SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — The new Hard Rock Casino in Sioux City reported $7.2 million in revenue during its first month of operation.

State regulators said Friday the new Hard Rock easily surpassed its predecessor’s typical August results.

In the past 10 Augusts, the former Argosy Sioux City casino reported revenue between $3.9 million and $5.3 million.

Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission administrator Brain Ohorilko says the increase is similar to what other communities experienced after older riverboat casinos were replaced with land-based casinos. The newer facilities offer larger gaming floors and more amenities.

The early success is good news for the Missouri River Historical Development nonprofit, which distributes 4.25 percent of the Hard Rock’s revenue to local charities. That translates to $304,000 for August.

NORFOLK, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Public Power District plans to being constructing a 39-mile-long transmission line later this month.

The high-voltage line will run from Hoskins to Neligh a few miles north of Highway 275.

The 345,000-volt line will connect an existing power substation near Hoskins to a new one four miles northeast of Neligh.

NPPD will also be installing four 115,000-volt lines to connect the new substation to existing transmission lines.

NPPD Vice President Tom Kent says drivers in the area should watch out for large equipment and possibly some congestion near construction sites.

The work will begin around Sept. 15 when crews start trimming trees along the route.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska doctors treating the man who became infected with Ebola while working in Liberia say he is making progress, but it’s not yet clear if he will recover.

Dr. Rick Sacra arrived at the Nebraska Medical Center on Friday for treatment in the hospital’s specialized 10-bed isolation unit. Two of the doctors treating him gave an update on his condition Sunday.

Dr. Phil Smith says Sacra remains very tired, but his progress has been encouraging.

Sacra has been helping with his own treatment by providing information about Ebola to the doctors because he saw it in Africa.

Smith says Sacra has even made a few jokes with the doctors treating him.

The 51-year-old Sacra is the third American aid worker to be sickened with the Ebola virus.

PAWNEE CITY, Neb. (AP) — A woman whose car collided with an Amish horse-drawn buggy — killing a teenager — has been sentenced to jail time for misdemeanor vehicular homicide.

57-year-old Vivian Cockrell, of Pawnee City, was sentenced Friday in Pawnee County District Court to 60 days in jail. She was also ordered to return for a week behind bars on the next three anniversaries of the July 21, 2013 accident.

Prosecutors say Cockrell hit the buggy carrying 21-year-old Fannie Yoder and her 17-year-old brother, Reuben, as they rode to church. Reuben Yoder died, and Fannie Yoder was critically injured.

Cockrell had only a learner’s permit to drive, which required her to have another licensed driver in the car with her. But she was driving alone.

DAKOTA CITY, Neb. (AP) — Residents in northeastern Nebraska’s Dakota City are still cleaning up a week after storms tore through the town.

Volunteers and city workers continue to clean up fallen trees and loose debris.

Severe storms raked the town and surrounding areas last Sunday, knocking down trees, damaging homes and cutting power for many residents.

By Friday morning, the city’s streets were lined with heaps of loose branches and debris. In some areas, whole trees awaited disposal by city crews.

City Administrator Brent Clark says the city’s parks were some of the worst-hit areas. The storm claimed two park shelters and much of the playground equipment.

FAIRBURY, Neb. (AP) — A southeast Nebraska agriculture manufacturing plant will close part of its operations and eliminate more than half its workforce by November.

The Agrium plant in Fairbury will eliminate 33 jobs.

The plant manufactures high-purity liquid and dry micronutrients for the fertilizer and animal feed industries.

Bill Cornmesser, senior U.S. operations manager for the Canadian fertilizer company that owns the plant, says Agrium is exiting the zinc sulfate market, which affects the Fairbury operation. Cornmesser says the plant’s Loveland Products business, which employs 20 people, will continue to operate.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The University of Nebraska Medical Center will host a national conference in Omaha to explore the role of physician assistants in addressing the challenges of providing health care in rural areas.

The conference will be held Thursday and Friday at the Hilton Omaha Hotel.

In addition to UNMC, five regional physician assistant education programs are co-sponsoring the conference. They are: Des Moines University, Union College in Lincoln; University of Iowa, University of South Dakota and Wichita State University.

Among the topics to be covered will be the unique challenges of rural primary care, quality improvement strategies in rural health care delivery and building and sustaining rural primary care using physician assistants.

Physician assistants are licensed health professionals who provide medical care and can prescribe medication with supervision from a physician.

 

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a 27-year-old man has been critically injured in a shooting outside an Omaha residence.

Police say Antonio Martin was shot Friday morning after he dropped off his 5-year-old daughter at the residence in north Omaha. The girl was inside and unharmed.

Martin was taken to a local hospital in critical condition. Additional information about his condition is unavailable. The case remains under investigation.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A University of Nebraska-Lincoln student has been found dead in a fraternity house.

The school said in a news release that Clayton Real was found dead Friday at the FarmHouse Fraternity house near campus. Additional information about his death has not been released.

Real was a freshman studying agricultural economics. A public candlelight vigil for him and a student killed over the summer has been scheduled Friday night at the Nebraska Union Plaza.