OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska has launched a federally funded aid program for renters and landlords who have lost income due to the pandemic, but residents of the state’s two largest counties won’t be eligible. 

The program managed by the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority offers a maximum of 15 months of rental or mortgage assistance per applicant, up to $20,000. 

State officials say it’s only available to tenants who make 80% or less of their county’s median income, and who can show they’re unable to pay rent because of a financial hardship caused by the pandemic or they’re at risk of becoming homeless. 

Douglas and Lancaster counties will have their own programs.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska has launched a federally funded aid program for renters and landlords who have lost income due to the pandemic, but residents of the state’s two largest counties won’t be eligible. The program managed by the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority offers a maximum of 15 months of rental or mortgage assistance per applicant, up to $20,000. State officials say it’s only available to tenants who make 80% or less of their county’s median income, and who can show they’re unable to pay rent because of a financial hardship caused by the pandemic or they’re at risk of becoming homeless. Douglas and Lancaster counties will have their own programs.

Nebraska launches virus aid program for tenants, landlords

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — Authorities say a man accused of killing an 82-year-old woman in her Rapid City home was arrested on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

 James Jumping Eagle is charged with felony first-degree murder in the death Reta McGovern on Feb. 10, according to online court records.

 Oglala Sioux police say Jumping Eagle was arrested by a fugitive task force about 8:45 p.m. Saturday at a home a couple of miles south of Manderson. 

The Rapid City Journal reports that the suspect was apprehended without incident. 

McGovern, who lived alone, was found dead with a laceration to her throat on Feb. 10. 

Police announced Friday that Jumping Eagle was identified as the suspect through forensic DNA and called it a targeted crime.

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — Authorities say a man accused of killing an 82-year-old woman in her Rapid City home was arrested on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. James Jumping Eagle is charged with felony first-degree murder in the death Reta McGovern on Feb. 10, according to online court records. Oglala Sioux police say Jumping Eagle was arrested by a fugitive task force about 8:45 p.m. Saturday at a home a couple of miles south of Manderson. The Rapid City Journal reports that the suspect was apprehended without incident. McGovern, who lived alone, was found dead with a laceration to her throat on Feb. 10. Police announced Friday that Jumping Eagle was identified as the suspect through forensic DNA and called it a targeted crime.

Man arrested in killing of 82-year-old Rapid City woman

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska officials are watching for variants of the coronavirus by sequencing the entire genome of samples of the virus.

 Peter Iwen, the director of Nebraska’s Public Health Laboratory, said the detailed tests performed each week help scientists identify mutations of the virus and track how they affect the spread of COVID-19 in the state.

 So far, the lab hasn’t identified either of the main variants of the virus that were first identified in the United Kingdom and in South Africa in the state. 

But the researchers have found two other mutations that may affect the virus’ ability to cause infections and severe symptoms.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska officials are watching for variants of the coronavirus by sequencing the entire genome of samples of the virus. Peter Iwen, the director of Nebraska’s Public Health Laboratory, said the detailed tests performed each week help scientists identify mutations of the virus and track how they affect the spread of COVID-19 in the state. So far, the lab hasn’t identified either of the main variants of the virus that were first identified in the United Kingdom and in South Africa in the state. But the researchers have found two other mutations that may affect the virus’ ability to cause infections and severe symptoms.

Nebraska lab conducts detailed tests to track coronavirus

SCOTTSBLUFF&nbsp;- The Theatre Arts program at Western Nebraska Community College will kick off the Spring 2021 Performing &amp; Visual Arts season with a virtual production of "Night Witches" by local playwright Christy Fredrickson.&nbsp;

The show will air for free on WNCC's official YouTube and Facebook channels on Friday, February 26 at 7 p.m.&nbsp; "Night Witches" is a piece about strength, determination, and perseverance, following the Russian all-female 588th Night Bomber Regiment during World War II. The production, from set design to the cast is filled with local talent and collaboration.&nbsp; "This production is particularly special because it was brought to fruition by so many local talents," WNCC Theatre Arts Director Francesca Mintowt-Czyz. "It involves another extremely large cast of 22 actors, varying in age and experience, and epitomizes the power theatre has to bring people together. Not only was the play written by local playwright, Christy Fredrickson, but we had two incoming freshman from Mitchell and Gering High Schools play pivotal roles."

Mintowt-Czyz and Fredrickson began discussing the production after seeing it as a One Act at Morrill High School last spring. Wanting to transform it to a full-length piece, students in the Survey of Theatrical Design class were tasked with designing the set. The crew even borrowed a real plane, from the Aviation Maintenance program in Sidney. WNCC Visual Arts Instructor Yelena Khanevskaya, who was born in Russia, helped the cast develop language skills and dialect to support the production.&nbsp;

"Night Witches" is the first of eight scheduled performances for the Spring 2021 season.&nbsp;WNCC is working to host live, in-person events when possible. Capacity limits will be in place at in person events. Livestream or pre-recorded virtual performances will be utilized for events not held in-person. The Faculty Recital on March 5 and the Spring Band Concert on April 23 will be pre-recorded events. The full schedule can be seen below:

For a full schedule visit wncc.edu/performingarts. Times and attendance guidelines are subject to change due to the COVID-19 pandemic.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1614008925841.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SCOTTSBLUFF&nbsp;- The Theatre Arts program at Western Nebraska Community College will kick off the Spring 2021 Performing &amp; Visual Arts season with a virtual production of "Night Witches" by local playwright Christy Fredrickson.&nbsp;The show will air for free on WNCC's official YouTube and Facebook channels on Friday, February 26 at 7 p.m.&nbsp; "Night Witches" is a piece about strength, determination, and perseverance, following the Russian all-female 588th Night Bomber Regiment during World War II. The production, from set design to the cast is filled with local talent and collaboration.&nbsp; "This production is particularly special because it was brought to fruition by so many local talents," WNCC Theatre Arts Director Francesca Mintowt-Czyz. "It involves another extremely large cast of 22 actors, varying in age and experience, and epitomizes the power theatre has to bring people together. Not only was the play written by local playwright, Christy Fredrickson, but we had two incoming freshman from Mitchell and Gering High Schools play pivotal roles." Mintowt-Czyz and Fredrickson began discussing the production after seeing it as a One Act at Morrill High School last spring. Wanting to transform it to a full-length piece, students in the Survey of Theatrical Design class were tasked with designing the set. The crew even borrowed a real plane, from the Aviation Maintenance program in Sidney. WNCC Visual Arts Instructor Yelena Khanevskaya, who was born in Russia, helped the cast develop language skills and dialect to support the production.&nbsp; "Night Witches" is the first of eight scheduled performances for the Spring 2021 season.&nbsp;WNCC is working to host live, in-person events when possible. Capacity limits will be in place at in person events. Livestream or pre-recorded virtual performances will be utilized for events not held in-person. The Faculty Recital on March 5 and the Spring Band Concert on April 23 will be pre-recorded events. The full schedule can be seen below:<ul>
 <li>Faculty Recital | All Performing Arts Programs | March 5 | Virtual&nbsp;</li><li>Music in the Schools (Collaboration with Bluffs Middle School) | Instrumental Music | March 19 | Livestream from Judy Chaloupka Theater&nbsp;</li><li>Spring Gala | Vocal Music | March 26 &amp; 27 | Gering Civic Center &amp; Livestream</li><li>"A Midsummer Night's Dream" | Theatre Arts | April 16-18 | Judy Chaloupka Theater</li><li>Spring Band Concert | Instrumental Music | April 23 | Virtual</li><li>Honors Recital | Instrumental &amp; Vocal Music | April 30 | Judy Chaloupka Theater &amp; Livestream</li><li>Jump, Jive, &amp; Swing | Instrumental Music | May 2 | Gering Civic Center</li>
 </ul>For a full schedule visit wncc.edu/performingarts. Times and attendance guidelines are subject to change due to the COVID-19 pandemic.&nbsp;

'Night Witches' to kick off WNCC Spring 2021 Performing & Visual Arts Season

By&nbsp;Tiffani Robertson,&nbsp;T-N-T Event &amp; Marketing Management - Fall River Health Services

Fall River Health Services continues to provide COVID-19 Vaccine for Phase 1D Priority Groups.

