Thanks to: Tena Cook, CSC Marketing Coordinator

Due to the unprecedented winter storm Chadron is experiencing and in the interest of safety for all participants, the 2022 Winter Commencement Ceremony for Graduate and Undergraduate students at Chadron State College is canceled,&nbsp; President Randy Rhine announced early Friday morning. The ceremony was to take place today at 2 p.m. at the Chicoine Center.&nbsp; All students who were graduating today are encouraged to attend the Spring Commencement Ceremony in May.

&nbsp;“I apologize that CSC will be unable to host commencement today, but there’s a limit to what we can do with this type of weather and we’ve reached it,” President Randy Rhine said. “Commencement is truly my favorite day of each semester because I know how much work goes into obtaining a degree. Even though there isn’t a commencement exercise today, all of these graduates and their families and friends should be proud of their achievement.”

Since late Monday evening, Chadron has experienced heavy snowfall and high winds creating large drifts of snow. Beginning Tuesday, crews at the college began to clear the snow around campus, but a ground blizzard that started Thursday and continued into Friday morning created new obstacles that will be unable to be cleared before commencement was to begin.&nbsp; All roads leading into and out of Chadron remain closed as of Friday morning.&nbsp; For up-to-date road information, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.511.nebraska.gov/" target="_blank">https://www.511.nebraska.gov/</a>.

To those students who are graduating, if you decide to walk in the spring ceremony, please email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:cscrecords@csc.edu" target="_blank">cscrecords@csc.edu</a>.

Thanks to: Tena Cook, CSC Marketing CoordinatorDue to the unprecedented winter storm Chadron is experiencing and in the interest of safety for all participants, the 2022 Winter Commencement Ceremony for Graduate and Undergraduate students at Chadron State College is canceled,&nbsp; President Randy Rhine announced early Friday morning. The ceremony was to take place today at 2 p.m. at the Chicoine Center.&nbsp; All students who were graduating today are encouraged to attend the Spring Commencement Ceremony in May.&nbsp;“I apologize that CSC will be unable to host commencement today, but there’s a limit to what we can do with this type of weather and we’ve reached it,” President Randy Rhine said. “Commencement is truly my favorite day of each semester because I know how much work goes into obtaining a degree. Even though there isn’t a commencement exercise today, all of these graduates and their families and friends should be proud of their achievement.”Since late Monday evening, Chadron has experienced heavy snowfall and high winds creating large drifts of snow. Beginning Tuesday, crews at the college began to clear the snow around campus, but a ground blizzard that started Thursday and continued into Friday morning created new obstacles that will be unable to be cleared before commencement was to begin.&nbsp; All roads leading into and out of Chadron remain closed as of Friday morning.&nbsp; For up-to-date road information, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.511.nebraska.gov/" target="_blank">https://www.511.nebraska.gov/</a>.To those students who are graduating, if you decide to walk in the spring ceremony, please email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:cscrecords@csc.edu" target="_blank">cscrecords@csc.edu</a>.

UPDATE: CSC Campus Closed Friday, Commencement Canceled

Winter weather and high winds advisories remain in effect for the Panhandle of Nebraska, the National Weather Service in Cheyenne, Wyo., reported.

Northwest winds are expected to be sustained from 35 to 45 mph, with gusts up to 70 mph possible. The high wind advisory remains in effect until 11 a.m. Friday.

Strong winds and widespread blowing snow will lead to poor visibility, as low as a half-mile.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671203082939.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Winter weather and high winds advisories remain in effect for the Panhandle of Nebraska, the National Weather Service in Cheyenne, Wyo., reported.Northwest winds are expected to be sustained from 35 to 45 mph, with gusts up to 70 mph possible. The high wind advisory remains in effect until 11 a.m. Friday.Strong winds and widespread blowing snow will lead to poor visibility, as low as a half-mile.&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">9:25 PM Dec. 15th – Here&#39;s a look at the cold temperatures continuing tomorrow across SE WY and the NE Panhandle. Coldest temperatures are expected west of I-25, while windy conditions are expected to the east! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WYwx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WYwx</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NEwx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NEwx</a> <a href="https://t.co/5snh744YbB">pic.twitter.com/5snh744YbB</a>&mdash; NWS Cheyenne (@NWSCheyenne) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSCheyenne/status/1603607230464434178?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </div>

High wind, winter weather advisories remain in effect

&nbsp;The city of Chadron is extending the current snow emergency until Saturday December seventeenth at Twelve P. M. During a snow emergency all vehicles, trailers, and obstructions must be removed from the designated snow routes. Failure to do so may result in the vehicle being ticketed or else towed at the owners expense. More information on snow emergencies may be found at the city’s website at https:www.chadron-nebraska.com/227/Snow-Emergency-Routes. Due to the wind and continued drifting of snow, we still advise only absolutely necessary travel.&nbsp; &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671201234797.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By: Panhandle Post&nbsp;The city of Chadron is extending the current snow emergency until Saturday December seventeenth at Twelve P. M. During a snow emergency all vehicles, trailers, and obstructions must be removed from the designated snow routes. Failure to do so may result in the vehicle being ticketed or else towed at the owners expense. More information on snow emergencies may be found at the city’s website at https:www.chadron-nebraska.com/227/Snow-Emergency-Routes. Due to the wind and continued drifting of snow, we still advise only absolutely necessary travel.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Chadron Snow Emergency continues until Saturday

By MARGERY A. BECK Associated Press

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — When Republican Jim Pillen becomes Nebraska's governor next month, one of his first acts will likely be to name his predecessor and biggest supporter to fill an open U.S. Senate seat.

Pillen was elected in November in large part because of current Gov. Pete Ricketts ' backing, and now he can return the favor by appointing him to the Senate, more than 15 years after Ricketts spent $12 million of his own money on a failed bid for the office.

Even as they acknowledge Ricketts is deeply conservative and qualified to replace outgoing Sen. Ben Sasse, some Republicans aren't sure such an appointment would be a good idea.

"It looks bad. It smells bad. What it looks like is two rich guys using their money and power to grab a Senate seat," said Jeremy Aspen, an Omaha Republican and former state party delegate. "This is how authoritarian countries operate, where a powerful few ride roughshod to get what they want. Things like this stay on voters' minds."

It's hard to overstate how much Ricketts helped Pillen, a veterinarian and hog farmer, win his party's nomination after a contentious primary race featuring several candidates, including one endorsed by former President Donald Trump.

Ricketts donated more than $100,000 of his own money directly to Pillen's campaign. Ricketts also gave nearly $1.3 million this year to the political action committee Conservative Nebraska, which ran a slew of attack ads against Pillen's primary opponents, including the Trump-backed candidate, Charles Herbster.

Whoever is appointed to replace Sasse will serve two years before a special election is held in 2024 to finish out the last two years of the term. The person would have to seek re-election in 2026 for another six-year term.

"For the sake of Pillen's nascent administration, Ricketts' reputation and the wellbeing of the state, they need to consider not doing this," Aspen said. "Pillen could appoint someone not so tied to him. There are plenty of conservative Republicans in the state that could fill that seat for two years. Then Ricketts could run for it in 2024. Let the voters decide."

Sasse, who has a new job as president of the University of Florida, is leaving the Senate just two years into his second term. He has had a complicated relationship with Republicans in Nebraska after his outspoken criticism of Trump. He was one of seven Republican senators to vote to convict the former president of "incitement of insurrection" after the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack.

Ricketts didn't respond to requests to comment on the criticisms surrounding his likely appointment. Pillen issued a statement saying only that he'll be conducting a thorough process to select the best candidate. He's given a deadline of Dec. 23 for those interested in the seat to apply. Ricketts announced his application last week.

"I'll be looking to appoint someone who embodies the commonsense, conservative values of Nebraska," Pillen said.

If appointed, Ricketts would step in as one of the wealthiest senators in the chamber with a reputation for using that wealth to back conservative causes and candidates. Ricketts' put his net worth at about $50 million when he ran for a second term as governor in 2018.

