NORFOLK NEWBRASKA POLICE OFFICERS PLACED ON LEAVE

NORFOLK, NE – Two members of the Norfolk, Nebraska Police Department have been placed on paid administrative.

A press release from the city says Police Chief Don Miller and Captain Chad Reiman were the ones placed on leave.

Quoting the news release from the City:

“During this time, it is essential to ensure that all actions and decisions are made in the best interest of the community. In addition, all employees are entitled to due process, this administrative leave is not disciplinary in nature, nor should it be interpreted as a pre-judgment of any kind.” End quote

City officials say they remain dedicated to protecting the privacy rights of all employees.

Any members of the public looking for more information are asked to contact Norfolk City Administrator Andy Colvin. However, the city says the amount of information that can be released is limited since this is a personnel matter. At this time, no further comments are expected.

The release goes on to say that:

“As a matter of policy and to protect the integrity of the City and all parties involved, personnel matters are strictly confidential.”

According to city officials, additional updates will be released as the situation develops.

City officials say the Norfolk Police Division’s operations and services will continue under an “interim management structure.” They say until further notice Lieutenant Brian Tighe and Captain Mike Bauer will serve as the management team.

 

NEXT BLAST PLANNED FOR BNSF RAILROAD BRIDGE OVER BIG SIOUX RIVER

ELK POINT, S.D. – Union County Emergency Management has issued a notice on the second controlled blast on the BSNF Bridge.

According to the Union County SD Emergency Management Facebook page, the blast will take place at 9 a.m. on Sept. 6 at the BNSF bridge over the Big Sioux River. Union County EMS asks everyone within 1,000 ft to remain indoors from 8:30 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.

The Union County SD Emergency Management said, “In collaboration with the North Sioux City and Sioux City Police Departments, roads within this area will also be closed during the blast.

The Union County Emergency Management team says security will be at checkpoints on the morning of the demolition if assistance is needed.

To keep up to date on the demolition and other emergencies in Union County, follow the emergency management team on Facebook.

 

A.I. READING TUTOR NOW AVAILABLE FOR IOWA ELEMENTARY STUDENTS

IOWA Undated – Elementary school students in Iowa have access to a reading tutor statewide this year.  It’s name is “Amira” and it is an online, interactive Artificial Intelligence driven reading tutor that can be used in all Iowa elementary schools.

The Iowa Department of Education used pandemic relief money to buy access to the app for this school year.

Amira is designed to respond when students struggle with words while reading aloud.

All public and private elementary schools in the state will have access to the program.

Iowa Department of Education director McKenzie Snow hopes this app will strengthen early literacy instruction in Iowa schools.

The app was developed by Carnegie Mellon University and can track each user’s progress.

 

SUSPECT IN CUSTODY FOLLOWING WEEKEND SHOOTING IN CEDAR RAPIDS

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – Police in Cedar Rapids Iowa are investigating a shooting that happened around 3 in the afternoon on Saturday.

Officers arriving at the scene were responding to a medical call for service. They found a person suffering from two gunshot wounds. That individual was taken to a local hospital for what are being described as non-life threatening injures.

Following an investigation 24-year-old Seth McGraw from Cedar Rapids was arrested. McGraw has been charged with Willful Injury Causing Serious Injury, Intimidation with a dangerous weapon, Multiple Drug-related charges, Trafficking in Stolen Weapons, Use of a Weapon in the Commission of a Crime, and Person Ineligible to Carry Weapons.

 

TAYLOR SERVES FIRST HALF OF FEDERAL PRISON SENTENCE FOR VOTER FRAUD, NOW ON HOME CONFINEMENT

SIOUX CITY, IA – The wife of a Woodbury County Supervisor who was convicted in November of last year for voter fraud is out of prison after serving four months for federal voter fraud.

Kim Taylor, the wife of Woodbury County Supervisor Jeremy Taylor, was convicted on over 50 counts of voter fraud.

At trial, prosecutors proved Kim Taylor manipulated Vietnamese parents into voting on behalf of family members, or otherwise voting illegally.

In April of this year, she was sentenced to four months in prison and four months of home confinement. She will also have two years of supervised release immediately after her release from prison.

According to the federal bureau of prison records the 50-year-old was released on Friday.

Earlier this month, Kim Taylor’s attorney entered an appeal to her conviction stating insufficient evidence. In his appeal, Taylor’s attorney says the court should reverse her conviction for insufficient evidence and order a judgment of acquittal on those charges. Or, Taylor’s attorney asks the court to reverse Taylor’s conviction and order a new trial on whatever charged survive the court’s review of the case.

This was the most recent appeal by Taylor’s attorneys, who filed the first appeal shortly after her conviction in April.

Kim Taylor served her four month prison sentence in Waseca, Minnesota, a “low security” prison that is located about three and a half hours from Sioux City.

 

WYOMING WILDFIRES CONTINUE TO BURN, OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE GAINING GROUND ON CONTROL

WYOMING Undated – An update on the wildfires going on in Wyoming, one of which had a stretch of I-90 closed between Gillette and Buffalo.  At this time fire crews in the northeast part of that state continue to battle several large wildfires.

As of Sunday morning, the Southwest Complex Incident Management Team #5 took command of both the Flat Rock and Constitution Fires.

Campbell County, Wyoming Fire says the Constitution Fire is estimated at 24,000 acres. The fire is continuing to push and impact the east side of the fire line.

Meanwhile, The Flat Rock Fire is estimated at 52,000 acres. The fire is continuing to spread west and north. Air tankers and helicopters were deployed Saturday and made good progress on containment.

There are also 2 other big fires in Wyoming at the moment…

Remington – Extreme fire behavior was observed on the Remington fire on Saturday, including wind-driven runs, torching and spotting. Today, crews will secure containment lines and protect values at risk including infrastructure and structures.

House Draw – The House Draw fire experienced minimal fire behavior on Saturday. Today, firefighters will mop-up, extinguish hot spots and secure the fire perimeter.

Evacuations: An evacuation notification is in place for Sheridan County, Wyoming. No active evacuation orders are in place for Johnson or Campbell Counties, Wyoming. A Level 2 evacuation notice is in effect in for Big Horn, Rosebud, and Powder River Counties in Montana.