 Beginning Feb. 22 for those 65 &amp; over- High Risk Patients - dialysis, post-transplant, and active cancer- High Risk Residents in Congregate Settings, Residents in Licensed Independent Living Facilities, and Residents of Licensed Group Homes. 

FRHS also continues to provide vaccinations for Phase 1 A, B &amp; C groups. Register today at <a href="http://www.frhssd.org/covid">www.frhssd.org/covid</a> or contact us at 605-745-8910 and select option #9.

By&nbsp;Tiffani Robertson,&nbsp;T-N-T Event &amp; Marketing Management - Fall River Health ServicesFall River Health Services continues to provide COVID-19 Vaccine for Phase 1D Priority Groups. Beginning Feb. 22 for those 65 &amp; over- High Risk Patients - dialysis, post-transplant, and active cancer- High Risk Residents in Congregate Settings, Residents in Licensed Independent Living Facilities, and Residents of Licensed Group Homes. FRHS also continues to provide vaccinations for Phase 1 A, B &amp; C groups. Register today at <a href="http://www.frhssd.org/covid">www.frhssd.org/covid</a> or contact us at 605-745-8910 and select option #9.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1614008693474.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Fall River Health Services continues to provide vaccine for Phase 1D 

Panhandle Partnership to hold mental health virtual conference 

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (AP) — A big black and white cat named Crookshaw who went missing two years ago is back with his Colorado family after being identified in Nebraska.

 The North Platte Telegraph reports that the tuxedo cat and his owners were reunited Wednesday. 

The cat’s identity was discovered when his microchip was scanned in North Platte. 

He had been missing from his home 258 miles away in Northglenn, Colorado, since May 2019. 

The cat’s journey began when he wandered away from his home into a woman’s yard.

 She assumed he was a stray and took him in, then moved from Colorado to Nebraska.

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (AP) — A big black and white cat named Crookshaw who went missing two years ago is back with his Colorado family after being identified in Nebraska. The North Platte Telegraph reports that the tuxedo cat and his owners were reunited Wednesday. The cat’s identity was discovered when his microchip was scanned in North Platte. He had been missing from his home 258 miles away in Northglenn, Colorado, since May 2019. The cat’s journey began when he wandered away from his home into a woman’s yard. She assumed he was a stray and took him in, then moved from Colorado to Nebraska.

After two years and two-state journey, cat is back home

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Meteorologists in Wyoming have warned that low levels of precipitation across the state could increase the threat of wildfires over the summer. 

Tim Troutman, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Riverton, told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle that the state is experiencing its worst drought since 2012, which recorded one of the state’s more active wildfire seasons. 

In 2012, fires in Wyoming burned 875 square miles and cost the state about $100 million to contain. 

Officials have said more moisture now can help prevent similar conditions later in the year. 

It is unclear if the state reached its desired precipitation threshold.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Meteorologists in Wyoming have warned that low levels of precipitation across the state could increase the threat of wildfires over the summer. Tim Troutman, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Riverton, told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle that the state is experiencing its worst drought since 2012, which recorded one of the state’s more active wildfire seasons. In 2012, fires in Wyoming burned 875 square miles and cost the state about $100 million to contain. Officials have said more moisture now can help prevent similar conditions later in the year. It is unclear if the state reached its desired precipitation threshold.

Officials: Drought could increase fire threat in Wyoming

The would-be varsity cheerleader, the tattletale and Snapchat have 
converged in a Supreme Court free speech case sure to draw the interest 
of social media-loving students, concerned parents and wary school 
administrators everywhere.

In 2017, a ninth-grade student in Schuylkill County, Pa., who failed 
to make the varsity cheerleading squad, vented her frustration in an 
F-bomb laced Snapchat post. She repeated the same curse before each of 
the words “school,” “softball,” “cheer” and “everything.”

A teammate told a coach about the post, and administrators kicked her off the junior varsity cheerleading squad.

Now, in <a href="https://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/mahanoy-area-school-district-v-b-l/" target="_blank">Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L.</a>,
 the Supreme Court faces the question: Can school officials punish 
students for social media posts even when students post them off-campus,
 including in their own homes? The stakes are high: School 
administrators say they need to know the limits of their authority. 
Students deserve to know if schools can regulate them for social media 
posts they make off school grounds. The court could hear oral arguments 
as early as April.

The student, identified as “B.L.,” <a href="https://www.aclupa.org/sites/default/files/field_documents/b.l._-_verified_complaint_-_9-25-17.pdf" target="_blank">filed a federal lawsuit</a> through her parents, alleging a violation of her First Amendment free speech rights. A federal district court <a href="https://www.aclupa.org/sites/default/files/field_documents/memorandum_opinion_granting_summary_judgment_for_b.l._-_3_21_19_.pdf" target="_blank">ruled in her favor</a>,
 reasoning her profane snap was off-campus speech that did not cause a 
substantial disruption of school activities. The disruption of school 
functions is the key standard in student-speech cases from the Supreme 
Court’s famous 1969 decision in <a href="https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-supreme-court/393/503.html" target="_blank">Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District</a>.

In Tinker, several students, including siblings Mary Beth and John Tinker,
 wore black armbands to school to protest U.S. involvement in the 
Vietnam War. School officials learned of the impending black armband 
protest and quickly passed a rule banning armbands. But they continued 
to allow students to wear other symbols, such as Iron Crosses and 
political campaign buttons. In effect, school officials had targeted a 
specific symbol associated with a particular political viewpoint.

The Supreme Court in Tinker delivered a <a href="https://www.freedomforuminstitute.org/2019/01/30/tinker-after-50-a-historic-ruling-still-relevant-after-all-these-years/" target="_blank">stunning victory</a>
 for student rights, declaring that neither students nor teachers “shed 
their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the 
schoolhouse gate.”

The court ruled that public school officials could not punish 
students for their speech unless the officials could reasonably forecast
 that the student speech would cause a substantial disruption of school 
activities.

Mahanoy school officials relied not on Tinker but another Supreme 
Court case to argue in support of their punishing the cheerleader 
student. In the 1986 case <a href="https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-supreme-court/478/675.html" target="_blank">Bethel School District v. Fraser</a>,
 school officials who disciplined a student for delivering a sexually 
laced speech during a student assembly prevailed. The court ruled in 
that case that public school officials could prohibit student speech 
that was vulgar or lewd.

In the cheerleading student’s case, an appellate court said the 
Fraser rule did not apply because her speech was completely off-campus.

The appeals court ruled that Tinker doesn’t apply to her case, either
 — it applies when student speech takes place on campus, within the 
schoolhouse gates, but not when a student is posting on social media at 
home, the court said. A concurring judge separately found that the 
Tinker ruling does apply, but that school officials still lose because 
the student’s off-campus speech did not disrupt school activities.

The Mahanoy school district, in its appeal to the Supreme Court, 
emphasized the vitally important question of whether Tinker applies to 
off-campus speech.

“That question has become especially acute because social media has 
made it far easier for students’ off-campus messages to instantly reach a
 wide audience of classmates and dominate the on-campus environment,” 
the school district <a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/20/20-255/151619/20200828144703420_Mahanoy%20Cert%20Petition%20-%20Final.pdf" target="_blank">wrote in its petition</a>.

School administrators, students, parents, teachers and others don’t 
know how far the arm of school authority extends off campus. At the very
 least, public school officials must show a clear connection between the
 off-campus post and events that take place at school.

The court’s decision should provide much-needed guidance in an <a href="https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3650306" target="_blank">unsettled area</a>
 of student-speech law. Free-speech advocates hope the decision will, 
like the Tinker decision more than 50 years ago, respect students and 
their free-speech rights. Students are the future of the country and 
need to learn in an environment that protects their constitutional 
freedoms.