Ricketts has freely used his money to both push his political agenda and to get allies elected to key political seats. In 2016, he spent $300,000 on a successful ballot measure that reinstated the death penalty after lawmakers voted to override his veto and abolish capital punishment. He also donated extensively to conservative legislative candidates, including some who challenged more moderate Republicans who defied Ricketts' push to keep the state's death penalty.

In addition to his own wealth, even wealthier family members have often contributed to his and other conservative causes. While Ricketts donated $100,000 to the ballot effort to require Nebraska voters to show a photo ID to vote, Ricketts' mother dropped $1.5 million into the ballot initiative, which voters passed in November. Ricketts' father, TD Ameritrade founder Joe Ricketts, is worth an estimated $4 billion. This year, according to Open Secrets, the senior Ricketts gave nearly $5.5 million — all to Republican candidates and causes — putting him in the Top 50 political donors for the year.

All that money — especially that spent by the Ricketts family to elect Pillen as Nebraska's newest governor — has the appearance of buying a Senate seat, said Ryan Horn, a Republican political consultant from Omaha. Ricketts' ambition to serve in the U.S. Senate is no secret. In 2006, he challenged then-U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson, a Democrat, but lost badly.

Ricketts would probably be a good senator for Nebraska, Horn said. He would likely vote the way most Republicans in Nebraska would want. But it shouldn't be up to the new governor who owes his political success to Ricketts to fast-track Ricketts to Congress, he said.

"This has the feeling of the fix being in so that they don't have to really face the voters. It seems that they're avoiding, as much as possible, a fair fight," Horn said. "The way this is being done is cynical, and cynicism is a mortal threat to democracy."

Other Republicans don't share that sentiment. Several even advocated the idea of Ricketts appointing himself to the Senate seat if Sasse had stepped down before Ricketts finished out his term early next month.

One of those is Mark Fahleson, a former chairman of the Nebraska Republican Party, who stands by his comments that Ricketts should have appointed himself if he'd had the opportunity because "he's the obvious candidate for the job."

"Pete could spend his money on expensive cars and extravagant excursions. Instead, he uses his personal money to promote public policies he believes will help Nebraska and our country," Fahleson said. "You can disagree with those policies, but I don't believe it's debatable that it's a more thoughtful and benevolent use of his personal resources."

Pillen's office has not revealed who has applied for the soon-to-be vacated Senate seat, but at least one Democrat has submitted an application: Ann Ashford, the Omaha widow of former Congressman Brad Ashford. Ann Ashford ran unsuccessfully for Nebraska's Omaha-based 2nd Congressional District House seat in 2020.

<a href="https://northplattepost.com/posts/2ddcec21-000f-4ace-b19e-4250120d6629">&nbsp;&nbsp;Download The Post app for iOs or Android</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671196341225.jpeg" alt="Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts poses a question fellow governors taking part in a panel discussion during a Republican Governors Association conference, Nov. 15, 2022, in Orlando, Fla. Ricketts is expected to be appointed to the state's U.S. Senate seat being vacated by fellow Republican Ben Sasse. His appointment would come from a new governor Ricketts helped get elected. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)" />
 <figcaption>Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts poses a question fellow governors taking part in a panel discussion during a Republican Governors Association conference, Nov. 15, 2022, in Orlando, Fla. Ricketts is expected to be appointed to the state's U.S. Senate seat being vacated by fellow Republican Ben Sasse. His appointment would come from a new governor Ricketts helped get elected. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>By MARGERY A. BECK Associated PressOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — When Republican Jim Pillen becomes Nebraska's governor next month, one of his first acts will likely be to name his predecessor and biggest supporter to fill an open U.S. Senate seat.Pillen was elected in November in large part because of current Gov. Pete Ricketts ' backing, and now he can return the favor by appointing him to the Senate, more than 15 years after Ricketts spent $12 million of his own money on a failed bid for the office.Even as they acknowledge Ricketts is deeply conservative and qualified to replace outgoing Sen. Ben Sasse, some Republicans aren't sure such an appointment would be a good idea."It looks bad. It smells bad. What it looks like is two rich guys using their money and power to grab a Senate seat," said Jeremy Aspen, an Omaha Republican and former state party delegate. "This is how authoritarian countries operate, where a powerful few ride roughshod to get what they want. Things like this stay on voters' minds."It's hard to overstate how much Ricketts helped Pillen, a veterinarian and hog farmer, win his party's nomination after a contentious primary race featuring several candidates, including one endorsed by former President Donald Trump.Ricketts donated more than $100,000 of his own money directly to Pillen's campaign. Ricketts also gave nearly $1.3 million this year to the political action committee Conservative Nebraska, which ran a slew of attack ads against Pillen's primary opponents, including the Trump-backed candidate, Charles Herbster.Whoever is appointed to replace Sasse will serve two years before a special election is held in 2024 to finish out the last two years of the term. The person would have to seek re-election in 2026 for another six-year term."For the sake of Pillen's nascent administration, Ricketts' reputation and the wellbeing of the state, they need to consider not doing this," Aspen said. "Pillen could appoint someone not so tied to him. There are plenty of conservative Republicans in the state that could fill that seat for two years. Then Ricketts could run for it in 2024. Let the voters decide."Sasse, who has a new job as president of the University of Florida, is leaving the Senate just two years into his second term. He has had a complicated relationship with Republicans in Nebraska after his outspoken criticism of Trump. He was one of seven Republican senators to vote to convict the former president of "incitement of insurrection" after the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack.Ricketts didn't respond to requests to comment on the criticisms surrounding his likely appointment. Pillen issued a statement saying only that he'll be conducting a thorough process to select the best candidate. He's given a deadline of Dec. 23 for those interested in the seat to apply. Ricketts announced his application last week."I'll be looking to appoint someone who embodies the commonsense, conservative values of Nebraska," Pillen said.If appointed, Ricketts would step in as one of the wealthiest senators in the chamber with a reputation for using that wealth to back conservative causes and candidates. Ricketts' put his net worth at about $50 million when he ran for a second term as governor in 2018.Ricketts has freely used his money to both push his political agenda and to get allies elected to key political seats. In 2016, he spent $300,000 on a successful ballot measure that reinstated the death penalty after lawmakers voted to override his veto and abolish capital punishment. He also donated extensively to conservative legislative candidates, including some who challenged more moderate Republicans who defied Ricketts' push to keep the state's death penalty.In addition to his own wealth, even wealthier family members have often contributed to his and other conservative causes. While Ricketts donated $100,000 to the ballot effort to require Nebraska voters to show a photo ID to vote, Ricketts' mother dropped $1.5 million into the ballot initiative, which voters passed in November. Ricketts' father, TD Ameritrade founder Joe Ricketts, is worth an estimated $4 billion. This year, according to Open Secrets, the senior Ricketts gave nearly $5.5 million — all to Republican candidates and causes — putting him in the Top 50 political donors for the year.All that money — especially that spent by the Ricketts family to elect Pillen as Nebraska's newest governor — has the appearance of buying a Senate seat, said Ryan Horn, a Republican political consultant from Omaha. Ricketts' ambition to serve in the U.S. Senate is no secret. In 2006, he challenged then-U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson, a Democrat, but lost badly.Ricketts would probably be a good senator for Nebraska, Horn said. He would likely vote the way most Republicans in Nebraska would want. But it shouldn't be up to the new governor who owes his political success to Ricketts to fast-track Ricketts to Congress, he said."This has the feeling of the fix being in so that they don't have to really face the voters. It seems that they're avoiding, as much as possible, a fair fight," Horn said. "The way this is being done is cynical, and cynicism is a mortal threat to democracy."Other Republicans don't share that sentiment. Several even advocated the idea of Ricketts appointing himself to the Senate seat if Sasse had stepped down before Ricketts finished out his term early next month.One of those is Mark Fahleson, a former chairman of the Nebraska Republican Party, who stands by his comments that Ricketts should have appointed himself if he'd had the opportunity because "he's the obvious candidate for the job.""Pete could spend his money on expensive cars and extravagant excursions. Instead, he uses his personal money to promote public policies he believes will help Nebraska and our country," Fahleson said. "You can disagree with those policies, but I don't believe it's debatable that it's a more thoughtful and benevolent use of his personal resources."Pillen's office has not revealed who has applied for the soon-to-be vacated Senate seat, but at least one Democrat has submitted an application: Ann Ashford, the Omaha widow of former Congressman Brad Ashford. Ann Ashford ran unsuccessfully for Nebraska's Omaha-based 2nd Congressional District House seat in 2020.<a href="https://northplattepost.com/posts/2ddcec21-000f-4ace-b19e-4250120d6629">&nbsp;&nbsp;Download The Post app for iOs or Android</a><figure>
 <img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/a3ScdkQJ83wS2bEFMrRRpEXdt77GWDM_d6-P0jRiP7ls3dp2UwYf5DDKSyBP3af-ewJuB9myTpfDfoZ1easDbx4VvWkX-BE7TApmtfLQr8GHtnf5S4FXn_i7CjNMRg07NWWZwLLjay3_dBPF0W4Vn7nCNUohDqaF1Qa4yIJMh9BWUPr5r_WULKs-uvah" alt="" />
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Sasse's exit from Senate prompts GOP unease over replacement

