The State Board of Education has scheduled a public hearing on a policy revision that would require Nebraska public schools teachers or administrators to lead students in saying the Pledge of Allegiance but wouldn’t require the students to participate.

The videoconference hearing will be available to the public for testimony at six sites across the state, including the Lincoln Executive Building, starting at 10 a.m. Wednesday.

The proposal says students who don’t participate “shall be required to respect the rights of those pupils electing to participate.”

The public comments will be included in a report by a hearing officer and presented to the board members for consideration at their July 10-11 meetings. The board will have an opportunity to vote on the proposal during those meetings.

 

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The city of Lincoln has settled a claim filed by the family of a worker who was fatally crushed by a 1,200 pound lawn mower in August 2010.

 

The Lincoln Journal Star says (http://bit.ly/M8DSxd) a Nebraska workers’ compensation judge approved a lump-sum settlement of $265,000 the wife of Eric Kohles and $55,000 to his daughter, in addition to benefits already paid.

 

Kohles was found beneath the three-wheeled mower in a ditch on Aug. 16, 2010. He died four days later.

 

His co-workers filed formal safety complaints soon afterward but now say most of their concerns have been addressed.

SUPERIOR, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a 37-year-old man has been fatally injured in a car crash on the east side of Superior in southern Nebraska.

Police Chief Perry Freeman said in a news release Monday that Joe Zumwalt had borrowed the car from a friend and was driving fast on Nebraska Highway 8 when he lost control of it around 10:20 p.m. Saturday.

The car ran off the roadway into a ditch just east of town and hit a power pole.

Freeman says Zumwalt was taken to Brodstone Memorial Hospital in Superior, where he died.

PLEASANT DALE, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a Las Vegas man cut his own throat after a three-vehicle crash in southeast Nebraska.

The Lincoln Journal Star reports (http://bit.ly/L7WjP7) the crash occurred a little before 7:30 p.m. Friday near the exit off Interstate 80.

A Seward County deputy who responded was told that one of the vehicle drivers had walked away from the crash site and into a nearby field. Sheriff Joe Yocum says the man was soon found with self-inflicted wounds to his abdomen and throat. They also found a utility knife about four yards away.

Yocum said Monday the man was flown to a Lincoln hospital, where he is recovering from surgery.

The man may be put into protective custody. His name has not been released.

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. (AP) — An autopsy has been scheduled on the body of a man who was fatally wounded as he raced through Offutt Air Force Base south of  Omaha.

Brig. Gen. Don Bacon says the man was shot Monday afternoon by an employee of a private security contractor.

Sarpy County Sheriff Jeff Davis says the man was driving a car that deputies believed had been stolen. Officers chased the vehicle as it entered the base through an exit lane at the south gate. The man raced north and tried to exit at Kenney Gate, where the security guard fired.

Authorities say the man died later at an Omaha hospital. His name has not been released.

Sarpy County Attorney Lee Polikov (POH’-lih-kahv) says a grand jury will be convened to review what happened.

(Lincoln, Neb.)- Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol issued 407 seat belt citations and warnings for violation of Nebraska’s seat belt law during the “Click It or Ticket” mobilization. A total of 60 child restraint citations and warnings were also issued. The “Click It or Ticket” campaign ran from Monday, May 21 –through- Sunday, June 3 and encompassed the heavily traveled Memorial Day holiday weekend.

During the month of May 2012, seven people were killed in crashes on Nebraska roadways. The seven fatalities are the fewest during the month of May since record keeping began in 1937.  Of the seven fatalities, five were killed in motor vehicles crashes and two involved motorcycles. Of the five people killed in motor vehicle crashes, two were not wearing seat belts.

Troopers and Communication Specialists put in overtime hours as part of the “Click It or Ticket” campaign thanks in part to a $29,550 grant from the Nebraska Office of Highway Safety (NOHS).

Nebraska’s Seat Belt law is a secondary law. Driver’s can be cited for this violation only if stopped for a separate offense. Violating Nebraska’s Seat Belt law carries a $25.00 fine, for each offense.

The following statistics reflect statewide activity by the Nebraska State Patrol during the “Click It or Ticket” enforcement (May 21-June 3):

407   Seat Belt citations & warnings	60  Child Restraint citations & warnings
75  Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) arrests	99   Driving Under Suspension (DUS)
1,748   Speeding	69   No Proof of Insurance
72    Minor in Possession of Alcohol (MIP)	426  Motorists Assists