David Hudson Jr. is a Freedom Forum fellow for the First 
Amendment and a law professor at Belmont University who publishes widely
 on First Amendment topics. He is the author of several First Amendment 
books, including “<a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.penguinrandomhouse.com%2Fbooks%2F209103%2Flet-the-students-speak-by-david-hudson%2F&amp;data=04%7C01%7Ccfitzpatrick%40freedomforum.org%7C2685cd6ced894f04dd7c08d8ceab2bbc%7C769dac65dc844365a403d9a08681378c%7C0%7C0%7C637486582661751731%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0&amp;sdata=uHRw4fHnLNk9oFwbGjg9ckXMTppaXa0jcwqN1HPgwmk%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Let The Students Speak!: A History of the Fight for Freedom of Expression in American Schools</a>” (2011). He is also the author of a 12-lecture audio course on the First Amendment titled, “<a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.audible.com%2Fpd%2FFreedom-of-Speech-Audiobook%2FB07KWDRZ5Z&amp;data=04%7C01%7Ccfitzpatrick%40freedomforum.org%7C174b7887b2b646d45e7d08d8ceaddfa2%7C769dac65dc844365a403d9a08681378c%7C0%7C0%7C637486593458613959%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=dNR6vBtIwJZjR5U7TFot4X7J0o7dT67xpUSgGUTb1RY%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Freedom of Speech: Understanding the First Amendment,</a>” Now You Know Media (2018).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1613679776461.jpeg" alt="David Hudson Jr. is a Freedom Forum fellow for the First Amendment and a law professor at Belmont University." />
 <figcaption>David Hudson Jr. is a Freedom Forum fellow for the First Amendment and a law professor at Belmont University.</figcaption>
 </figure>The would-be varsity cheerleader, the tattletale and Snapchat have 
converged in a Supreme Court free speech case sure to draw the interest 
of social media-loving students, concerned parents and wary school 
administrators everywhere.In 2017, a ninth-grade student in Schuylkill County, Pa., who failed 
to make the varsity cheerleading squad, vented her frustration in an 
F-bomb laced Snapchat post. She repeated the same curse before each of 
the words “school,” “softball,” “cheer” and “everything.”A teammate told a coach about the post, and administrators kicked her off the junior varsity cheerleading squad.Now, in <a href="https://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/mahanoy-area-school-district-v-b-l/" target="_blank">Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L.</a>,
 the Supreme Court faces the question: Can school officials punish 
students for social media posts even when students post them off-campus,
 including in their own homes? The stakes are high: School 
administrators say they need to know the limits of their authority. 
Students deserve to know if schools can regulate them for social media 
posts they make off school grounds. The court could hear oral arguments 
as early as April.The student, identified as “B.L.,” <a href="https://www.aclupa.org/sites/default/files/field_documents/b.l._-_verified_complaint_-_9-25-17.pdf" target="_blank">filed a federal lawsuit</a> through her parents, alleging a violation of her First Amendment free speech rights. A federal district court <a href="https://www.aclupa.org/sites/default/files/field_documents/memorandum_opinion_granting_summary_judgment_for_b.l._-_3_21_19_.pdf" target="_blank">ruled in her favor</a>,
 reasoning her profane snap was off-campus speech that did not cause a 
substantial disruption of school activities. The disruption of school 
functions is the key standard in student-speech cases from the Supreme 
Court’s famous 1969 decision in <a href="https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-supreme-court/393/503.html" target="_blank">Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District</a>.In Tinker, several students, including siblings Mary Beth and John Tinker,
 wore black armbands to school to protest U.S. involvement in the 
Vietnam War. School officials learned of the impending black armband 
protest and quickly passed a rule banning armbands. But they continued 
to allow students to wear other symbols, such as Iron Crosses and 
political campaign buttons. In effect, school officials had targeted a 
specific symbol associated with a particular political viewpoint.The Supreme Court in Tinker delivered a <a href="https://www.freedomforuminstitute.org/2019/01/30/tinker-after-50-a-historic-ruling-still-relevant-after-all-these-years/" target="_blank">stunning victory</a>
 for student rights, declaring that neither students nor teachers “shed 
their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the 
schoolhouse gate.”The court ruled that public school officials could not punish 
students for their speech unless the officials could reasonably forecast
 that the student speech would cause a substantial disruption of school 
activities.Mahanoy school officials relied not on Tinker but another Supreme 
Court case to argue in support of their punishing the cheerleader 
student. In the 1986 case <a href="https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-supreme-court/478/675.html" target="_blank">Bethel School District v. Fraser</a>,
 school officials who disciplined a student for delivering a sexually 
laced speech during a student assembly prevailed. The court ruled in 
that case that public school officials could prohibit student speech 
that was vulgar or lewd.In the cheerleading student’s case, an appellate court said the 
Fraser rule did not apply because her speech was completely off-campus.The appeals court ruled that Tinker doesn’t apply to her case, either
 — it applies when student speech takes place on campus, within the 
schoolhouse gates, but not when a student is posting on social media at 
home, the court said. A concurring judge separately found that the 
Tinker ruling does apply, but that school officials still lose because 
the student’s off-campus speech did not disrupt school activities.The Mahanoy school district, in its appeal to the Supreme Court, 
emphasized the vitally important question of whether Tinker applies to 
off-campus speech.“That question has become especially acute because social media has 
made it far easier for students’ off-campus messages to instantly reach a
 wide audience of classmates and dominate the on-campus environment,” 
the school district <a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/20/20-255/151619/20200828144703420_Mahanoy%20Cert%20Petition%20-%20Final.pdf" target="_blank">wrote in its petition</a>.School administrators, students, parents, teachers and others don’t 
know how far the arm of school authority extends off campus. At the very
 least, public school officials must show a clear connection between the
 off-campus post and events that take place at school.The court’s decision should provide much-needed guidance in an <a href="https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3650306" target="_blank">unsettled area</a>
 of student-speech law. Free-speech advocates hope the decision will, 
like the Tinker decision more than 50 years ago, respect students and 
their free-speech rights. Students are the future of the country and 
need to learn in an environment that protects their constitutional 
freedoms.David Hudson Jr. is a Freedom Forum fellow for the First 
Amendment and a law professor at Belmont University who publishes widely
 on First Amendment topics. He is the author of several First Amendment 
books, including “<a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.penguinrandomhouse.com%2Fbooks%2F209103%2Flet-the-students-speak-by-david-hudson%2F&amp;data=04%7C01%7Ccfitzpatrick%40freedomforum.org%7C2685cd6ced894f04dd7c08d8ceab2bbc%7C769dac65dc844365a403d9a08681378c%7C0%7C0%7C637486582661751731%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0&amp;sdata=uHRw4fHnLNk9oFwbGjg9ckXMTppaXa0jcwqN1HPgwmk%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Let The Students Speak!: A History of the Fight for Freedom of Expression in American Schools</a>” (2011). He is also the author of a 12-lecture audio course on the First Amendment titled, “<a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.audible.com%2Fpd%2FFreedom-of-Speech-Audiobook%2FB07KWDRZ5Z&amp;data=04%7C01%7Ccfitzpatrick%40freedomforum.org%7C174b7887b2b646d45e7d08d8ceaddfa2%7C769dac65dc844365a403d9a08681378c%7C0%7C0%7C637486593458613959%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=dNR6vBtIwJZjR5U7TFot4X7J0o7dT67xpUSgGUTb1RY%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Freedom of Speech: Understanding the First Amendment,</a>” Now You Know Media (2018).

FIRST FIVE: Snapchat rant tests students’ free speech rights

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota’s attorney general has been charged with three misdemeanors for striking and killing a man with his car last September. 

Jason Ravnsborg avoided more serious felony charges that prosecutors say simply aren't supported by evidence.

 He faces up to 30 days in jail on each of three counts, including careless driving. Ravnsborg says he's grateful that he's still presumed innocent under the law. 

He initially told authorities he thought he had struck a deer. 

Ravnsborg has said he didn’t know he struck a man until he returned to the scene and found the body the next day. 

The man’s relatives have questioned Ravnsborg’s account. 

One cousin says he is disappointed that the charges are not more serious, and that the family will likely take civil action.

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota’s attorney general has been charged with three misdemeanors for striking and killing a man with his car last September. Jason Ravnsborg avoided more serious felony charges that prosecutors say simply aren't supported by evidence. He faces up to 30 days in jail on each of three counts, including careless driving. Ravnsborg says he's grateful that he's still presumed innocent under the law. He initially told authorities he thought he had struck a deer. Ravnsborg has said he didn’t know he struck a man until he returned to the scene and found the body the next day. The man’s relatives have questioned Ravnsborg’s account. One cousin says he is disappointed that the charges are not more serious, and that the family will likely take civil action.

South Dakota's AG charged with 3 misdemeanors in fatal crash

SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. (AP) - The coronavirus has devastated many types of businesses, and a new study in Nebraska shows just how hard the pandemic has hit child care centers.

