LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Nebraska’s net general fund tax receipts have come in higher than projected for the fiscal year that ended June 30.  Tax commissioner Doug Ewald announced Monday that net receipts for fiscal year 2011 totaled $3.5 billion.  The final number is more than 4 percent above projections that were recertified in March.  Net tax receipts for June were nearly 6 percent above the recertified forecast.  The comparisons are based on revised projections from the Nebraska Economic Forecasting Advisory Board.  Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman said the gains are an indication that the state economy is improving, and in better shape than most of America.  He said the projections will allow the state to rebuild its cash reserve to $362 million.

 

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Recent warm weather has helped crops develop in Nebraska, but wet conditions on the southern side of the state hindered the wheat harvest.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture says corn pollination has begun in the state, and farmers are reporting the first tassels and silked ear shoots.  About 84 percent of the state’s corn crop rated in good or excellent condition as of Sunday. That’s better than the average of 76 percent good or excellent at this time of year.  But the USDA says the wheat harvest in Nebraska is about 10 days behind the average and only about 10 percent complete.

 

COLUMBUS, Neb. (AP) – Nebraska plans to offer a record number ofdeer hunting permits this year to help control the growing whitetail deer population.     More than 250,000 antlerless deer hunting permits will go onsale Monday afternoon along with several types of unlimited buck permits.     The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission expects deer hunters to exceed last year’s all-time highs of 141,000 permits sold and about88,000 deer harvested.  Officials hope to reduce the deer population by 25 percent in some places to reduce crop damage and deer-vehicle collisions in the heavily populated areas along the Missouri and Platte rivers.

 

 

OGALLALA, Neb. (AP) – A train hauling coal has derailed nearLake McConaughy.     KNOP is reporting that the train derailed around 7:20 a.m. MDT Sunday between Sand Creek and Martin Bay near the lake.  Dozens of coal cars overturned, but no injuries were reported.     The cause of the derailment is being investigated.

 

 

GOTHENBURG, Neb. (AP) – Officials say a semitrailer rammed intothe back of a recreational vehicle in western Nebraska, killing a passenger in the big rig.     The accident occurred around 4:15 a.m. Sunday, on Interstate 80 between Gothenburg and Cozad.     Authorities say the truck driven by 56-year-old Bogdan Kaszubahit the rear of the RV. The truck then hit a bridge railing. A passenger in the truck’s sleeping compartment died at the scene.  He was identified as 56-year-old Andrzej Piaszczynski (AHN’-draypuh-CHOO’-skee.)     State Trooper Ken Moody says Kaszuba was treated for minor injuries.     Moody said Monday that a 12-year-old boy in the RV was seriously injured but was expected to survive. Four other people in the RV suffered a variety of injuries.

 

 

After pushing the 7.8 foot mark, the North Platte River at North Platte has receded to 6.6 feet as of yesterday. Although the flood waters are lessening, in their wake is a massive crop of mosquitoes. The city of North Platte plans to combat the blood-sucking insects with a city wide spraying beginning this week. Spraying begins at 8 p.m. each night and goes until midnight, weather permitting. Residents are asked to take precautions by closing windows and doors and turn off outside facing fans during the treatments.

Spraying schedule:

Monday:  Front Street to 2nd Street

Tuesday: 2nd to A Street, 2nd to Burlington, South of South Platte River

Wednesday: A to Philip Street, Burlington to Philip

Thursday: Philip to South Platte River

Friday: 7th to Rodeo Road, Rodeo Road to North Platte River

WASHINGTON (AP) – Pressure continues to build but no
breakthroughs are in sight as budget bargaining between President
Barack Obama and top lawmakers resumes Monday at the White House.
Both sides hope to slash the deficit as the price for permitting
the government to borrow more than $2 trillion to pay its bills.
Obama continues to push for a “grand bargain” in the range of
$4 trillion worth of deficit cuts over the coming decade, but
momentum is clearly on the side of a smaller measure of perhaps
half that size. Obama continues to press for revenue increases as
part of any agreement, but Republicans remain stoutly opposed.
Obama holds a news conference Monday morning. The third White
House meeting since Thursday is slated for the afternoon.

 

LOUP CITY, Neb. (AP) – Two people from North Carolina -including a 12-year-old boy – have died in a boating accident at Sherman Reservoir in central Nebraska.     A Nebraska Game and Parks Commission news release says12-year-old Joshua Rowley and a 19-year-old man, both of Kernersville, N.C., died after the tube they were riding collidedwith a pontoon boat Sunday evening in the lake.     Authorities have not released the name of the 19-year-oldpending notification of his family.  The commission says the younger boy was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. The 19-year-old was taken to a Kearney hospital, where he died.  The 39-year-old pontoon boat driver from Wood River was arrestedon suspicion of boating while drunk.     The reservoir is about 40 miles northwest of Grand Island incentral Nebraska.

 

 

SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. (AP) – It may take up to a week to repair someroads in western Nebraska that were damaged by torrential rain andlarge hail.     Officials say the area of western Nebraska was hit by severeweather Saturday, with hail nearly 2-inches in diameter damagingvehicles and siding on homes and other buildings.     Scotts Bluff County Director of Public Works Bob Bennett tellsKNEB in Scottsbluff it will take a week to get some roads in hiscounty back in shape. Some roads in the western part of the countyremained closed Tuesday.     Lyman city officials say high winds knocked down some trees andbasements were flooded by the heavy rain. Several roads in BannerCounty also were flooded and a number of roads were washed out nearTorrington in Goshen County.