Come and enjoy the true meaning of Christmas this Holiday season as the&nbsp; Alliance Community Choir will present the Christmas Cantata, "When We Needed a King", by&nbsp; Jay Rouse, Rose Aspinall and Randy Vader.

The first performance will be Sunday, December 18, at 2 pm, at the Alliance United Methodist Church, located at 704 Box Butte Ave. The second performance will be Wednesday , December 21, at 7 pm, at St Johns Lutheran Church, located at 2090 Emerson ave.&nbsp;

Soloist will be Sheena Curtiss on Sunday and Christa Faulk on Wednesday.&nbsp; Annette Wood and Dave Mitchell will serve as Narrators. Cynthia Horn will accompany on keyboards. The Choir is directed by Becky Mitchell.&nbsp; There is no charge to attend,&nbsp; a free will offering will be taken.&nbsp; All&nbsp; are welcome.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671139237640.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By: Mike Glesinger&nbsp; Panhandle PostCome and enjoy the true meaning of Christmas this Holiday season as the&nbsp; Alliance Community Choir will present the Christmas Cantata, "When We Needed a King", by&nbsp; Jay Rouse, Rose Aspinall and Randy Vader.The first performance will be Sunday, December 18, at 2 pm, at the Alliance United Methodist Church, located at 704 Box Butte Ave. The second performance will be Wednesday , December 21, at 7 pm, at St Johns Lutheran Church, located at 2090 Emerson ave.&nbsp;Soloist will be Sheena Curtiss on Sunday and Christa Faulk on Wednesday.&nbsp; Annette Wood and Dave Mitchell will serve as Narrators. Cynthia Horn will accompany on keyboards. The Choir is directed by Becky Mitchell.&nbsp; There is no charge to attend,&nbsp; a free will offering will be taken.&nbsp; All&nbsp; are welcome.&nbsp;

Alliance Community Choir to present Christmas Cantata

The Annual Hemingford Holiday Play is set for two performances this Christmas season.&nbsp; The first will be Sunday December 18, at the Multipurpose Hall at the Box Butte County Fairgrounds in Hemingford,&nbsp; and the second show will be Tuesday December 20, at the Alliance High School Performing Arts Center. Both performances will begin at 6:30 pm.&nbsp;

"Elf Jr, The Musical" and "A Christmas Cinderella" will be presented this year,&nbsp; with a variety of Adults and Youngsters in the Cast.&nbsp; Tickets are $5 for Students and $10 for Adults,&nbsp; and will be available at the door both nights.&nbsp; &nbsp;Advance tickets may be purchasted at the Hemingford Community Federal Credit Union or by calling 308-487-5578.&nbsp; All are welcome to attend.

All proceeds will go towards future Holiday Plays.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670863868820.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Annual Hemingford Holiday Play is set for two performances this Christmas season.&nbsp; The first will be Sunday December 18, at the Multipurpose Hall at the Box Butte County Fairgrounds in Hemingford,&nbsp; and the second show will be Tuesday December 20, at the Alliance High School Performing Arts Center. Both performances will begin at 6:30 pm.&nbsp;"Elf Jr, The Musical" and "A Christmas Cinderella" will be presented this year,&nbsp; with a variety of Adults and Youngsters in the Cast.&nbsp; Tickets are $5 for Students and $10 for Adults,&nbsp; and will be available at the door both nights.&nbsp; &nbsp;Advance tickets may be purchasted at the Hemingford Community Federal Credit Union or by calling 308-487-5578.&nbsp; All are welcome to attend.All proceeds will go towards future Holiday Plays.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Hemingford Holiday Play set for .Dec. 18 & 20

The National Weather Service in Cheyenne, Wyo., has extended the blizzard warning for the Panhandle through 5 p.m. Thursday.

There is a slight chance for additional snow Thursday and Friday, and winds are expected to gust up to 55 mph, leading to poor visibility and continued drifting.

Wind chill values Thursday and Friday are expected to dip as low as 15 below zero. A high temperature of 20 is forecast both days.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671113514947.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The National Weather Service in Cheyenne, Wyo., has extended the blizzard warning for the Panhandle through 5 p.m. Thursday.There is a slight chance for additional snow Thursday and Friday, and winds are expected to gust up to 55 mph, leading to poor visibility and continued drifting.Wind chill values Thursday and Friday are expected to dip as low as 15 below zero. A high temperature of 20 is forecast both days.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">8:45 PM Dec. 14th – Strong winds continue tonight through much of Thursday across southeast Wyoming and the Nebraska Panhandle with the fresh snowpack. Widespread blowing snow with 50+ mph wind gusts out of the northwest could significantly reduce visibility. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WYwx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WYwx</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NEwx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NEwx</a> <a href="https://t.co/QUdPykOdpe">pic.twitter.com/QUdPykOdpe</a>&mdash; NWS Cheyenne (@NWSCheyenne) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSCheyenne/status/1603235256366092288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </div>

NWS extends blizzard warning for Panhandle region

By JOSH FUNK AP Business Writer

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Railroad workers who are fed up with demanding work schedules and disappointed in the contract they received aired their frustrations this week at rallies across the country and in a leadership vote at one of their biggest unions.

Workers gathered in Washington D.C. and nearly a dozen other locations across the country Tuesday to emphasize their quality of life concerns and fight for paid sick leave after Congress intervened in the stalled contract talks earlier this month and imposed a deal on four unions that had rejected it. And thousands of engineers voted to oust their long-time union president although that result won't be final until next week.

The five-year contract that roughly 115,000 workers in 12 unions received includes 24% raises, $5,000 in bonuses and one additional paid leave day, but the unions say it didn't do enough to address workers' quality-of-life concerns. President Joe Biden urged Congress to get involved because the potential economic damage that would come with a railroad strike was too great to bear, but their action left many workers disappointed because lawmakers opted not to require the railroads to add sick time.

"The American people should know that while this round of collective bargaining is over, the underlying issues facing the workforce and rail customers remain," said the Transportation Trades Department coalition of the AFL-CIO that includes all the rail unions. "Over the last seven years, the freight railroad industry has moved to a business model that has cut their workforces to the bone, devastated worker morale by creating unsustainable working conditions across the industry, and put the safety of their workers and the American public at risk."

The unions have said that the roughly 45,000 job cuts across the industry as railroads overhauled their operations over the past several years have increased the workload for everyone who remains and prompted the railroads to adopt strict attendance policies that make it hard for workers to take a day off. Railroads say they don't need as many workers as they used to because they have cut down on the number of trains and locomotives they are using by relying on longer trains with a mix of freight that run on a tighter schedule.