<a href="https://starherald.com/news/local/education/new-state-data-show-state-childcare-industry-devastated-by-pandemic/article_0e84c473-8731-5b02-8752-2ffc234b597a.html#tracking-source=home-top-story-1" target="_blank">The Scottsbluff Star-Herald</a>&nbsp;cited a new legislative study that found 231 licensed child care providers across the state have closed permanently since the pandemic began. Hundreds more shuttered temporarily, and more than half of operators said they would close permanently without further government financial assistance.

At Golden Child Development Center in Mitchell, operator JoAnne Golden is licensed for 50 children. On some days, she has just five.

The study suggests that facility is among the lucky ones.

Nebraska ranks highest in the nation for households with children where both parents work. Lawmakers are concerned, said state Sen. John Stinner of Gering. His resolution introduced last year read that ensuring "all families and children have equitable access to affordable, high-quality care is key to both the healthy growth and development of Nebraska's children as well as the economic vitality and prosperity of communities and the state."

Stinner's resolution funded the study. It found that 12 Nebraska counties now have no licensed childcare providers.

At Kids R Us in Scottsbluff, owner Danielle Self closed her business for a week in March. At that time, she had about 105 children and 33 staff members. When she opened a week later, she had 45 kids in the program. She had to reduce her staff to eight. Things have turned around a bit - the center is back got 60 children and 16 staff members.

"I think that's the new normal," Self said. "I'm hoping we're still going up (with enrollment). I need to peak and then see if we can maintain the peak."

Self and Golden both said their income dropped by 50%. The legislative study, which included survey data from the Buffett Early Childhood Institute, found that about 25% of child care providers' incomes fell by at least half.

The study found that about half of Nebraska's parents had to miss work because of child care issues. Another 25% had to depend on family, friends, or neighbors. About 43% reduced their working hours to care for children.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1613843323391.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. (AP) - The coronavirus has devastated many types of businesses, and a new study in Nebraska shows just how hard the pandemic has hit child care centers.<a href="https://starherald.com/news/local/education/new-state-data-show-state-childcare-industry-devastated-by-pandemic/article_0e84c473-8731-5b02-8752-2ffc234b597a.html#tracking-source=home-top-story-1" target="_blank">The Scottsbluff Star-Herald</a>&nbsp;cited a new legislative study that found 231 licensed child care providers across the state have closed permanently since the pandemic began. Hundreds more shuttered temporarily, and more than half of operators said they would close permanently without further government financial assistance.At Golden Child Development Center in Mitchell, operator JoAnne Golden is licensed for 50 children. On some days, she has just five.The study suggests that facility is among the lucky ones.Nebraska ranks highest in the nation for households with children where both parents work. Lawmakers are concerned, said state Sen. John Stinner of Gering. His resolution introduced last year read that ensuring "all families and children have equitable access to affordable, high-quality care is key to both the healthy growth and development of Nebraska's children as well as the economic vitality and prosperity of communities and the state."Stinner's resolution funded the study. It found that 12 Nebraska counties now have no licensed childcare providers.At Kids R Us in Scottsbluff, owner Danielle Self closed her business for a week in March. At that time, she had about 105 children and 33 staff members. When she opened a week later, she had 45 kids in the program. She had to reduce her staff to eight. Things have turned around a bit - the center is back got 60 children and 16 staff members."I think that's the new normal," Self said. "I'm hoping we're still going up (with enrollment). I need to peak and then see if we can maintain the peak."Self and Golden both said their income dropped by 50%. The legislative study, which included survey data from the Buffett Early Childhood Institute, found that about 25% of child care providers' incomes fell by at least half.The study found that about half of Nebraska's parents had to miss work because of child care issues. Another 25% had to depend on family, friends, or neighbors. About 43% reduced their working hours to care for children.

Study shows pandemic's impact on Nebraska child care centers

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A new monthly survey of bankers suggests the economy is slowly improving in rural parts of 10 Plains and Western states, but employment remains below the level it was at before the coronavirus pandemic began last year. 

The overall index for the region increased to 53.8 in February from January’s 52. 

Any score above 50 suggests a growing economy. 

 Creighton University economist Ernie Goss said the number of jobs in the region is down roughly 146,000, or 3.3%, from the level it was at before the pandemic began. 

Bankers from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming were surveyed.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A new monthly survey of bankers suggests the economy is slowly improving in rural parts of 10 Plains and Western states, but employment remains below the level it was at before the coronavirus pandemic began last year. The overall index for the region increased to 53.8 in February from January’s 52. Any score above 50 suggests a growing economy. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss said the number of jobs in the region is down roughly 146,000, or 3.3%, from the level it was at before the pandemic began. Bankers from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming were surveyed.

Bankers say economy is improving in rural parts of 10 states

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Gov. Pete Ricketts is defending the state’s decision to prioritize the elderly for coronavirus vaccination shots over people with underlying health conditions, noting that most Nebraska residents who have died so far were at least 65 years old. 

Ricketts made the comments after his administration amended its coronavirus vaccination plan this week. 

People who have cancer, diabetes and other major health problems were previously eligible in the current phase of the state’s vaccination plan, but they were removed from their spot on the list so health officials could focus on older residents, who account for the majority of Nebraska's virus deaths.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Gov. Pete Ricketts is defending the state’s decision to prioritize the elderly for coronavirus vaccination shots over people with underlying health conditions, noting that most Nebraska residents who have died so far were at least 65 years old. Ricketts made the comments after his administration amended its coronavirus vaccination plan this week. People who have cancer, diabetes and other major health problems were previously eligible in the current phase of the state’s vaccination plan, but they were removed from their spot on the list so health officials could focus on older residents, who account for the majority of Nebraska's virus deaths.

Ricketts defends change to Nebraska virus vaccination plan

🔊Post Podcast: Alliance City Council meeting, Feb. 16

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Top officials from all three branches of Nebraska government have announced a new effort to learn why the state prison population keeps growing and what they might do to safely reduce the number of inmates.

 State officials have applied for a federal grant to join forces with the Crime and Justice Institute. 

That nonprofit has worked with other states to help identify what’s causing the increases. 

Nebraska’s prison system has chronic overcrowding, even though many other states have managed to reduce their numbers.

 Previous attempts to address the problem yielded mixed results.

 Nebraska’s prison population is projected to continue growing through at least 2025.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Top officials from all three branches of Nebraska government have announced a new effort to learn why the state prison population keeps growing and what they might do to safely reduce the number of inmates. State officials have applied for a federal grant to join forces with the Crime and Justice Institute. That nonprofit has worked with other states to help identify what’s causing the increases. Nebraska’s prison system has chronic overcrowding, even though many other states have managed to reduce their numbers. Previous attempts to address the problem yielded mixed results. Nebraska’s prison population is projected to continue growing through at least 2025.

Nebraska seeks review of why prison population keeps growing

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Preliminary finding by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest that the death of a Nebraska was not caused by the coronavirus vaccine that had been administered to him, according to Nebraska's top medical officer.

Dr. Gary Anthone, Nebraska's chief medical officer,&nbsp;<a href="https://omaha.com/news/state-and-regional/nebraska-mans-death-likely-not-related-to-vaccine-chief-medical-officer-says/article_33a090ca-721c-11eb-ae63-cb635193e1b2.html#tncms-source=login" target="_blank">told&nbsp;</a>the Omaha World-Herald that a CDC official conveyed that finding to him in recent days. Anthone said the CDC has not yet released an official report on the death.

Last week, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services said the man died Jan. 17, one to two weeks after he received his first dose of the vaccine. The state health agency said the man was in his 40s and a long-term care facility resident who had several underlying health conditions. His name was not released.

