Students from across the state are competing in a robotics tournament this weekend at the Strategic Air and Space Museum in Ashland.

The theme for this year’s event is “Senior Solutions,” which focuses on the physical, emotional and technological challenges of aging. Forty-eight participating teams have each designed and programmed robots made entirely out of Legos. The opening ceremonies begin at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday and will feature remarks by Gov. Dave Heineman. Events will start at 9 a.m.

Teams will compete in a robot game to earn points. They also will present their project research, and will be judged on teamwork.

1813 – Composer Alexander Dargomyzhsky was born.

1882 – Composer Ignaz Friedman was born.

1958 – On CBS television Walter Cronkite reported that the Iranian government has banned rock & roll becausee it is against the concepts of Islam and also a hazard to health.

1964 – Chad & Jeremy were guests on the “Patty Duke Show.”

1967 – Aretha Franklin recorded her song “Respect” in New York.

1970 – The Who taped a concert at Leeds University in Leeds, England, for their forthcoming album, “Live at Leeds.”
The Who Merchandise

1972 – John Lennon and Yoko Ono began a weeklong stay as co-hosts on “The Mike Douglas Show.”
(Today in Beatles History)

1972 – “Steppenwolf Day” was declared in Los Angeles as they announced their break-up.

1972 – “Grease” opened off-Broadway, where it ran for the next decade for a total of 3,388 performances.

1973 – David Bowie collapsed at the end of his Valentines Day Show at New York’s Radio City Music Hall reportedly due to total exhaustion.

1974 – The Captain and Tennille were married.

1974 – Rolling Stone reported that David Bowie had turned down a Gay Liberation group who asked him to compose the “world’s first Gay National Anthem.”

1977 – The B-52’s perform their first concert together in Athens, GA.
B52s Merchandise

1978 – Dire Straits began recording their first album.

1981 – Billy Idol left Generation X for a solo career.
Billy Idol Merchandise

1984 – Elton John and Renata Blauel were married. The marriage lasted for four years.

1986 – Frank Zappa appeared on “Miami Vice” playing a crime boss named “Mr. Frankie.”

1996 – Prince and Mayte Garcia were married.

1998 – Marilyn Manson began an short book signing tour at Tower Records in New York. He was supporting his autobiography “It’s A Long Hard Road Out of Hell.”

1998 – T.G. Sheppard was best man for 35 different bridegrooms at a hotel in Las Vegas. The event was held for the winners of a national radio promotion for Sheppard’s song “She’s Gettin’ the Rock.”

2000 – KISS announced that they were going to do a farewell tour in makeup and then sell off the stage props from their career in an auction.

1998 – Madonna performed her first club performance in more than 10 years at the Roxy in New York.

2001 – “Barbra Streisand: Timeless” aired on FOX. The show was a farewell-tour concert.

TV personality Hugh Downs is 92
Actress Florence Henderson is 79
Country singer Razzy Bailey is 74
Jazz saxophonist Maceo Parker is 70
TV personality Pat O’Brien is 65
Magician Teller of Penn and Teller is 65
Actor Ken Wahl is 56
Actress Meg Tilly is 53
Singer Dwayne Wiggins of Tony! Toni! Tone! is 52
Actor Enrico Colantoni is 50
Actor Valente Rodriguez is 49
Bassist Ricky Wolking of The Nixons is 47
Bassist Kevin Baldes of Lit is 41
Singer Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty is 41
Actor Freddie Highmore is 21.

Lady Gaga has canceled the rest of her tour dates due to a hip injury.

A Wednesday news release from Live Nation Global Touring says Lady Gaga has a tear in her right hip that will require surgery to repair, followed by a recovery period.

The pop star had 21 dates through March 20 remaining on her “Born This Way Ball” tour schedule. She postponed four dates on Tuesday after telling fans in a tweet she’d hurt herself some time ago, but hid the injury from her staff. Over the last month, the injury became worse and she said she was unable to walk following a performance Monday in Montreal.

Fans who have already bought tickets will receive a refund.

Eric Church is the top nominee at this year’s Academy of Country Music Awards.

The rising country music star has seven nominations for the April 7 awards show in Las Vegas. Hunter Hayes is next with six nominations, followed by Taylor Swift and Miranda Lambert at five apiece.

Swift and Lambert are up for the academy’s top honor — entertainer of the year — with Lambert’s husband, Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan. Swift is going for her third straight win in that category.

Shelton and Bryan will co-host the broadcast, to air live on CBS from the MGM Grand.

