Stories from Thursday, February 4, 2016

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. -- The Nebraska State Patrol has released an aerial video of the Interstate 80 exit at Grand Island. Watch it here: https://youtu.be/-BzwYUu0YAM

McCOOK, Neb. -- A plea agreement was reached with a McCook woman earlier this week in Red Willow County District Court admitting guilt to misdemeanor drug offenses. The offender, 45-year-old Senamon R. Rogers of 1209 West 12th Street, was subsequently scheduled for sentencing at 9:30 a.m. on April 4, 2016...

McCOOK, Neb. -- A private housing development north of the fairgrounds is ahead of schedule and drew praise from economic development officials recently. The North Pointe Properties housing development on R Street has long-term plans for 27 residential units and it was announced in June the first six lots were ready for construction...

McCOOK, Neb. -- From bridge signs to pauper burials. From flood plains to phone lines. That was the agenda for Red Willow County commissioners during their weekly meeting Monday morning. Bridge signs Commissioners signed a contract with the Nebraska Department of Roads to participate in a bridge and culvert marker project in which the $17,474.50 needed for 224 signs in Red Willow County will be paid by the federal government...

McCOOK, Neb. -- Legislation introduced earlier this month at the state level could provide a financial benefit to counties but has others worried it would come with unintended consequences. The bill, LB780, intends to provide rapid transfer of custody and responsibility for individuals detained in emergency protective custody cases from law enforcement to mental health authorities, according to its statement of intent...

Isaac Larson says his snow blower growls, "Feed me! I'm hungry!" as he and Trae Heathers cleared the snow drift that buried the sidewalk and parking stalls on the south side of the Gazette office during the blizzard that ripped through Southwest Nebraska Tuesday. ...

Only a small part of the action will be on the field when the Carolina Panthers take the field against the Denver Broncos Sunday. The rest will be scattered around the world -- an estimated $4.2 billion in betting in the United States, some of it in legal casinos, but most of it illegal. Worldwide, bets of $10 billion or more will rest on the outcome fo the game...