The man's death was entered into the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, a national vaccine safety surveillance program run by the CDC and the FDA. Anytime a death or any adverse event occurs after a vaccination, the case must be reported to VAERS.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1604926559777.png" alt="Photo courtesy Pfizer" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Pfizer</figcaption>
 </figure>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Preliminary finding by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest that the death of a Nebraska was not caused by the coronavirus vaccine that had been administered to him, according to Nebraska's top medical officer.Dr. Gary Anthone, Nebraska's chief medical officer,&nbsp;<a href="https://omaha.com/news/state-and-regional/nebraska-mans-death-likely-not-related-to-vaccine-chief-medical-officer-says/article_33a090ca-721c-11eb-ae63-cb635193e1b2.html#tncms-source=login" target="_blank">told&nbsp;</a>the Omaha World-Herald that a CDC official conveyed that finding to him in recent days. Anthone said the CDC has not yet released an official report on the death.Last week, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services said the man died Jan. 17, one to two weeks after he received his first dose of the vaccine. The state health agency said the man was in his 40s and a long-term care facility resident who had several underlying health conditions. His name was not released.The man's death was entered into the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, a national vaccine safety surveillance program run by the CDC and the FDA. Anytime a death or any adverse event occurs after a vaccination, the case must be reported to VAERS.

CDC: Nebraska man's death likely not from virus vaccine

SCOTTSBLUFF ― Women can still safely give the gift of human milk through Mothers’ Milk Bank donations at Regional West Birth and Infant Care Center.

Since 2018, Regional West’s Birth and Infant Care Center has been a collection site for the Mothers’ Milk Bank network, a Colorado-based nonprofit program benefitting babies nationwide. Area mothers who produce milk in excess of their babies’ needs can drop of bags of milk with the Birth and Infant Care Center. The milk is tagged and safely stored in a freezer until it is ready to distribute to babies in need.

Though the COVID-19 pandemic continues to unfold, donating breast milk remains safe. All Mothers’ Milk Bank donors are screened for COVID-19 and asked to refrain from donating if they are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. Donations are handled with personal protective equipment (PPE) and pasteurized using a special heat treatment recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“Both the Birth and Infant Care Center and the Mothers’ Milk Bank have implemented extra precautions to help ensure the safety of donating breast milk,” said Erika Carmody, RN, MSN, director of Regional West Birth and Infant Care Center. “We are committed to providing safe means for dropping off donor milk and encourage mothers to learn more on how they can help babies in need.”

According to the CDC, breast milk is the best source of nutrition for most infants and is recommended to protect against many illnesses, including COVID-19.

Donors can drop off milk at Regional West’s main entrance. Please call the Birth and Infant Care Center at 308-630-1550 prior to arrival so a staff member can come and collect the donation.

Women interested in donating breast milk may complete a donor application form at&nbsp;<a href="https://rmchildren.org/mothers-milk-bank/donate-milk/become-a-donor/" target="_blank">https://rmchildren.org/mothers-milk-bank/donate-milk/become-a-donor/</a>&nbsp;or call 303-869-1888. A blood test is required and will be provided free of charge. To learn more about donation, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.milkbankcolorado.org/" target="_blank">www.milkbankcolorado.org</a>.

SCOTTSBLUFF ― Women can still safely give the gift of human milk through Mothers’ Milk Bank donations at Regional West Birth and Infant Care Center.Since 2018, Regional West’s Birth and Infant Care Center has been a collection site for the Mothers’ Milk Bank network, a Colorado-based nonprofit program benefitting babies nationwide. Area mothers who produce milk in excess of their babies’ needs can drop of bags of milk with the Birth and Infant Care Center. The milk is tagged and safely stored in a freezer until it is ready to distribute to babies in need.Though the COVID-19 pandemic continues to unfold, donating breast milk remains safe. All Mothers’ Milk Bank donors are screened for COVID-19 and asked to refrain from donating if they are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. Donations are handled with personal protective equipment (PPE) and pasteurized using a special heat treatment recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).“Both the Birth and Infant Care Center and the Mothers’ Milk Bank have implemented extra precautions to help ensure the safety of donating breast milk,” said Erika Carmody, RN, MSN, director of Regional West Birth and Infant Care Center. “We are committed to providing safe means for dropping off donor milk and encourage mothers to learn more on how they can help babies in need.”According to the CDC, breast milk is the best source of nutrition for most infants and is recommended to protect against many illnesses, including COVID-19.Donors can drop off milk at Regional West’s main entrance. Please call the Birth and Infant Care Center at 308-630-1550 prior to arrival so a staff member can come and collect the donation.Women interested in donating breast milk may complete a donor application form at&nbsp;<a href="https://rmchildren.org/mothers-milk-bank/donate-milk/become-a-donor/" target="_blank">https://rmchildren.org/mothers-milk-bank/donate-milk/become-a-donor/</a>&nbsp;or call 303-869-1888. A blood test is required and will be provided free of charge. To learn more about donation, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.milkbankcolorado.org/" target="_blank">www.milkbankcolorado.org</a>.

Regional West Birth and Infant Care Center encourages Mothers’ Milk Bank Donations

By Karla Wilke, Cow-Calf Systems and Stocker Management Specialist, UNL Panhandle Research, Extension and Education Center, Scottsbluff

Karla Wilke works around cows full-time, as the cow-calf systems and stocker management specialist at the UNL Panhandle Research and Extension Center at Scottsbluff. She was raised around cattle in the Texas Panhandle and currently assists her husband with a cow-calf operation near Kimball, NE.

Whether or not we work in agriculture, in rural Nebraska and other farming and ranching areas, agriculture provides us with some of the first signs of spring. We have all smiled at newborn baby calves bucking, head butting each other, and running with their tails sticking straight out.

But those who aren’t farmers or ranchers, or otherwise involved in agriculture, might wonder what “calving season” is and why it is such a big deal to the men and women of agriculture. Driving by those playing calves, they might not realize all that goes into making sure those babies get a good, healthy start.

Calving season brings more intense work to the ranchers – in addition to what they have been doing all winter, like feeding the cattle, chipping and pitching ice off tanks, making sure the cattle have windbreaks, and at times bedding. Cows have to be checked more regularly for signs of going into labor. This is especially true for heifers, young cows expecting their first calf.

This often means someone has to check them every two hours through the night as well as in the daytime. Many cattle producers are married couples and they usually split the night shifts and work together on the day shifts. This is where the old saying comes from: “Couples don’t need marriage counseling, they just need to work cattle together and figure out what the real issues are right there”.

Weather is seldom the cattleman’s friend in the Great Plains, where the majority of the cattle are raised. Spring is especially volatile and can bring temperature swings from mild, sunny 40-degree days to frigid wind chills of minus-20 degrees Fahrenheit and blizzards. Those responsible for the cattle have to feed and care for the cattle either way.

The positive side of a minus-20-degree wind chill is that two Carhartt coats on top of coveralls make all of us look fat, and if an upset mama cow hits you for getting too close to her baby, there is a lot of padding there to cushion the hit. Additionally, if you have to scale the fence in this attire plus insulated muck boots, you can skip going to the gym today.

Newborn calves are usually given an ear tag to identify who the mother is, possibly a vaccine, and may be moved with their cow to a “pair” pen away from the cows who have not calved. Most cows will deliver their calves unassisted, but if the weather is especially cold, the newborn calf may need to be temporarily removed from the cow and rapidly warmed up in a warmer box, a water bath, or through other means. A calf should have a body temperature of 101 degrees. A calf whose body temperature drops below 86 degrees will die without intervention.

If a blizzard or an arctic blast hits during calving, typically everyone in the operation finds themselves checking cows, attending babies, running towels through the laundry for the next wave of wet babies, or whatever else needs to be done. The kitchen is often taken over by cold baby calves.

Cattle production is both a science and an art and producers are very knowledgeable about best-management practices necessary for a healthy cow and calf. A cow may need assistance delivering the caIf if she is not making progress in a reasonable amount of time. This is a messy process, which typically leaves the person assisting the cow covered in afterbirth fluid - which does not smell like perfume.

My husband told me once about taking a girl on a date and having to deliver a calf on the date. He said he never saw her again after that day. Looking at the dried afterbirth on my coveralls, the cow poop splattered in my hair, and feeling the sticky colostrum on my fingers, it dawned on me that my stunning good looks and charming personality were likely not actually what earned me the Mrs. in front of my name.

Calves get their immunity through colostrum, the first milk a cow produces when a calf is born, which must be received as soon as possible after birth. If the calf is slow to get up and nurse, the producer has to assist the calf with nursing or supplement the calf with a powdered colostrum supplement. Farmers and ranchers spend a lot of time observing all the calves to make sure they are nursing and bonding well with their cow.

