Stories from Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Student journalists learn a standard newswriting technique called the "inverted pyramid" in their freshman classes. It makes for efficient reading -- the most important facts of the story are presented first, with less important details as the story continues...

June 6, 1944, D-Day 77 years ago more than 2,000 American soldiers died on one beach alone in World War II, Omaha Beach. And, on other beaches on D-Day by the time the fighting was over, more then 10,000 allied soldiers were killed. Early that morning off the coast of France, they all had one vision, to fight and take over precious ground held by the Nazis of Germany...

Celebrate with me. Fifty two years ago today I had the good fortune to marry my high school sweetheart, Miss Clara Ann Tondreau. Ann was raised on a farm west of Maywood. She embraced the Air Force life and during our time together we lived on the East Coast, the West Coast, as far south as one can get in the Rio Grand Valley and on the northern border of the U.S. ...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- It would be less expensive to replace the Red Willow Creek bridge north of the old Republican Valley school between McCook and Indianola, Nebraska, with twin culverts than to build a new bridge. More money could be saved if county road crews did most of the work...

After Nebraska Public Power District linemen shut off electrical power to the east complex of McCook Apartments at 906 East E, City of McCook, Nebraska, firefighter Fred Pinkal douses a smoldering fire behind an electrical panel box about 3 p.m., Monday. ...

One of the most important accomplishments of the recently concluded 2011 legislative session was the passage of several bills focused on creating new momentum for developing and attracting businesses rooted in technology and innovation. The Legislature gave unanimous support to four proposals that I proposed as part of our Talent & Innovation Initiative. ...

Official Senate hearings are common place in our nation's capital but they are rare in our nation's Heartland. Frankly, there needs to be more in the interest of government transparency. It's an excellent opportunity to bring government closer to the people and people seem to like it...

On June 2, 2011 Moody's Investors Services, a credit rating agency for government entities, issued a serious warning about the government's credit standing. Moody's cautioned its next rating for the U.S. will "depend on the outcome of the negotiations on deficit reduction. A credible agreement on substantial deficit reduction would support a continued stable outlook; lack of such an agreement could prompt Moody's to change its outlook to negative."...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- McCook City Councilman Jerry Calvin asked playfully if refusing to accept the resignation of City Manager Kurt Fritsch was an option, "Can we just keep him here?" Councillors accepted Fritsch's resignation, Monday evening, during their regularly scheduled meeting at council chambers. Fritsch accepted a position as city manager of Warrenton, Oregon, last week and announced June 10 would be his last day...