WEDNESDAY ONLY 2/13

Screen #1
Lincoln….6:50
Safe Haven….10:00
Screen #2
Zero Dark Thirty….6:50 & 10:15
R (must ID)
Screen #3
Identity Thief….7:05 & 9:40
R(must ID)
Screen #4
Mama….7:00
Beautiful Creatures….10:00
Screen #5
Hansel & Gretel 3D….7:20
R (must ID)
Good Day to Die Hard….10:00
R(must ID)
Screen #6
Warm Bodies….7:05 & 9:45

THURSDAY ONLY 2/14

Screen #1
Safe Haven….7:00 & 10:00
Screen #2
Zero Dark Thirty….6:50 & 10:15
R (must ID)
Screen #3
Identity Thief….7:05 & 9:40
R(must ID)
Screen #4
Beautiful Creatures….7:00 & 9:45
Screen #5
Good Day to Die Hard….7:10 & 9:50
R(must ID)
Screen #6
Warm Bodies….7:05 & 9:45

SHOWING 2/15-2/21

Screen #1
Safe Haven….1:10, 4:00, 7:00 & 9:50
Screen #2
Escape From Planet Earth….4:15 & 9:30
Escape From Planet Earth 3D…. 1:15 & 7:15
Screen #3
Identity Thief….1:20, 4:20, 7:05 & 9:40
R(must ID)
Screen #4
Beautiful Creatures….1:05, 4:10, 7:00 & 9:45
Screen #5
Good Day to Die Hard….1:15, 4:00, 7:10 & 9:50
R(must ID)
Screen #6
Warm Bodies….1:25, 4:25, 7:05 & 9:45

The zombies keep getting stronger.

AMC’s hit “The Walking Dead” set a series record Sunday night with 12.3 million viewers. The show was returning from a hiatus, and the Nielsen Co. said it beats the series’ previous record of 10.9 million for its third season debut last October.

More than half of Sunday’s viewers, or 7.7 million, were in the youthful demographic of people ages 18 to 49. Nielsen says a cable series has never reached that big an audience in that age group.

That’s impressive by broadcast standards, too. While “NCIS” on CBS was the most popular drama on the air with 22 million viewers the previous week, fewer than 5 million of those viewers were under 50.

A boating safety course will be held at the Nebraska Game and Parks District Office in North Platte on Saturday, February 23, according to Scott Eveland, Boating Safety Officer for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.  Although this is the first of several offerings in North Platte, Eveland encourages people to take the class early to avoid the summer rush.

According to Eveland, the Nebraska Boating Safety course is required of all power boat operators born after December 31, 1985, which includes operators of personal watercraft and all other motorboats.  The minimum age to operate a motorboat in Nebraska is 14.

The six-hour class covers everything from equipment requirements to safe boat operation and accident prevention, and is a great course for both new and experienced boaters. Boat owners who complete the class may qualify for insurance discounts. Parents are encouraged to attend with their children and boaters of all ages are welcome.  Students must be at least 14, or turning 14 this calendar year to be certified. The six-hour class is from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 23.  Students should bring a sack lunch, and there is a $10 fee this course.  A minimum of 10 pre-registered students is required or the class will be postponed.

To register for the class call the NGPC office at (308) 535-8025, or for additional information, contact Boating Safety Officer Eveland at (308) 289-0017 or [email protected]  For information on additional classes in Nebraska, visit www.outdoornebraska.org/boating.

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The band headlining the final night of the NEBRASKAland DAYS US Cellular Summer Jam Concert Series this summer walked away with a Grammy at last night’s awards. Halestorm won for Best Hard Rock/Metal performance for “Love Bites (And So Do I)”. It was the Band’s first nomination and their first win at the Grammy’s.

Album of the Year: Mumford & Sons, “Babel”

Song of the Year: Fun, feat. Janelle Monáe, “We Are Young”

Record of the Year: Gotye, feat. Kimbra, “Somebody That I Used To Know”

Best New Artist: Fun.

Pop Vocal Album: Kelly Clarkson, “Stronger”

Pop Solo Performance: Adele, “Set Fire to the Rain”

Pop Duo/Group Performance: Gotye feat. Kimbra, “Somebody That I Used To Know”

Pop Instrumental Album: Chris Botti, “Impressions”

Traditional Pop Vocal Album: Paul McCartney, “Kisses On The Bottom”

Country Album: Zac Brown Band, “Uncaged”

Country Solo Performance: Carrie Underwood, “Blown Away”

Country Duo/Group Performance: Little Big Town, “Pontoon”

Country Song: Carrie Underwood, “Blown Away”

Rock Performance: The Black Keys, “Lonely Boy”

Hard Rock/Metal Performance: Halestorm, “Love Bites (So Do I)”

Rock Song: The Black Keys, “Lonely Boy”

Rock Album: The Black Keys, “El Camino”

Alternative Music Album: Gotye, “Making Mirrors”

R&B Performance: Usher, “Climax”

Traditional R&B Performance: Beyonce, “Love On Top”

R&B Song: Miguel, “Adorn”

Urban Contemporary Album: Frank Ocean, “Channel Orange”

R&B Album: Robert Glasper Experiment, “Black Radio”

Rap Performance: Jay-Z and Kanye West, “N****s In Paris”

Rap/Sung Collaboration: Jay-Z and Kanye West feat. Frank Ocean & The-Dream, “No Church In The Wild”

Rap Song: Jay-Z and Kanye West, “”N****s In Paris”

Rap Album: Drake, “Take Care”

Dance Recording: Skrillex feat. Sirah, “Bangarang”

Dance/Electronica Album: Skrillex, “Bangarang”

For the full list of winners, visit Grammys.com