Young calves can be especially susceptible to illness the first two months of life. The weather, and the environment it creates, are hard-to-control factors that can aggravate illness in young calves. Therefore, producers keep a vigilant eye on each calf to catch any signs of illness early and treat the calf appropriately for the best chances of a quick and complete recovery.

The hours are long and the work is hard, but the rewards are great. Seeing a healthy calf crop running, bucking, and growing makes each exhausted cattle producer look forward to next year and ready to take on whatever challenges the weather and the markets bring. So next time you drive by a pasture of frolicking calves, think about the people behind the scenes who quietly oversee the dawn of new birth every year.

By Karla Wilke, Cow-Calf Systems and Stocker Management Specialist, UNL Panhandle Research, Extension and Education Center, ScottsbluffKarla Wilke works around cows full-time, as the cow-calf systems and stocker management specialist at the UNL Panhandle Research and Extension Center at Scottsbluff. She was raised around cattle in the Texas Panhandle and currently assists her husband with a cow-calf operation near Kimball, NE.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1613750496929.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Whether or not we work in agriculture, in rural Nebraska and other farming and ranching areas, agriculture provides us with some of the first signs of spring. We have all smiled at newborn baby calves bucking, head butting each other, and running with their tails sticking straight out.But those who aren’t farmers or ranchers, or otherwise involved in agriculture, might wonder what “calving season” is and why it is such a big deal to the men and women of agriculture. Driving by those playing calves, they might not realize all that goes into making sure those babies get a good, healthy start.Calving season brings more intense work to the ranchers – in addition to what they have been doing all winter, like feeding the cattle, chipping and pitching ice off tanks, making sure the cattle have windbreaks, and at times bedding. Cows have to be checked more regularly for signs of going into labor. This is especially true for heifers, young cows expecting their first calf.This often means someone has to check them every two hours through the night as well as in the daytime. Many cattle producers are married couples and they usually split the night shifts and work together on the day shifts. This is where the old saying comes from: “Couples don’t need marriage counseling, they just need to work cattle together and figure out what the real issues are right there”.Weather is seldom the cattleman’s friend in the Great Plains, where the majority of the cattle are raised. Spring is especially volatile and can bring temperature swings from mild, sunny 40-degree days to frigid wind chills of minus-20 degrees Fahrenheit and blizzards. Those responsible for the cattle have to feed and care for the cattle either way.The positive side of a minus-20-degree wind chill is that two Carhartt coats on top of coveralls make all of us look fat, and if an upset mama cow hits you for getting too close to her baby, there is a lot of padding there to cushion the hit. Additionally, if you have to scale the fence in this attire plus insulated muck boots, you can skip going to the gym today.Newborn calves are usually given an ear tag to identify who the mother is, possibly a vaccine, and may be moved with their cow to a “pair” pen away from the cows who have not calved. Most cows will deliver their calves unassisted, but if the weather is especially cold, the newborn calf may need to be temporarily removed from the cow and rapidly warmed up in a warmer box, a water bath, or through other means. A calf should have a body temperature of 101 degrees. A calf whose body temperature drops below 86 degrees will die without intervention.If a blizzard or an arctic blast hits during calving, typically everyone in the operation finds themselves checking cows, attending babies, running towels through the laundry for the next wave of wet babies, or whatever else needs to be done. The kitchen is often taken over by cold baby calves.Cattle production is both a science and an art and producers are very knowledgeable about best-management practices necessary for a healthy cow and calf. A cow may need assistance delivering the caIf if she is not making progress in a reasonable amount of time. This is a messy process, which typically leaves the person assisting the cow covered in afterbirth fluid - which does not smell like perfume.My husband told me once about taking a girl on a date and having to deliver a calf on the date. He said he never saw her again after that day. Looking at the dried afterbirth on my coveralls, the cow poop splattered in my hair, and feeling the sticky colostrum on my fingers, it dawned on me that my stunning good looks and charming personality were likely not actually what earned me the Mrs. in front of my name.Calves get their immunity through colostrum, the first milk a cow produces when a calf is born, which must be received as soon as possible after birth. If the calf is slow to get up and nurse, the producer has to assist the calf with nursing or supplement the calf with a powdered colostrum supplement. Farmers and ranchers spend a lot of time observing all the calves to make sure they are nursing and bonding well with their cow.Young calves can be especially susceptible to illness the first two months of life. The weather, and the environment it creates, are hard-to-control factors that can aggravate illness in young calves. Therefore, producers keep a vigilant eye on each calf to catch any signs of illness early and treat the calf appropriately for the best chances of a quick and complete recovery.The hours are long and the work is hard, but the rewards are great. Seeing a healthy calf crop running, bucking, and growing makes each exhausted cattle producer look forward to next year and ready to take on whatever challenges the weather and the markets bring. So next time you drive by a pasture of frolicking calves, think about the people behind the scenes who quietly oversee the dawn of new birth every year.

Panhandle Perspectives: Calving 101 – for those not directly involved  

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — A military jury has convicted a senior airman at Ellsworth Air Force Base of killing his 6-month-old son. 

The jury found 26-year-old James Cunningham guilty of murder Thursday in the March 2020 death of his son, Zachariah, following a four-day trial at the Air Force base. 

Cunningham can decide whether the military judge or the jury will impose his sentence, which is a maximum of life in prison without parole. 

Cunningham would serve time in a federal military prison. 

Prosecutors said Cunningham lied three times before confessing to punching his son. 

Prosecutors say medical evidence showed the baby died from being shaken and hit multiple times.

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — A military jury has convicted a senior airman at Ellsworth Air Force Base of killing his 6-month-old son. The jury found 26-year-old James Cunningham guilty of murder Thursday in the March 2020 death of his son, Zachariah, following a four-day trial at the Air Force base. Cunningham can decide whether the military judge or the jury will impose his sentence, which is a maximum of life in prison without parole. Cunningham would serve time in a federal military prison. Prosecutors said Cunningham lied three times before confessing to punching his son. Prosecutors say medical evidence showed the baby died from being shaken and hit multiple times.

Rapid City Airman convicted of killing his 6-month-old son

MAXWELL, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska man was found dead in his home Monday night when the temperature inside the home was 14 below zero.

 The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday it’s not clear exactly when 65-year-old Danny Effenbeck of Maxwell died.

 He was last seen Feb. 9 when his brother took him grocery shopping. 

Test results that will determine how Effenbeck died are pending.

 Members of Maxwell’s Volunteer Fire Department found Effenbeck’s body when they went to check on him.

 Lincoln County Sheriff Jerome Kramer said Effenbeck had a history of not having utilities at his home and he relied on a propane heater for warmth.

MAXWELL, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska man was found dead in his home Monday night when the temperature inside the home was 14 below zero. The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday it’s not clear exactly when 65-year-old Danny Effenbeck of Maxwell died. He was last seen Feb. 9 when his brother took him grocery shopping. Test results that will determine how Effenbeck died are pending. Members of Maxwell’s Volunteer Fire Department found Effenbeck’s body when they went to check on him. Lincoln County Sheriff Jerome Kramer said Effenbeck had a history of not having utilities at his home and he relied on a propane heater for warmth.

Nebraska man found dead inside his frigid home on Monday

By Philip Lukens, Alliance Police Department Chief

Policing the community of Alliance is rewarding and challenging. The community members encompass all walks of life. This broad spectrum of diverse population present unique challenges. I am honored to serve our community in the capacity of Police Chief. In order to effectively police the community I recognize the need for direction, systematic analysis and opportunities for feedback.

To ensure our department continues in the appropriate direction it is imperative that our policing strategy is purposeful, quantifiable, effective, concise, productive and trustworthy. As the Chief, I take all calls for service and strategies very serious. I will ensure our objectives are implemented and complete. I make it a practice to debrief calls, behaviors, and tendencies

As the Chief, I provide an environment where creativity is fostered and goals can be achieved. I recognize the changing job environment of law enforcement and continue to mentor our team in adjusting appropriately to contemporary policing trends. This provides tremendous opportunity for feedback, new ideas, and police innovation. We make mistakes, but take the time and opportunity to adjust and learn from them. Rest assured all mistakes are acknowledged and we purposefully correct them in the best interest of the community and department.

