presence at MPCC and Central Community Colleges.
Providing links from the UPRR website to MPCC with a description of the college’s railroad program parameters.
UPRR interviews MPCC graduates for a wide variety of positions. Students completing the programs jointly offered through MPCC will provide the railroad with the skills and knowledge required to become an employee with the UPRR.
North Platte Community College may have the only fully operational diesel locomotive on its campus in the United States.
To further support their training needs, UPRR has supplied and installed (at their expense) the following pieces of equipment to MPCC to use in their railroad-specific training, valued in excess of $350,000
Many UPRR upper-level positions require higher levels of post-secondary education. Most recently, UPRR and MPCC partnered to create a corporate training opportunity for their employees.
With MPCC’s ability to deliver the required training both on-campus and on-line, and with the railroad offering free tuition for UPRR training and 85 percent tuition reimbursement for general education courses, admissions into the program continue to grow each year and have already demonstrated wide success in the number of completed certificates, diplomas and degrees by UPRR’s workforce on a national level.
“These are but a few examples of the cooperative relationship that MPCC has with the Union Pacific Railroad,” said Kent Miller, NCCA executive board president and MPCC governing board member. “On behalf of MPCC and the west-central region of Nebraska, we thank you and present you with a small token of our appreciation as the NCCA’s Friend of Community Colleges for 2013. We know that our relationship will be long and prosperous.”
A North Platte man has been charged following a robbery early Wednesday morning.
According to Investigator John Deal, North Platte Police responded to a robbery in the 800 block of North Jackson at around 3:25 a.m. on Wednesday.
Officers met with two victims who reported they were in their residence when they heard pounding on the front door. When they answered the door, there was nobody there. A short time later, they heard pounding on the back door. Before they could open it, the door was forced open and two suspects entered the home.
One of the suspects was armed with a handgun, which he pointed at the victims, and the other was armed with what is being described as a club or baton.
Deal said the suspects ordered the victims to give them a safe. When the victims indicated there was not a safe in the residence, one of the suspects allegedly put the gun against one of their heads and demanded that they hand over the safe. Unable to locate a safe, the suspects took less than $500 cash along with some other property and fled the scene.
One victim told police that they were familiar with one of the suspects, and identified him as Jim Bob Cassell. Deal said Cassell and the victim had resided together at one point.
Police located Cassell on Thursday and placed him under arrest. He’s been charged with burglary, terroristic threats and use of a weapon to commit a felony. He is being held at the Lincoln County Detention Center on ten percent of $250,000 bond.
The much-anticipated new restaurant, Bailey’s American Cuisine, is scheduled to open on Thursday, November 21. The restaurant is located at 1400 South Dewey Street, inside the new Main Location for NebraskaLand National Bank. The restaurant offers a casual dining atmosphere with a unique spin on classic American Cuisine. Hours of operation are from 6:30 am to 10:00 pm Monday through Friday, and 7:00 am to 9:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday.
The first floor dining space will offer casual dining for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The open, modern design creates a high energy, fun and family-friendly dining environment for everyone to enjoy. A Brunch Buffet will be offered on Sundays from 7:00 am-1:30 pm with special pricing for kids and discounts for seniors and military.
It will also feature “The Switch” coffee shop with a drive up window on the west side of the building. Hours of operation for The Switch are 6:30 am to 7:00 pm Monday through Friday, and 7:00 am to 7:00 pm Saturday and Sunday. The Switch will feature specialty and seasonal coffee drinks, smoothies, and walk-in service with Wi-Fi access.
The third floor dining space will be open for lunch and dinner and will feature a lounge atmosphere with a great view. No reservations are required, but can be made by calling 308-221-6160 or online at opentable.com. No charge required upon reservation. The third floor space will offer a full bar service where the guests will have access to the third floor patio. A private meeting room is available on the third floor as well as a larger banquet room that is suitable for Christmas parties and other special events. Bailey’s will also offer catering services.
The restaurant will also offer an outdoor patio that will provide additional seating in warm weather.
Bailey’s menu can be viewed online at www.baileysnp.com. A kid’s menu is also available.
Bailey’s will be hosting several ‘soft opening’ events prior to the public opening. Bailey’s will host their employees on Tuesday, November 19. On Wednesday, November 20, the restaurant will host NebraskaLand National Bank employees and their families. These events are closed to the general public.
A local pastor has been arrested after he became uncooperative with officers investigating a possible dog attack.
According to Investigator John Deal with the North Platte Police Department (NPPD), at around 5:46 p.m. Thursday, an animal control officer was dispatched to the 800 block of East 5th on the report of a loose dog that had reportedly attacked another dog.
The investigation led them to a residence just down the street.
The animal control officer made contact with 55-year-old Ron Lauber at the residence to determine who was in control of the dog, and issue a summons.
During the contact, Lauber became uncooperative with the officer and argued that the dog was not aggressive. Lauber refused to give the officer any information that would help determine if the dog was indeed aggressive.
A NPPD patrol officer was asked to provide assistance to the animal control officer due to Lauber’s agitated state.
Lauber continued to argue with the officer regarding the case, then told the officer to take him to jail, a request the officer declined. However, Lauber insisted that the officer take him to jail and, at one point, turned around and placed his hands behind his back to be handcuffed.
As the officer attempted to reason with Lauber, he stated that he was not going to cooperate and began to walk towards his residence. When the officer ordered Lauber to stop, he continued walking. As a result, the officer placed Lauber under arrest for obstruction of justice.
Following his arrest, Deal said Lauber indicated that the dog in question was not his, but stated that the dog was currently staying at his residence.
The dog was seized pending further investigation to determine if it is aggressive and who the owner is.
Lauber is the Senior Pastor at Harvest Christian Fellowship in North Platte.
(AP) — Authorities have arrested a rural central Nebraska man for the shooting death of a Grand Island trial attorney outside his law office.
58-year-old Michael L. Petersen, of Glenvil, faces first-degree murder and weapons charges. Petersen was arrested near Hastings Thursday evening. Police say he was armed but offered no resistance.
Petersen is accused of killing 52-year-old Todd Elsbernd on Wednesday. Authorities say Elsbernd was likely targeted.
Elsbernd is listed in court records as having represented a man named Michael L. Petersen in a divorce case involving a woman named Nancy Petersen.
A woman named Nancy Petersen was found shot to death Thursday in rural Buffalo County. Authorities say they are investigating whether the shootings are connected.
(AP) — State Sen. Ernie Chambers is warning that he will oppose every proposal the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission brings to the Legislature as long as it allows mountain lions to be hunted.