The railroads did agree as part of the contract to try to improve the way regular days off are scheduled through ongoing additional negotiations at each railroad. But it's not yet clear how much of a difference those changes will make to engineers and conductors who say they are now essentially on call 24-7.

One of the other concessions railroads made was to offer engineers and conductors three unpaid days off a year to tend to medical events as long as they schedule their appointments at least 30 days ahead of time.

The engineers union narrowly approved the deal while the union that represents conductors rejected it. But more than half of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen union members who voted this week backed challenger Eddie Hall over Dennis Pierce, who had led the union since 2010.

BLET officials say those results won't be certified until Monday after any challenges to the vote are resolved. Pierce, who was one of the leaders of the large bargaining coalition that represented the unions in the contract talks with all the major freight railroads over the past three years, declined to comment on the election results.

Hall said he thinks the vote clearly shows that engineers just aren't "satisfied with our leadership," The win is remarkable given that Hall was little known among the union nationally before he was nominated by workers in his division in Arizona.

"This is like a club fighter knocking out Muhammad Ali," Hall said. "I'm a vice local chairman out of Division 28 in Tucson. This is unprecedented. It's never happened before and it'll probably never happen again."

Hall said there is definitely still a lot of work to do to help improve workers' quality of life, but he doesn't have a long plan of what he will do if he does take office. He said the first thing on his agenda will be getting out and meeting with engineers all across the country to listen to their concerns.

Regardless of who leads the BLET for the next four years, all the unions have pledged to continue pressing the railroads to add sick time and ease some of their restrictive rules.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671102672360.jpeg" alt="Workers of the two biggest rail unions rally outside of Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022. ( AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)" />
 <figcaption>Workers of the two biggest rail unions rally outside of Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022. ( AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOSH FUNK AP Business WriterOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Railroad workers who are fed up with demanding work schedules and disappointed in the contract they received aired their frustrations this week at rallies across the country and in a leadership vote at one of their biggest unions.Workers gathered in Washington D.C. and nearly a dozen other locations across the country Tuesday to emphasize their quality of life concerns and fight for paid sick leave after Congress intervened in the stalled contract talks earlier this month and imposed a deal on four unions that had rejected it. And thousands of engineers voted to oust their long-time union president although that result won't be final until next week.The five-year contract that roughly 115,000 workers in 12 unions received includes 24% raises, $5,000 in bonuses and one additional paid leave day, but the unions say it didn't do enough to address workers' quality-of-life concerns. President Joe Biden urged Congress to get involved because the potential economic damage that would come with a railroad strike was too great to bear, but their action left many workers disappointed because lawmakers opted not to require the railroads to add sick time."The American people should know that while this round of collective bargaining is over, the underlying issues facing the workforce and rail customers remain," said the Transportation Trades Department coalition of the AFL-CIO that includes all the rail unions. "Over the last seven years, the freight railroad industry has moved to a business model that has cut their workforces to the bone, devastated worker morale by creating unsustainable working conditions across the industry, and put the safety of their workers and the American public at risk."The unions have said that the roughly 45,000 job cuts across the industry as railroads overhauled their operations over the past several years have increased the workload for everyone who remains and prompted the railroads to adopt strict attendance policies that make it hard for workers to take a day off. Railroads say they don't need as many workers as they used to because they have cut down on the number of trains and locomotives they are using by relying on longer trains with a mix of freight that run on a tighter schedule.The railroads did agree as part of the contract to try to improve the way regular days off are scheduled through ongoing additional negotiations at each railroad. But it's not yet clear how much of a difference those changes will make to engineers and conductors who say they are now essentially on call 24-7.One of the other concessions railroads made was to offer engineers and conductors three unpaid days off a year to tend to medical events as long as they schedule their appointments at least 30 days ahead of time.The engineers union narrowly approved the deal while the union that represents conductors rejected it. But more than half of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen union members who voted this week backed challenger Eddie Hall over Dennis Pierce, who had led the union since 2010.BLET officials say those results won't be certified until Monday after any challenges to the vote are resolved. Pierce, who was one of the leaders of the large bargaining coalition that represented the unions in the contract talks with all the major freight railroads over the past three years, declined to comment on the election results.Hall said he thinks the vote clearly shows that engineers just aren't "satisfied with our leadership," The win is remarkable given that Hall was little known among the union nationally before he was nominated by workers in his division in Arizona."This is like a club fighter knocking out Muhammad Ali," Hall said. "I'm a vice local chairman out of Division 28 in Tucson. This is unprecedented. It's never happened before and it'll probably never happen again."Hall said there is definitely still a lot of work to do to help improve workers' quality of life, but he doesn't have a long plan of what he will do if he does take office. He said the first thing on his agenda will be getting out and meeting with engineers all across the country to listen to their concerns.Regardless of who leads the BLET for the next four years, all the unions have pledged to continue pressing the railroads to add sick time and ease some of their restrictive rules.

Rail workers air their frustrations with rallies, vote

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Federal regulators and shippers are questioning Union Pacific's decision to temporarily limit some businesses' shipments as part of its effort to clear up congestion across the railroad.

The head of the U.S. Surface Transportation Board, Martin Oberman, said Wednesday he's concerned about Union Pacific's increasing use of the embargoes because they disrupt operations of the businesses that rely on the railroad, and they haven't seemed to help its performance significantly.

Union Pacific has ordered companies to remove some of their railcars from the network more than 1,000 times this year, up from 140 times in 2018, according to the transportation board.

An embargo can force a business to consider cutting production or resorting to more expensive shipping options, like trucking, if that's even an option. And they can make it harder for other businesses to get the key products, such as shipments of chlorine used to treat water, or grain for feeding animals.

"The customer is bearing the brunt of the pain. You guys are still making money," Surface Transportation Board member Robert Primus said, addressing Union Pacific executives during two days of board hearings this week.

For much of this year, Union Pacific and the other major freight railroads have struggled to deliver products on time and handle all the shipments companies want to move because they were short on crews coming out of the pandemic. The railroads have been improving throughout the year as they hired more workers, but regulators say they're still lagging behind where they should be. Union Pacific is using significantly more embargoes than any other railroad.

At the hearings, Union Pacific executives defended their practices, arguing that their embargoes are needed to help get the railroad running better. CEO Lance Fritz said the embargoes are targeted and temporary measures that shouldn't place an undue burden on individual businesses.

"We only use embargoes when necessary and when no longer necessary, we end them," Fritz said.

But several shippers and trade groups testified that the embargoes are hurting their businesses.

Cargill executive Brock Lautenschlager said Union Pacific's actions make it hard to plan. Last month, the railroad told Cargill it needed to pull 130 railcars it owns from the network within a week or face shipment limits at five of its plants. The agribusiness giant complied because it worried that an embargo could force it to shut down a plant.

"We believe embargoes should be the exception not the norm," Lautenschlager said.

It's accepted practice for railroads to temporarily place limits on shipments in extreme conditions when something outside their control, like a flood or bridge fire, hurts their ability to haul freight. Business groups, however, say they believe deep cuts in UP's workforce are a major reason the Omaha, Nebraska-based railroad is having so much trouble meeting customer expectations.

Oberman said there seems to be a direct correlation between the sharp drop in Union Pacific employees since 2018, as it overhauled its operations, and the increased use of embargoes. The number of train crews the railroad employed went from roughly 18,000 in 2018 to about 13,000 today and that includes all the hiring the railroad has done since the economy started to rebound from the pandemic.

Greg Twist with grain processor Ag Processing Inc. compared the situation to going shopping at a grocery store and finding that the store refuses to hire more than one clerk, and then the store's manager tells him he must come back at a certain time of day if he wants service. And unlike with groceries, his company generally can't shop around to ship its goods because Union Pacific is the only railroad that serves several of its plants.