Our department is comprised of outstanding officers, dispatchers, volunteers and other staff who remain committed to our objectives. They are very diligent, productive, and eager to achieve. I am fortunate to have a team with self-inspired ambition and a heart for the community. Their efforts and direct impact this year are to be applauded. I am proud to lead some of the most competent, confident, and caring individuals in law enforcement. They truly live our mission of serving our community by protecting all. I pledge to you to work tirelessly ensuring we procure exceptional results. My desire is to be counted on without worry or second thought.

Introduction &nbsp;The purpose of this survey was to provide a report card of police activity in the City of Alliance. The Alliance Police Department recognizes that we work for our community. All members of the department recently met and defined our mission, values and vision. It is our desire to serve our community by protecting all. This heart of service is carried out through our vision which is leadership through dedication of service. Our E.P.I.C. values guide our daily thoughts and actions. These values, excellence, professionalism, integrity, and compassion are at the core of our work product for our community. Goals We have defined overarching goals for the community which are specific and measurable to address the needs and concerns identified in this survey as well as others. These goals will be accomplished through the objectives which have a timeframe, a person of accountability, a defined purpose and the method in which success will be measured. The goals are as follows and will be executed in accordance with our department mission, values and vision:

- Enhance Police Effectivity, Efficiency and Euphoria

While fulfilling another aspect of procedural justice, it is important for the community to have voice. The department utilized a community survey developed through Community Oriented Policing Services a division of the U.S. Department of Justice. This is a standard survey utilized by law enforcement agencies across the nation. The survey was advertised on the city website, the department website, Facebook pages and other outlets. Data was collected for a period of two weeks. The results of this data are as follows:

The Alliance Police Department remains committed to transparency. We truly appreciate all citizens who participated and their honest opinion. In the coming days we will continue to assess our practices to include authoring a strategic plan for the coming year as well as a five year master plan and of course we will continue to serve our community by protecting all.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1613680445522.png" alt="" />
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 </figure>By Philip Lukens, Alliance Police Department ChiefPolicing the community of Alliance is rewarding and challenging. The community members encompass all walks of life. This broad spectrum of diverse population present unique challenges. I am honored to serve our community in the capacity of Police Chief. In order to effectively police the community I recognize the need for direction, systematic analysis and opportunities for feedback.To ensure our department continues in the appropriate direction it is imperative that our policing strategy is purposeful, quantifiable, effective, concise, productive and trustworthy. As the Chief, I take all calls for service and strategies very serious. I will ensure our objectives are implemented and complete. I make it a practice to debrief calls, behaviors, and tendenciesAs the Chief, I provide an environment where creativity is fostered and goals can be achieved. I recognize the changing job environment of law enforcement and continue to mentor our team in adjusting appropriately to contemporary policing trends. This provides tremendous opportunity for feedback, new ideas, and police innovation. We make mistakes, but take the time and opportunity to adjust and learn from them. Rest assured all mistakes are acknowledged and we purposefully correct them in the best interest of the community and department.Our department is comprised of outstanding officers, dispatchers, volunteers and other staff who remain committed to our objectives. They are very diligent, productive, and eager to achieve. I am fortunate to have a team with self-inspired ambition and a heart for the community. Their efforts and direct impact this year are to be applauded. I am proud to lead some of the most competent, confident, and caring individuals in law enforcement. They truly live our mission of serving our community by protecting all. I pledge to you to work tirelessly ensuring we procure exceptional results. My desire is to be counted on without worry or second thought.Introduction &nbsp;The purpose of this survey was to provide a report card of police activity in the City of Alliance. The Alliance Police Department recognizes that we work for our community. All members of the department recently met and defined our mission, values and vision. It is our desire to serve our community by protecting all. This heart of service is carried out through our vision which is leadership through dedication of service. Our E.P.I.C. values guide our daily thoughts and actions. These values, excellence, professionalism, integrity, and compassion are at the core of our work product for our community. Goals We have defined overarching goals for the community which are specific and measurable to address the needs and concerns identified in this survey as well as others. These goals will be accomplished through the objectives which have a timeframe, a person of accountability, a defined purpose and the method in which success will be measured. The goals are as follows and will be executed in accordance with our department mission, values and vision:- Community Partnership- Prevent Crime and Disorder- Enhance Police Effectivity, Efficiency and EuphoriaCommunity SurveyWhile fulfilling another aspect of procedural justice, it is important for the community to have voice. The department utilized a community survey developed through Community Oriented Policing Services a division of the U.S. Department of Justice. This is a standard survey utilized by law enforcement agencies across the nation. The survey was advertised on the city website, the department website, Facebook pages and other outlets. Data was collected for a period of two weeks. The results of this data are as follows:<figure>
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 </figure>AnalyzeThe Alliance Police Department remains committed to transparency. We truly appreciate all citizens who participated and their honest opinion. In the coming days we will continue to assess our practices to include authoring a strategic plan for the coming year as well as a five year master plan and of course we will continue to serve our community by protecting all.

APD Chief Lukens releases 'Citizen Survey Results'

Columbus - Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) is asking power customers around the state to be wary of scammers trying to take advantage of the recent winter weather and power outages. These predatory individuals will call and state the customer’s bill must be paid immediately or the power will be shut off and will recommend several methods of payment. They may also indicate that immediate payment will keep someone from being included in emergent rotating outages. Sometimes the scammer’s caller-identification is falsified so it appears to originate from the utility company, a practice known as ‘spoofing’. “Scammers have gotten very crafty in recent years and will often strike during severe events. Scammers can be very convincing and will do their best to get someone worried, or confused enough, they make a mistake and give away their money,” says NPPD Retail General Manager Pat Hanrahan. “This past week has been difficult for many people, and it’s important to remember these scammers are always looking for an opportunity to take advantage of someone.” One NPPD customer reported Thursday, a scammer called them posing as Publisher’s Clearing House and said because they paid their electric bill every month, they were entered into a drawing and won a large chunk of money. The scammer asked for the customer’s banking information so they could deliver the money, but the customer refused and reported the call. To help customers be wary of such scams, NPPD offers the following tips and suggestions: &nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp; NPPD, as a business practice, does not call to ask customers for a credit card number. &nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp; NPPD does not demand payment with a pre-paid card. &nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp; Any customer receiving such a call should not attempt to make payment over the phone using a credit or debit card. &nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp; Write down the call back number or consider asking where the caller is located. &nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp; Contact law enforcement. &nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp; Let NPPD’s Centralized Customer Care Center at 1-877-ASK-NPPD (877-275-6773) know about the call. &nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp; If served electrically by a rural public power district or municipality, customers should contact that organization before providing any type of payment. For more information concerning scam calls, view&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nppd.com/accounts-billing/scams.%3Chttps://www.nppd.com/accounts-billing/scams" target="_blank">https://www.nppd.com/accounts-billing/scams.&lt;https://www.nppd.com/accounts-billing/scams</a>&gt;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Columbus - Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) is asking power customers around the state to be wary of scammers trying to take advantage of the recent winter weather and power outages. These predatory individuals will call and state the customer’s bill must be paid immediately or the power will be shut off and will recommend several methods of payment. They may also indicate that immediate payment will keep someone from being included in emergent rotating outages. Sometimes the scammer’s caller-identification is falsified so it appears to originate from the utility company, a practice known as ‘spoofing’. “Scammers have gotten very crafty in recent years and will often strike during severe events. Scammers can be very convincing and will do their best to get someone worried, or confused enough, they make a mistake and give away their money,” says NPPD Retail General Manager Pat Hanrahan. “This past week has been difficult for many people, and it’s important to remember these scammers are always looking for an opportunity to take advantage of someone.” One NPPD customer reported Thursday, a scammer called them posing as Publisher’s Clearing House and said because they paid their electric bill every month, they were entered into a drawing and won a large chunk of money. The scammer asked for the customer’s banking information so they could deliver the money, but the customer refused and reported the call. To help customers be wary of such scams, NPPD offers the following tips and suggestions: &nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp; NPPD, as a business practice, does not call to ask customers for a credit card number. &nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp; NPPD does not demand payment with a pre-paid card. &nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp; Any customer receiving such a call should not attempt to make payment over the phone using a credit or debit card. &nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp; Write down the call back number or consider asking where the caller is located. &nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp; Contact law enforcement. &nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp; Let NPPD’s Centralized Customer Care Center at 1-877-ASK-NPPD (877-275-6773) know about the call. &nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp; If served electrically by a rural public power district or municipality, customers should contact that organization before providing any type of payment. For more information concerning scam calls, view&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nppd.com/accounts-billing/scams.%3Chttps://www.nppd.com/accounts-billing/scams" target="_blank">https://www.nppd.com/accounts-billing/scams.&lt;https://www.nppd.com/accounts-billing/scams</a>&gt;&nbsp;&nbsp;

NPPD says beware of uptick in scam activity

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An acting U.S. attorney for Nebraska has been named following the resignation of Joe Kelly from the post.

