NTK (Need to Know)

Good morning. Today is Thursday, March 11.

A mix of rain and snow is falling across the metro, with some areas seeing more snow than rain. Expect the wintery mixture to remain in the area into Friday.

Up to an inch of snow could accumulate in the Omaha area. But temperatures should remain just above freezing, so the snow will be more slushy than fluffy.

Be alert to slick roads during the commute today. Travel on roads within Omaha was pretty smooth early this morning, but crashes began to mount by 7 a.m. State troopers in both Nebraska and Iowa reported cars slipping on highways. In Nebraska, the Gretna area was particularly slick. In Iowa, troopers reported problems on Interstate 29 in Mills County, between mile markers 31 and 40.

News of note:

• Nearly half of Kansas City's public schools will close at the end of the school year. In a desperate bid to stay afloat, the school board voted to sell the district's downtown central office and cut roughly 700 jobs, including 285 teachers. The school district is facing a projected $50 million shortfall. K.C. will close nearly half its schools

• The Platte River spilled over its banks just southwest of Fremont late Wednesday, prompting the evacuation of seven people who live along Big Island Road. The river crested about 11:30 p .m. at around three feet over. By 1:30 a.m., it was down to ankle deep. Flood causes residents to evacuate

• Warren Buffett's salary last year remained at the same level it's been at for more than 25 years: $100,000. But Berkshire Hathaway is paying more to protect the billionaire these days. Berkshire said it spent $344,490 on Buffett's personal and home security in 2009. That's up 9 percent from the $315,709 it spent the previous year. Details of Buffett's total compensation for 2009 is contained in a proxy statement mailed to shareholders this week.Buffett's salary unchanged

• A Nebraska native with classic French training and a decade of New York cooking and catering experience is working to launch what appears to be the Omaha area's first year-round gourmet food truck, a mobile soup station called Soup Revolution. Chef aims to take it to the street with soup van

Among the day's happenings

• Fewer signatures by registered voters would be required to place an initiative on the state ballot under a proposed constitutional amendment that is expected to be debated Thursday morning.

In the afternoon, lawmakers will give final approval to several measures, including one to get tougher on kids convicted of possessing alcohol. Another would require cell-phone companies to help locate missing persons via their wireless phones.

• The NU women learn today who they face Friday in their first game of the Big 12 Championship. Kansas State, the No. 9 seed, faces No. 8 seed Texas Tech at 11 a.m. The Huskers will play the game's winner.

• Openings: "Broken Mirror 10," an exploration of issues facing teen girls, 7 p.m., Teens 'n' Theater at the Rose, 2001 Farnam. Tickets: $6. Call 345-4949. "Hot 'n' Throbbing" - a comedy that asks which is more obscene, porn or domestic violence? - 7:30 p.m., Blue Barn Theatre at the Downtown Space, 614 S. 11th St. Tickets: $25, adults; $20, students and senior citizens. Call 345-1576.

• At least five ex-Husker football players will sign autographs at "Kick Off for Kids" dinner at the LaFern Williams South Omaha YMCA, 30th and Q Streets. Autograph signing begins at 6:30 p.m. and again after the 7 p.m. dinner. Tickets: $50. Call 212-1509.

- Compiled by Judith Nygren

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