Twist said Ag Processing should have "the freedom to decide how we operate our facilities" without having the railroad dictate how much they can produce with its shipping limits.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671102518972.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOSH FUNK AP Business WriterOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Federal regulators and shippers are questioning Union Pacific's decision to temporarily limit some businesses' shipments as part of its effort to clear up congestion across the railroad.The head of the U.S. Surface Transportation Board, Martin Oberman, said Wednesday he's concerned about Union Pacific's increasing use of the embargoes because they disrupt operations of the businesses that rely on the railroad, and they haven't seemed to help its performance significantly.Union Pacific has ordered companies to remove some of their railcars from the network more than 1,000 times this year, up from 140 times in 2018, according to the transportation board.An embargo can force a business to consider cutting production or resorting to more expensive shipping options, like trucking, if that's even an option. And they can make it harder for other businesses to get the key products, such as shipments of chlorine used to treat water, or grain for feeding animals."The customer is bearing the brunt of the pain. You guys are still making money," Surface Transportation Board member Robert Primus said, addressing Union Pacific executives during two days of board hearings this week.For much of this year, Union Pacific and the other major freight railroads have struggled to deliver products on time and handle all the shipments companies want to move because they were short on crews coming out of the pandemic. The railroads have been improving throughout the year as they hired more workers, but regulators say they're still lagging behind where they should be. Union Pacific is using significantly more embargoes than any other railroad.At the hearings, Union Pacific executives defended their practices, arguing that their embargoes are needed to help get the railroad running better. CEO Lance Fritz said the embargoes are targeted and temporary measures that shouldn't place an undue burden on individual businesses."We only use embargoes when necessary and when no longer necessary, we end them," Fritz said.But several shippers and trade groups testified that the embargoes are hurting their businesses.Cargill executive Brock Lautenschlager said Union Pacific's actions make it hard to plan. Last month, the railroad told Cargill it needed to pull 130 railcars it owns from the network within a week or face shipment limits at five of its plants. The agribusiness giant complied because it worried that an embargo could force it to shut down a plant."We believe embargoes should be the exception not the norm," Lautenschlager said.It's accepted practice for railroads to temporarily place limits on shipments in extreme conditions when something outside their control, like a flood or bridge fire, hurts their ability to haul freight. Business groups, however, say they believe deep cuts in UP's workforce are a major reason the Omaha, Nebraska-based railroad is having so much trouble meeting customer expectations.Oberman said there seems to be a direct correlation between the sharp drop in Union Pacific employees since 2018, as it overhauled its operations, and the increased use of embargoes. The number of train crews the railroad employed went from roughly 18,000 in 2018 to about 13,000 today and that includes all the hiring the railroad has done since the economy started to rebound from the pandemic.Greg Twist with grain processor Ag Processing Inc. compared the situation to going shopping at a grocery store and finding that the store refuses to hire more than one clerk, and then the store's manager tells him he must come back at a certain time of day if he wants service. And unlike with groceries, his company generally can't shop around to ship its goods because Union Pacific is the only railroad that serves several of its plants.Twist said Ag Processing should have "the freedom to decide how we operate our facilities" without having the railroad dictate how much they can produce with its shipping limits.

Union Pacific railroad shipping limits generate complaints

Starting immediately as weather allows over the winter months, officials across the state plan to burn slash piles.

Nebraska Game and Parks will burn slash piles containing trees and shrubs removed from grasslands and forests, along with other debris piles, on both wildlife management areas and state park areas. The goal is to reduce fuel loads while conditions are safer for burning.

In the Pine Ridge, Nebraska Game and Parks is partnering with the Pine Ridge Ranger District of the Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands to reduce fuel loads in forested areas.

When burns are occurring, smoke likely will be visible from nearby communities and other nearby roads and properties.

The burn piles will be checked at least daily until they are completely extinguished.

Thinning and reducing hazardous fuel accumulation and build-up on the ground is an important tool in reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfires. Many of these slash piles are from mechanical thinning completed in grassland and forested areas throughout the state and some residue from previous fires.

For more information contact the Nebraska Game and Parks Wildlife Office at 402-471-5431, and for information on the Pine Ridge fires, contact the Pine Ridge Ranger District at 308-432-0300 or the Game and Parks Commission Pine Ridge Field Office at 308-665-2924.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671042988452.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By NEBRASKA GAME AND PARKSStarting immediately as weather allows over the winter months, officials across the state plan to burn slash piles.Nebraska Game and Parks will burn slash piles containing trees and shrubs removed from grasslands and forests, along with other debris piles, on both wildlife management areas and state park areas. The goal is to reduce fuel loads while conditions are safer for burning.In the Pine Ridge, Nebraska Game and Parks is partnering with the Pine Ridge Ranger District of the Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands to reduce fuel loads in forested areas.When burns are occurring, smoke likely will be visible from nearby communities and other nearby roads and properties.The burn piles will be checked at least daily until they are completely extinguished.Thinning and reducing hazardous fuel accumulation and build-up on the ground is an important tool in reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfires. Many of these slash piles are from mechanical thinning completed in grassland and forested areas throughout the state and some residue from previous fires.For more information contact the Nebraska Game and Parks Wildlife Office at 402-471-5431, and for information on the Pine Ridge fires, contact the Pine Ridge Ranger District at 308-432-0300 or the Game and Parks Commission Pine Ridge Field Office at 308-665-2924.

Nebraska fire officials begin burning slash piles across the state

A blizzard warning remains in effect in the Panhandle through 11 p.m. Wednesday, the National Weather Service in Cheyenne, Wyo., reported.

Snowfall totals range in Box Butte and Dawes counties ranged from about 6 to 12 inches, the NWS said.&nbsp;

There is a 50 percent chance for continuing snow, accompanied by strong winds gusting up to 50 mph, which have caused poor visibility and drifting.&nbsp;

The high Wednesday was only expected to hit 20 degrees, with wind chills as low as 12 below zero after midnight.

There is a slight chance of continuing snow Thursday and Friday, and overnight wind chills will be well below zero into next week, the NWS predicted.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671035158145.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>A blizzard warning remains in effect in the Panhandle through 11 p.m. Wednesday, the National Weather Service in Cheyenne, Wyo., reported.Snowfall totals range in Box Butte and Dawes counties ranged from about 6 to 12 inches, the NWS said.&nbsp;There is a 50 percent chance for continuing snow, accompanied by strong winds gusting up to 50 mph, which have caused poor visibility and drifting.&nbsp;The high Wednesday was only expected to hit 20 degrees, with wind chills as low as 12 below zero after midnight.There is a slight chance of continuing snow Thursday and Friday, and overnight wind chills will be well below zero into next week, the NWS predicted.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Morning Hazard Update: Blizzard Warnings, High Wind Warnings and Winter Storm Warnings remain in effect until 11 PM. Snow will wind down, but minor accumulations are still possible. Blowing snow, drifting snow, and poor visibility expected.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Wywx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Wywx</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NEwx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NEwx</a> <a href="https://t.co/YmM76toU0y">pic.twitter.com/YmM76toU0y</a>&mdash; NWS Cheyenne (@NWSCheyenne) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSCheyenne/status/1603017602653032449?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 14, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </div>

❄️ Panhandle blizzard warning remains in effect 

By JAMIE STENGLE and STEPHEN GROVES Associated Press

DALLAS (AP) — A destructive storm marched across the United States, spawning tornadoes that touched down in parts of Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana, where two deaths were reported, and it delivered blizzard-like conditions to the Great Plains and threatened more severe weather Wednesday in the South.

In northern Louisiana, a young boy was found dead in a wooded area more than a half-mile from his home in the Keithville area, just south of Shreveport, Caddo Parish Sheriff Steve Prator said. The child's mother was later found dead one street over from her home, he said.

The child's father reported them missing from their home, which the sheriff said was demolished in the storm.

"We couldn't even find the house that he was describing with the address. Everything was gone," Prator told Shreveport TV station KSLA.