 The Justice Department says in a news release that first assistant U.S. Attorney Jan Sharp will serve as acting U.S. attorney for the state when Kelly officially leaves the post on Feb. 28. 

Kelly submitted his resignation earlier this month when he and other U.S. attorneys across the country were asked by President Joe Biden's administration to step down by the end of the month. 

Sharp’s appointment takes effect on March 1. 

He will serve as the acting U.S. attorney until a successor for the permanent position is appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An acting U.S. attorney for Nebraska has been named following the resignation of Joe Kelly from the post. The Justice Department says in a news release that first assistant U.S. Attorney Jan Sharp will serve as acting U.S. attorney for the state when Kelly officially leaves the post on Feb. 28. Kelly submitted his resignation earlier this month when he and other U.S. attorneys across the country were asked by President Joe Biden's administration to step down by the end of the month. Sharp’s appointment takes effect on March 1. He will serve as the acting U.S. attorney until a successor for the permanent position is appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate.

Acting US attorney for Nebraska named after Kelly departure

By Eric Galatas, Nebraska News Connection&nbsp;

LINCOLN - On Wednesday, the Nebraska Legislature's executive board heard arguments for the&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/107/PDF/Intro/LB107.pdf" target="_blank">Redistricting Act</a>, sponsored by Sen. John McCollister, R-Omaha. The bill aims to eliminate politics from the once-a-decade redrawing of the state's political districts. Gavin Geis, executive director for Common Cause Nebraska, said redistricting has been used to solidify power for those already in office, and to disperse representation for communities of color. Geis argued the state needs a process that is transparent and nonpartisan. "In a truly representative and fair democracy, we have to have voting districts that represent the people who live there and let voters choose their representatives, instead of representatives choosing their voters," Geis asserted. Nebraska's constitution currently grants the authority of redistricting solely to legislators. Legislative Bill 107 would create new rules and a redistricting committee with five lawmakers from the majority party and four lawmakers of the minority party. The rules would prohibit partisan demographic data, including residents' party affiliation and voting records, from being used to draw district boundaries. If passed, the state's legislative research office still will draw maps based on the latest Census and geographical data. But legislators will not be able to substantially reconfigure those maps; they can only correct errors. Geis believes the bill is necessary because elected officials currently have both too much to lose and too much to gain in the redistricting process. "Especially incumbent legislators, who will run for election in the districts they just helped draw," Geis pointed out. "As partisans shift those maps to favor one candidate over another, it's really the voter that loses out." The measure also calls for public hearings for proposed maps in each of Nebraska's congressional districts. Redistricting based on the 2020 Census is expected to begin in September, and those districts will remain set for the next decade. A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aclunebraska.org/en/press-releases/new-poll-finds-nebraskans-want-nonpartisan-redistricting" target="_blank">recent ACLU poll</a>&nbsp;found more than 90% of Nebraska voters want redistricting to be data-driven, transparent and nonpartisan.&nbsp;&nbsp;

By Eric Galatas, Nebraska News Connection&nbsp;LINCOLN - On Wednesday, the Nebraska Legislature's executive board heard arguments for the&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/107/PDF/Intro/LB107.pdf" target="_blank">Redistricting Act</a>, sponsored by Sen. John McCollister, R-Omaha. The bill aims to eliminate politics from the once-a-decade redrawing of the state's political districts. Gavin Geis, executive director for Common Cause Nebraska, said redistricting has been used to solidify power for those already in office, and to disperse representation for communities of color. Geis argued the state needs a process that is transparent and nonpartisan. "In a truly representative and fair democracy, we have to have voting districts that represent the people who live there and let voters choose their representatives, instead of representatives choosing their voters," Geis asserted. Nebraska's constitution currently grants the authority of redistricting solely to legislators. Legislative Bill 107 would create new rules and a redistricting committee with five lawmakers from the majority party and four lawmakers of the minority party. The rules would prohibit partisan demographic data, including residents' party affiliation and voting records, from being used to draw district boundaries. If passed, the state's legislative research office still will draw maps based on the latest Census and geographical data. But legislators will not be able to substantially reconfigure those maps; they can only correct errors. Geis believes the bill is necessary because elected officials currently have both too much to lose and too much to gain in the redistricting process. "Especially incumbent legislators, who will run for election in the districts they just helped draw," Geis pointed out. "As partisans shift those maps to favor one candidate over another, it's really the voter that loses out." The measure also calls for public hearings for proposed maps in each of Nebraska's congressional districts. Redistricting based on the 2020 Census is expected to begin in September, and those districts will remain set for the next decade. A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aclunebraska.org/en/press-releases/new-poll-finds-nebraskans-want-nonpartisan-redistricting" target="_blank">recent ACLU poll</a>&nbsp;found more than 90% of Nebraska voters want redistricting to be data-driven, transparent and nonpartisan.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Nebraska lawmakers consider bill to curb gerrymandering

By TENA L. COOK, CSC Marketing Coordinator

CHADRON – Chadron State College’s Kent Residence Hall recently underwent kitchen renovations. The project, which began after Thanksgiving, was completed Jan. 29.

In the spring of 2019, housing staff approached maintenance with possible ways to improve the first floor Kent Hall kitchen space. Initially, only the kitchen cupboards and cabinets were going to be replaced, but after further discussions, the two departments decided the entire first floor kitchen could be renovated.

Both Kent hall kitchens, located in the east wing of the first and third floors, received new glass top stoves, which are safer and easier to clean.

Other improvements to the first-floor kitchen included removing antiquated hardware from the walls, repainting the walls, and waxing the floors. New baseboards, curtains, table and chairs, and a lighting fixture were also purchased to improve the space.

Stephens highlighted the importance of updating the kitchen not only for current students, but also prospective students.

“Admissions tours view this kitchen on a regular basis, so it was a critical improvement not only for current students but for recruiting, as well. We are currently discussing a timeline to address additional residence hall kitchen improvements,” Stephens said.

Stephens said complications related to COVID-19 delayed the purchase of the stoves and cabinets, but that was the project’s only real setback. The first-floor kitchen’s lower cabinets and counter tops were custom purchases through the Chadron Lumber Company, while the upper cabinets were repurposed from the Math Science building.

All demolition and renovations were completed by CSC maintenance. Kent Hall’s third floor kitchen is now being considered for full renovations.

By TENA L. COOK, CSC Marketing CoordinatorCHADRON – Chadron State College’s Kent Residence Hall recently underwent kitchen renovations. The project, which began after Thanksgiving, was completed Jan. 29.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1613661832085.jpeg" alt="" />
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 </figure>In the spring of 2019, housing staff approached maintenance with possible ways to improve the first floor Kent Hall kitchen space. Initially, only the kitchen cupboards and cabinets were going to be replaced, but after further discussions, the two departments decided the entire first floor kitchen could be renovated.Both Kent hall kitchens, located in the east wing of the first and third floors, received new glass top stoves, which are safer and easier to clean.Other improvements to the first-floor kitchen included removing antiquated hardware from the walls, repainting the walls, and waxing the floors. New baseboards, curtains, table and chairs, and a lighting fixture were also purchased to improve the space.Stephens highlighted the importance of updating the kitchen not only for current students, but also prospective students.“Admissions tours view this kitchen on a regular basis, so it was a critical improvement not only for current students but for recruiting, as well. We are currently discussing a timeline to address additional residence hall kitchen improvements,” Stephens said.Stephens said complications related to COVID-19 delayed the purchase of the stoves and cabinets, but that was the project’s only real setback. The first-floor kitchen’s lower cabinets and counter tops were custom purchases through the Chadron Lumber Company, while the upper cabinets were repurposed from the Math Science building.All demolition and renovations were completed by CSC maintenance. Kent Hall’s third floor kitchen is now being considered for full renovations.

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