03-01-13

Posted on Mar 1st, 2013 at 7:44 am

Happy Birthday Wishes to:

Cletus Becker, Kelli Ganskow, Barb Gustafson, Clarence Henderson, Don Novotny, Mike Olenich, Andrea Pehoviack, Jana Polston

Skywatch Weather:

Today, partial sunshine early, then clearing, high 31. Tonight, partly cloudy early, the increasing clouds, low 11. Saturday, partial sunshine, 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!

Nebraska's top priority heading into spring practice will be to rebuild its defense. The Cornhuskers ended last season with embarrassing performances against Wisconsin and Georgia and must replace eight starters. They ranked in the bottom half of the Big Ten in every major statistical category except pass defense. The offense returns 17 of the top 22 players after averaging 35 points and 461 yards a game. Coach Bo Pelini announced two assistants will have their roles altered. Barney Cotton, who coached the offensive line, will oversee tight ends and coordinate the running game. John Garrison, who has been assistant offensive line coach for two years, is now in charge of the line. Practice starts Saturday. The Red-White scrimmage is April 6.

Lindsey Moore scored 13 points, Rachel Theriot added 11 and Nebraska held on for its 10th straight win, 55-53 over Wisconsin on Thursday night. Emily Cady and Jordan Hooper grabbed 11 rebounds apiece for the Cornhuskers (22-6, 12-3), who likely will be the No. 2 seed in the Big Ten Conference tournament. With the loss, Wisconsin can do no better than No. 11. Both teams finish their seasons Sunday. Jacki Gulczynski had 19 points for the Badgers (11-17, 3-12), who lost their fourth straight. Tiera Stephen scored 15, and Cassie Rochel pulled down 14 rebounds. Morgan Paige's layup gave Wisconsin a 53-52 lead with 1:14 left, but the Badgers wouldn't score again. Hailie Sample's layup with 44 seconds left put Nebraska back ahead before Moore made a free throw with 9 seconds to play. Stephen missed at the buzzer on a jumper that would have tied the game.

Lincoln is competing against San Diego for the honor of hosting the 2015 State Games of America. The winning city would be visited by about 8,000 amateur athletes. Over four or five days they'd compete in events such as archery or wrestling. Officials say the State Games of America is a collection of state games programs competing against each other. Three Lincoln officials will pitch their plan in Dallas on Thursday to the National Congress of State Games, which selects the host city. The decision isn't expected until May.

The Girls State Basketball Tournament Continues today in Lincoln.

Local Scores: :Kearney Catholic 39 Norfolk Catholic 31 (WBB Class C1 Quarterfinal), Pierce 59 Minden 36 (WBB Class C1 Quarterfinal), Osmond 42 Deshler 57 (WBB Class D2 Quarterfinal)

Kwifax:

ELVIS SHOW Sat 3/2@ the DeVent Center! 2 big shows 3pm&7pm.Get tickets @ Norfolk Lodge & Suites

The only country to sport a non-rectangular flag is Nepal.

News Briefs:

First there was the "fiscal cliff" and now the sequester. Nebraska U-S Senator Mike Johanns says cuts in federal spending will start today if this standoff doesn't end. Former U-S Agriculture Director and current Nebraska U-S Senator Mike Johanns says the two-and-a-half percent, give or take, is just a drop in the bucket when it comes to fixing the country's spending issues. Every government agency is looking at a roughly two-and-a-half percent cut tomorrow. The U-S Agriculture Department is looking at cutting meat inspectors. Senator Johanns says this would not be the route he would take.

A state senator has killed his own legislation, rather than accept an amendment dealing with sexual orientation. Senator Mark Christensen of Imperial sought to expand the organizations that could use inmates from the McCook Work Camp. His bill would allow inmates to work for non-profit organizations, including non-profit hospitals. Senator Ernie Chambers of Omaha succeeded in adding an amendment that would prohibit any agency that discriminates based on sexual orientation from participating. The amendment passed overwhelmingly. Christensen says several senators told him after the vote that they didn't clearly understand the amendment.

A monthly economic survey index for nine Midwest and Plains states dipped last month, suggesting only slow growth for the region over the next three to six months. The Mid-America Business Conditions index hit 53.1 in February, compared with 53.2 in January and 49.5 in December. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he says the region's manufacturing sector "continues to restrain overall growth for the region and nation." The survey of business leaders and supply managers uses a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100.

Fatal car crashes are up in Northeast Nebraska, and the Nebraska State Patrol has a message for all drivers - slow down, buckle up, and pay attention to driving. Trooper Bill Price says wearing seat belts is vital. Price says in 2012, fatal accidents were caused by alcohol use, speeding, not paying attention at intersections and leaving the lane of traffic. And he says many of those killed would be alive if they had been wearing seat belts. Price urges all drivers to buckle up and make sure their passengers are all properly restrained. And he says distracted driving is a major cause of accidents, and he says drivers need to pay attention to driving and not to their phones, CD players or other devices.

The state's volunteer service commission is asking Nebraskans to volunteer during a week in April. ServeNebraska chair Jamesena Moore says the Week of Service is an effort to encourage Nebraskans to volunteer. The week is intended to help local schools, nonprofits, churches and parks. The Week Of Service in Nebraska will take place from April 22-28. A recent Volunteering in America Report ranked Nebraska among the top 10 states that have strong volunteerism records. About 37 percent of Nebraskans reported they had volunteered in 2011, adding up to more than 49 million hours of volunteer service.