In Farmerville, Louisiana, about 90 miles (145 kilometers) to the east of Keithville, about 20 people were taken to a hospital, some with critical injuries, after a tornado caused major damage to mobile homes and an apartment complex, the Union Parish Sheriff's Office told Monroe TV station KNOE.

Wednesday's forecast calls for more severe storms and potentially additional tornadoes along the central Gulf Coast, including New Orleans and southern Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle,

Earlier Tuesday, five tornadoes were confirmed across north Texas based on video and eyewitness reports, but potentially a dozen may have occurred, the National Weather Service in Fort Worth, Texas, reported.

Dozens of homes and businesses were damaged by the line of thunderstorms, and several people were injured in the suburbs and counties stretching north of the Dallas-Fort Worth area. More than 1,000 flights into and out of area airports were delayed, and over 100 were canceled Tuesday, according to the tracking service FlightAware.

Blizzard warnings stretched from Montana into western Nebraska and Colorado, and the National Weather Service said as much as 2 feet (61 centimeters) of snow was possible in some areas of western South Dakota and northwestern Nebraska. Winds of more than 50 mph (80 kph) at times will make it impossible to see outdoors in Nebraska, officials said.

"There's essentially no one traveling right now," said Justin McCallum, a manager at the Flying J truck stop at Ogallala, Nebraska.

Forecasters expect the storm system to hobble the upper Midwest with ice, rain and snow for days, as well as move into the Northeast and central Appalachians. Residents from West Virginia to Vermont were told to watch out for a possible significant mix of snow, ice and sleet, and the National Weather Service issued a winter storm watch from Wednesday night through Friday afternoon, depending on the timing of the storm.

In the Dallas suburb of Grapevine, police spokesperson Amanda McNew reported five confirmed injuries Tuesday.

A possible tornado blew the roof off the city's service center — a municipal facility — and left pieces of the roof hanging from powerlines, said Trent Kelley, deputy director of Grapevine Parks and Recreation.

It was also trash day, so the storm picked up and scattered garbage all over, he said.

In Colorado, all roads were closed in the northeast quadrant of the state. The severe weather in the ranching region could also threaten livestock. Extreme winds can push livestock through fences as they follow the gale's direction, said Jim Santomaso, a northeast representative for the Colorado Cattlemen's Association.

"If this keeps up," said Santomaso, "cattle could drift miles."

A blizzard warning has been issued on Minnesota's north shore, as some areas are expecting up to 24 inches of snow and wind gusts up to 40 mph. And in the south of the state, winds gusting up to 50 mph (80 kph) had reduced visibility.

National Weather Service meteorologist Melissa Dye in the Twin Cities said this is a "long duration event" with snow, ice and rain through Friday night. Minnesota was expecting a lull Wednesday, followed by a second round of snow.

The same weather system dumped heavy snow in the Sierra Nevada and western U.S. in recent days.

Groves reported from Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Associated Press writers Ken Miller in Oklahoma City; Jill Bleed in Little Rock, Arkansas; Sam Metz in Salt Lake City; Trisha Ahmed in Minneapolis; Jesse Bedayn in Denver; Margery Beck in Omaha, Nebraska; and Robert Jablon in Los Angeles contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671025736046.jpeg" alt="Tractor trailers are stacked up on the shoulder along the eastbound lanes of Interstate 70 near East Airpark Road, Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022, in Aurora, Colo. A massive winter storm has closed roads throughout northeast Colorado. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)" />
 <figcaption>Tractor trailers are stacked up on the shoulder along the eastbound lanes of Interstate 70 near East Airpark Road, Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022, in Aurora, Colo. A massive winter storm has closed roads throughout northeast Colorado. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)</figcaption>
 </figure>By JAMIE STENGLE and STEPHEN GROVES Associated PressDALLAS (AP) — A destructive storm marched across the United States, spawning tornadoes that touched down in parts of Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana, where two deaths were reported, and it delivered blizzard-like conditions to the Great Plains and threatened more severe weather Wednesday in the South.In northern Louisiana, a young boy was found dead in a wooded area more than a half-mile from his home in the Keithville area, just south of Shreveport, Caddo Parish Sheriff Steve Prator said. The child's mother was later found dead one street over from her home, he said.The child's father reported them missing from their home, which the sheriff said was demolished in the storm."We couldn't even find the house that he was describing with the address. Everything was gone," Prator told Shreveport TV station KSLA.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671025759880.jpeg" alt="Belinda Penner carries belonging from her cousin's home, destroyed by a tornado, Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022, in Wayne, Okla. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)" />
 <figcaption>Belinda Penner carries belonging from her cousin's home, destroyed by a tornado, Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022, in Wayne, Okla. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)</figcaption>
 </figure>In Farmerville, Louisiana, about 90 miles (145 kilometers) to the east of Keithville, about 20 people were taken to a hospital, some with critical injuries, after a tornado caused major damage to mobile homes and an apartment complex, the Union Parish Sheriff's Office told Monroe TV station KNOE.Wednesday's forecast calls for more severe storms and potentially additional tornadoes along the central Gulf Coast, including New Orleans and southern Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle,Earlier Tuesday, five tornadoes were confirmed across north Texas based on video and eyewitness reports, but potentially a dozen may have occurred, the National Weather Service in Fort Worth, Texas, reported.Dozens of homes and businesses were damaged by the line of thunderstorms, and several people were injured in the suburbs and counties stretching north of the Dallas-Fort Worth area. More than 1,000 flights into and out of area airports were delayed, and over 100 were canceled Tuesday, according to the tracking service FlightAware.Blizzard warnings stretched from Montana into western Nebraska and Colorado, and the National Weather Service said as much as 2 feet (61 centimeters) of snow was possible in some areas of western South Dakota and northwestern Nebraska. Winds of more than 50 mph (80 kph) at times will make it impossible to see outdoors in Nebraska, officials said."There's essentially no one traveling right now," said Justin McCallum, a manager at the Flying J truck stop at Ogallala, Nebraska.Forecasters expect the storm system to hobble the upper Midwest with ice, rain and snow for days, as well as move into the Northeast and central Appalachians. Residents from West Virginia to Vermont were told to watch out for a possible significant mix of snow, ice and sleet, and the National Weather Service issued a winter storm watch from Wednesday night through Friday afternoon, depending on the timing of the storm.In the Dallas suburb of Grapevine, police spokesperson Amanda McNew reported five confirmed injuries Tuesday.A possible tornado blew the roof off the city's service center — a municipal facility — and left pieces of the roof hanging from powerlines, said Trent Kelley, deputy director of Grapevine Parks and Recreation.It was also trash day, so the storm picked up and scattered garbage all over, he said.In Colorado, all roads were closed in the northeast quadrant of the state. The severe weather in the ranching region could also threaten livestock. Extreme winds can push livestock through fences as they follow the gale's direction, said Jim Santomaso, a northeast representative for the Colorado Cattlemen's Association."If this keeps up," said Santomaso, "cattle could drift miles."A blizzard warning has been issued on Minnesota's north shore, as some areas are expecting up to 24 inches of snow and wind gusts up to 40 mph. And in the south of the state, winds gusting up to 50 mph (80 kph) had reduced visibility.National Weather Service meteorologist Melissa Dye in the Twin Cities said this is a "long duration event" with snow, ice and rain through Friday night. Minnesota was expecting a lull Wednesday, followed by a second round of snow.The same weather system dumped heavy snow in the Sierra Nevada and western U.S. in recent days.___Groves reported from Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Associated Press writers Ken Miller in Oklahoma City; Jill Bleed in Little Rock, Arkansas; Sam Metz in Salt Lake City; Trisha Ahmed in Minneapolis; Jesse Bedayn in Denver; Margery Beck in Omaha, Nebraska; and Robert Jablon in Los Angeles contributed to this report.

US storm brings tornadoes, blizzard-like conditions; 2 dead

BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM MST WEDNESDAY...

*Blizzard conditions.&nbsp; Additional snow accumulations of 10  to 20 inches. with locally higher amounts possible. Winds&nbsp;  gusting as high as 60 mph.

