02-08-12

Posted on Feb 8th, 2012 at 7:37 am

Happy Birthday Wishes to:

Brad Carlson, Gary Dean, Brandee Drahota, Norm Geyer, Jerry Guenther, Karen Osborn, Garry Repp, Dee Wachter, Carla Wegner

Skywatch Weather:

Today, a blend of clouds & sun develops, high 28. Tonight, partly cloudy, low 12. Thursday, becoming mostly sunny, high 36

Sports:

ESPN Radio now at 105.9 WJAG-FM & 780 WJAG-AM Mon-Fri at 5:00 PM & Sat & Sun at 4:00!

The NBA-leading Oklahoma City Thunder withstood a career-best 48-point barrage by Monta Ellis and edged the Golden State Warriors 119-116 last night. The Thunder improved to 20-5 with the win. Kevin Durant finished with 33 points, ten rebounds and seven assists. Russell Westbrook added 31 points and seven rebounds to give Oklahoma City its fourth win in five games. David Lee had 25 points, eleven rebounds and ten assists for his second career triple-double for the Warriors.

Colt Ryan's jumper with 3:08 left in the second half broke a 56-56 tie, and Evansville pulled away for a 65-57 upset of 17th ranked Creighton last night. The nation's best shooting team was out of sync all night and wound up losing a second straight game for the first time this season. The Bluejays were led by Doug McDermott with 21 points and eight rebounds. Austin Chatman had eleven points and Gregory Echenique added ten points, eight boards, and two blocked shots. Kenny Harris scored 15 points to lead the Aces, which ended a six-game losing streak against Creighton. Evansville limited the Bluejays to 40% shooting from the field, including 4-22 on three-pointers, and didn't trail until early in the second half. The Aces were behind 48-41 with 12:56 to go but went on a 9-2 run to tie and took the lead for good on Ryan's jumper. Creighton drops to 21-4 overall and 11-3 in the Missouri Valley Conference while Evansville improves to 12-12 overall and 7-7 in the conference.

Local Schedule: Michigan at Nebraska (MBB-7:30).

Saturday Morning: Sportstalk on 106 KIX & 106 KIX.com from 9:00-10:00 AM from Hy-Vee East. Get the lowdown with the coaches.

Saturday Afternoon: The Norfolk Catholic boys basketball team takes on Sutton at the fifth annual Heartland Hoops Classic at the Heartland Events Center in Grand Island on Saturday at 2:15. Pregame coverage with Norfolk Catholic coach Shane Anderson at approximately 1:55 at Newstalk WJAG 780 AM, 105.9 FM, & WJAG.com.

Local Scores: Nfk Cath 65 West Point Guardian Angels 58 (GBB); NECC 81 Southeast CC 75 (MBB); Southeast CC 61 NECC 52 (WBB).

Spracklen Physical Therapy Star Athlete of the Week:

Nicholas Williams of the Lutheran High Northeast wrestling team.

Kwifax:

In their lifetime, the average driver spends 2 hours & 14 minutes kissing in their car.

News Briefs:

Mitt Romney's political director says even Sen. John McCain lost 19 states on his way to the 2008 Republican presidential nomination. Despite losses in Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri, Romney remains the front-runner in delegates. Last night's triple winner Rick Santorum, meanwhile, says he's the conservative alternative to President Barack Obama.

Bob Kerrey's decision not to seek the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in Nebraska has other candidates scrambling. State Senator Steve Lathrop of Omaha and University of Nebraska Regent Chuck Hassebrook of Lyons are both considered possibilities for the position.

The average Nebraska homeowner would get $160 in property tax relief, under a bill introduced to rival Gov. Dave Heineman's tax cut proposals. Sen. Heath Mello's Property Tax Relief Act is up for debate today in the Revenue Committee. The Omaha senator says his measure represents the most significant middle-class tax relief package under consideration this year. He says any tax cuts should involve property tax relief.

A bill that would require a U.S. flag to be posted in every public school classroom in Nebraska and students to be led in the Pledge of Allegiance is being praised by a 12-year-old Lincoln student. Andrew Shelburn told the Legislature's Education Committee yesterday that he will help teach his friends to value the flag and the pledge.

A state senator says Nebraska lawmakers need to be paid more. Senator Scott Lautenbaugh wants to boost pay from $12,000 a year to $32,000. He says the Legislature has become a collection of retirees, the wealthy and business owners and the pay discourages everyday people from running.

Two Chadron State College graduates have left the school a gift of about $700,000. Judith and Ralph Hale met while studying education at the school in the 1960s and later taught at Hyannis High School. Judith Hale died last spring, about seven years after her husband.

Two small parochial schools in Northeast Nebraska have won SMART Board interactive whiteboards through the HyVee SMART Points program. Immanuel Lutheran School in Hadar and Trinity Lutheran in Hoskins are among more than 200 schools in the Midwest to receive the tool from HyVee.