Significant and widespread snow and strong winds continue into Wednesday and possibly as long as Thursday morning&nbsp; before ending from west to east.&nbsp; Winter Storm Warnings and Blizzard Warnings continue through much of Wednesday.

Strong winds creating blowing and drifting snow will continue through Friday before easing. Very cold temperatures will combine with these strong winds to create hazardous windchill temperatures through this time.

* Travel could be very difficult to impossible.&nbsp;  Widespread blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility.&nbsp; The hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening&nbsp;  commute. The cold wind chills as low as 20 below zero could&nbsp;  cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes.

Travel should be restricted to emergencies only.&nbsp; If you must travel, have a winter survival kit with you. If you get stranded, stay with your vehicle. The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can be obtained by calling 5 1 1.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668709073487.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM MST WEDNESDAY...*Blizzard conditions.&nbsp; Additional snow accumulations of 10 to 20 inches. with locally higher amounts possible. Winds&nbsp; gusting as high as 60 mph.Significant and widespread snow and strong winds continue into Wednesday and possibly as long as Thursday morning&nbsp; before ending from west to east.&nbsp; Winter Storm Warnings and Blizzard Warnings continue through much of Wednesday.Strong winds creating blowing and drifting snow will continue through Friday before easing. Very cold temperatures will combine with these strong winds to create hazardous windchill temperatures through this time.* Travel could be very difficult to impossible.&nbsp; Widespread blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility.&nbsp; The hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening&nbsp; commute. The cold wind chills as low as 20 below zero could&nbsp; cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes.Travel should be restricted to emergencies only.&nbsp; If you must travel, have a winter survival kit with you. If you get stranded, stay with your vehicle. The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can be obtained by calling 5 1 1.

UPDATE: Winter weather arrives in Panhandle

By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/state-shifts-plow-drivers-westward-to-deal-with-shortage-of-workers/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Due to a shortage of snowplow drivers, the state is 
shifting workers from central Nebraska to the Panhandle to deal with an 
expected blizzard there this week.

John Selmer, director of the Nebraska Department of Transporation, 
told a group of state lawmakers Tuesday that his agency is short about 
250 workers who are licensed to drive snowplows.

Because of that, the NDOT is moving snowblower trucks and drivers to 
the Panhandle region, where blizzard conditions are expected. Some will 
stay overnight in that area, where snow and high winds are expected into
 Thursday.

“Several” blowers, with crews of three each, began moving west Tuesday morning, an NDOT spokeswoman said.

‘Fortunate’ only part of state affected

Selmer, in comments to a reporter later, said the state is 
“fortunate” that this storm is only hitting the western portion of the 
state,and not the entire state. That allows crews in unaffected areas to
 be moved.

“That’s a storm we can handle,” he said.

Several state agencies have struggled to fill jobs amid rising pay 
for private jobs, and with Nebraska’s low unemployment rate, which was 
2.4% in October.

Earlier this fall, the Nebraska Association of Public Employees, the 
union that represents state employees and bargains for their wages, 
issued<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/state-staffing-shortages-has-union-looking-for-raises-that-keep-up-with-inflation/"> a warning that state salaries were “falling behind”</a>&nbsp; as inflation hovered around 9%.

In September, NDOT reported having 259 vacancies in jobs that involve
 plowing snow. To fill job vacancies, the agency began offering $4,000 
bonuses for diesel mechanics who are hired.

Selmer said Tuesday that some office staff who possess a commercial 
drivers license will be pressed into duty for the Panhandle blizzard, 
along with the workers transferred in.

“Any warm body I can get out there” is how he described it during an 
annual report to the Legislature’s Appropriations and Transportation and
 Telecommunications Committees.

State Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha, who sits on the budget-writing 
Appropriations Committee, asked Selmer if the state should be budgeting 
more money for salaries to address the shortage.

Selmer said that pay is part of the issue,but that salaries are negotiated by the state and the NAPE.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670958091691.png" alt="A shortage of snowplow operations is forcing the state to shift workers from the central part of Nebraska to the Panhandle to handle the blizzard there. (Courtesy Nebraska Department of Transportation)" />
 <figcaption>A shortage of snowplow operations is forcing the state to shift workers from the central part of Nebraska to the Panhandle to handle the blizzard there. (Courtesy Nebraska Department of Transportation)</figcaption>
 </figure>By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/state-shifts-plow-drivers-westward-to-deal-with-shortage-of-workers/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Due to a shortage of snowplow drivers, the state is 
shifting workers from central Nebraska to the Panhandle to deal with an 
expected blizzard there this week.John Selmer, director of the Nebraska Department of Transporation, 
told a group of state lawmakers Tuesday that his agency is short about 
250 workers who are licensed to drive snowplows.Because of that, the NDOT is moving snowblower trucks and drivers to 
the Panhandle region, where blizzard conditions are expected. Some will 
stay overnight in that area, where snow and high winds are expected into
 Thursday.“Several” blowers, with crews of three each, began moving west Tuesday morning, an NDOT spokeswoman said.<h2>‘Fortunate’ only part of state affected</h2>Selmer, in comments to a reporter later, said the state is 
“fortunate” that this storm is only hitting the western portion of the 
state,and not the entire state. That allows crews in unaffected areas to
 be moved.“That’s a storm we can handle,” he said.Several state agencies have struggled to fill jobs amid rising pay 
for private jobs, and with Nebraska’s low unemployment rate, which was 
2.4% in October.Earlier this fall, the Nebraska Association of Public Employees, the 
union that represents state employees and bargains for their wages, 
issued<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/state-staffing-shortages-has-union-looking-for-raises-that-keep-up-with-inflation/"> a warning that state salaries were “falling behind”</a>&nbsp; as inflation hovered around 9%.<h2>259 job vacancies in September</h2>In September, NDOT reported having 259 vacancies in jobs that involve
 plowing snow. To fill job vacancies, the agency began offering $4,000 
bonuses for diesel mechanics who are hired.Selmer said Tuesday that some office staff who possess a commercial 
drivers license will be pressed into duty for the Panhandle blizzard, 
along with the workers transferred in.“Any warm body I can get out there” is how he described it during an 
annual report to the Legislature’s Appropriations and Transportation and
 Telecommunications Committees.State Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha, who sits on the budget-writing 
Appropriations Committee, asked Selmer if the state should be budgeting 
more money for salaries to address the shortage.Selmer said that pay is part of the issue,but that salaries are negotiated by the state and the NAPE.

Neb. snow plow drivers head west in midst of worker shortage

Here is the latest update regarding road closures from the Nebraska Department of Transportation as of 8:03 am MT

HWY&nbsp; 2&nbsp; &nbsp; Hemingford West to Hwy 71

HWY 2&nbsp; &nbsp; Alliance East to Grant County Line

HWY L7E&nbsp; &nbsp;HWY 87 TO Hemingford

HWY 19&nbsp; &nbsp;Sidney to Colorado State Line

HWY 26&nbsp;&nbsp; Wy State Line to Lewellen

L62A&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; HWY 26 TO HWY 385

HWY 27&nbsp; &nbsp;South Dakota Line to Hwy 2

HWY 27&nbsp; &nbsp;Oshkosh to Hwy 30

HWY&nbsp; 29&nbsp; &nbsp;Harrison to Mitchell

HWY 30&nbsp; &nbsp;Wyoming State to Big Springs

HWY 71&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;South Dakota State Line to Colorado State Line

I- 80&nbsp; &nbsp; Wyoming State lINE&nbsp; to Big Springs

HWY 87&nbsp; &nbsp;South Dakota Line to Alliance

HWY 88&nbsp; &nbsp;Bridgeport to WY State Line

L79E&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Minatare to HWY 92

HWY 250&nbsp; &nbsp;Rushville to Hwy 2

&nbsp;HWY 385&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; South Dakota State Line to Sidney

HWY 385&nbsp;&nbsp; CO State Line to Chappell

Here is the latest update regarding road closures from the Nebraska Department of Transportation as of 6:20 am MT

Hwy 29 from Harrison to Mitchell is closed due to heavy snow and bad visibility.

Hwy 87 &nbsp;from South Dakota State line to Alliance closed due to heavy snow and bad visibility.

Hwy 250&nbsp; from Rushville to Hwy 2 is closed due to heavy snow and bad visibility

Hwy 71 from Kimball to Crawford is closed due to snow and blowing snow

Hwy 2 west of Hemingford is closed due to visibility.

Hwy 27 from South Dakota State line to Hwy 2 is closed due to snow and blowing snow.

Hwy 88 from Bridgeport to the Wyoming State line is closed due to snow and blowing snow.

Hwy 385 from Chadron to Alliance is closed due to snow and no visibility.

I - 80&nbsp; eastbound&nbsp; from the Wyoming State line to Big Springs,&nbsp; is now closed due to poor visibility, ice, and accidents

Hwy 71 from Kimball to the Colorado State line is closed due to Colorado closure and poor visibility.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670940373181.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Here is the latest update regarding road closures from the Nebraska Department of Transportation as of 8:03 am MTHWY&nbsp; 2&nbsp; &nbsp; Hemingford West to Hwy 71HWY 2&nbsp; &nbsp; Alliance East to Grant County LineHWY L7E&nbsp; &nbsp;HWY 87 TO HemingfordHWY 19&nbsp; &nbsp;Sidney to Colorado State LineHWY 26&nbsp;&nbsp; Wy State Line to LewellenL62A&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; HWY 26 TO HWY 385HWY 27&nbsp; &nbsp;South Dakota Line to Hwy 2HWY 27&nbsp; &nbsp;Oshkosh to Hwy 30HWY&nbsp; 29&nbsp; &nbsp;Harrison to MitchellHWY 30&nbsp; &nbsp;Wyoming State to Big SpringsHWY 71&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;South Dakota State Line to Colorado State LineI- 80&nbsp; &nbsp; Wyoming State lINE&nbsp; to Big SpringsHWY 87&nbsp; &nbsp;South Dakota Line to AllianceHWY 88&nbsp; &nbsp;Bridgeport to WY State LineL79E&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Minatare to HWY 92HWY 250&nbsp; &nbsp;Rushville to Hwy 2&nbsp;HWY 385&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; South Dakota State Line to SidneyHWY 385&nbsp;&nbsp; CO State Line to ChappellHere is the latest update regarding road closures from the Nebraska Department of Transportation as of 6:20 am MTHwy 29 from Harrison to Mitchell is closed due to heavy snow and bad visibility.Hwy 87 &nbsp;from South Dakota State line to Alliance closed due to heavy snow and bad visibility.Hwy 250&nbsp; from Rushville to Hwy 2 is closed due to heavy snow and bad visibilityHwy 71 from Kimball to Crawford is closed due to snow and blowing snowHwy 2 west of Hemingford is closed due to visibility.Hwy 27 from South Dakota State line to Hwy 2 is closed due to snow and blowing snow.Hwy 88 from Bridgeport to the Wyoming State line is closed due to snow and blowing snow.Hwy 385 from Chadron to Alliance is closed due to snow and no visibility.I - 80&nbsp; eastbound&nbsp; from the Wyoming State line to Big Springs,&nbsp; is now closed due to poor visibility, ice, and accidentsHwy 71 from Kimball to the Colorado State line is closed due to Colorado closure and poor visibility.

UPDATE: Road Closings

POST PODCAST: Coffee Talk 12/13/22

&nbsp;Due to inclement weather, the following Alliance City facilities are closed.

The Senior Center is closed,&nbsp; including the Nutrition Site.&nbsp; Meals will not be delivered today, December 13, 2022.

The Alliance Public Library, Knight Museum &amp; Sandhills Center, Military Museum, and City Landfill are also closed.

The Public Transit will not be running today, December 13th and tomorrow, December 14th.

For emergencies, please call the Police Department non-emergency line at (308) 762-4955.

&nbsp;Due to inclement weather, the following Alliance City facilities are closed.The Senior Center is closed,&nbsp; including the Nutrition Site.&nbsp; Meals will not be delivered today, December 13, 2022.The Alliance Public Library, Knight Museum &amp; Sandhills Center, Military Museum, and City Landfill are also closed.The Public Transit will not be running today, December 13th and tomorrow, December 14th.For emergencies, please call the Police Department non-emergency line at (308) 762-4955.

Alliance City Facilities Closed

The City of Alliance has declared a snow emergency starting today at 5:00 p.m. until Wednesday, December 14th at 5:00 pm. 

Residents who live on designated snow routes are asked to please have all vehicles removed from the street to ensure accessibility for the City crews and emergency personnel.&nbsp; Due to the predicted snow totals, crews will be plowing snow on these routes multiple times. 

Per the City of Alliance Municipal Code Ordinance No. 2883, Sec.24-27, please note that it is the duty of the owner of every lot or parcel adjacent to a permanent sidewalk to clean off and remove all snow within 24 hours after snow accumulation, however, snow shall not be moved from lots, driveways, or adjacent sidewalks into the city streets, alley or neighboring lots.&nbsp; Such an offense shall be considered a misdemeanor and is punishable by a $100.00 fine. 

The Alliance Police Department will attempt to make contact with owners of any vehicles left parked on designated snow routes. Any vehicles not moved will be towed.

The following streets are declared to be snow emergency routes within the city.

1.&nbsp; U.S. Highway 385, 87 and 2 within the corporate limits

2.&nbsp; Cody Ave from Third Street to Kansas Street

3.&nbsp; Emerson Ave from the northern corporate limits to 3rd Street

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670878499514.jpeg" alt="snow plow.jpg" />
 <figcaption>snow plow.jpg</figcaption>
 </figure>By:&nbsp; &nbsp;Panhandle PostThe City of Alliance has declared a snow emergency starting today at 5:00 p.m. until Wednesday, December 14th at 5:00 pm. Residents who live on designated snow routes are asked to please have all vehicles removed from the street to ensure accessibility for the City crews and emergency personnel.&nbsp; Due to the predicted snow totals, crews will be plowing snow on these routes multiple times. Per the City of Alliance Municipal Code Ordinance No. 2883, Sec.24-27, please note that it is the duty of the owner of every lot or parcel adjacent to a permanent sidewalk to clean off and remove all snow within 24 hours after snow accumulation, however, snow shall not be moved from lots, driveways, or adjacent sidewalks into the city streets, alley or neighboring lots.&nbsp; Such an offense shall be considered a misdemeanor and is punishable by a $100.00 fine. The Alliance Police Department will attempt to make contact with owners of any vehicles left parked on designated snow routes. Any vehicles not moved will be towed.The following streets are declared to be snow emergency routes within the city.1.&nbsp; U.S. Highway 385, 87 and 2 within the corporate limits2.&nbsp; Cody Ave from Third Street to Kansas Street3.&nbsp; Emerson Ave from the northern corporate limits to 3rd Street4.&nbsp; Box Butte Ave from 25th Street to First Street5.&nbsp; Mississippi Ave from Tenth Street to Third Street6.&nbsp; Potash Ave from Third Street to Kansas Street7.&nbsp; Third Street from Flack Ave east to the corporat limits8.&nbsp; All of 10th Street within the corporate limits9.&nbsp; 16th street from Buchfinch Ave to Box Butte Ave10.&nbsp; 25th street from Emerson to Sweetwater Ave11.&nbsp; Kansas Street from Highway 2 to Highway 38512.&nbsp; Buchfinch Ave from 10th to 16th Street13.&nbsp; Black Hills Ave from 3rd Street to 10th Street14.&nbsp; 6th Street from Mississippi to Grand Ave15.&nbsp; Grand Ave from 6th to 7th&nbsp; Street16.&nbsp; 7th Street from Grand to Mississippi Ave17.&nbsp; 8th Street from Dakota to Mississippi Ave

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