Two Area Men Sentenced for Two break-ins
Jacob Johnson and Patrick McGraw of York have been sentenced to two years in jail for break-ins at two area businesses.
The two were arrested the night of February 27th for breaking into Hitz Towing and Clarks Auto Salvage. The sentences were handed down Monday by District Judge Allan Gless in York County District Court.
York Man May Have Probation Revoked
Cory Dumpert of York appeared before District Court Judge Allen Gless Monday to face a motion from the York County Probation Office and the York County Attorney that his probation be revoked due to a violation of the law that occurred in Cass County. The motion alleges Dumpert broke probation when he left the track to hit another car with his vehicle during a NASCAR race at I-80 Speedway near Ashland. The incident led to a revocation of Dumpert’s NASCAR racing license, a fine and a one year suspension from racing at I-80 Speedway. This also allows Judge Gless to send him to jail, fine him or both. A hearing is set for August 2nd in the case.
Man fights to get refund from closed Neb. College
A 48-year-old man from St. Louis says the closed Dana College owes him a $10,000 refund for tuition he paid up front for his son. Ron Cresong (CRAY-song) made the payment about three weeks before the Blair school announced it would close. Cresong says he can't get a straight answer from Dana officials and the court-appointed receiver who is determining how Dana's financial assets will be distributed, and in what order. Mark Wagner is handling the Dana case for the Colorado company appointed as receiver. Wagner says Cresong is the only person known to have paid tuition early for 2010-11. Wagner says it could take several weeks to determine whether Cresong will get back his money.
Attorney General Bruning Issues Statement on Bankshot Decision
Attorney General Jon Bruning today issued the following statement on the Lancaster County District Court decision regarding Bankshot electronic video gaming devices. "We are pleased the court agreed that as currently formatted these machines are illegal gambling devices. We expect these machines to be reconfigured or removed by the Court's deadline. We respectfully disagree with the Court that certain aspects of the devices are not games of chance. We will explore our options regarding appealing those portions of the Court's decision.” The court’s findings and declarations are effective at 5 p.m. July 21, 2010.
Eastern Nebraska collision kills 1 man, injures 2
Authorities say a 49-year-old Fremont man died after a collision that injured two other people near Kennard in eastern Nebraska. The collision occurred Tuesday on U.S. Highway 30, near County Road 29 east of Kennard. Washington County sheriff's deputies say an eastbound vehicle struck a guardrail and swerved into oncoming traffic. One of the vehicles burst into flames. Its driver was killed. His passenger, a 25-year-old Fremont man, and the driver of the other vehicle were flown to an Omaha hospital for treatment. The other driver was identified only as a 36-year-old man from Herman.
Neb. officials agree flag mutilation law unlawful
Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning and other officials have agreed the state's flag-mutilation law is unconstitutional, siding with a Kansas-based church that stages protests outside funerals of military members. The stance by Bruning and others, made Monday in a conference call with a federal judge, cleared the way for the judge to issue a permanent injunction preventing the state from enforcing the law. A member of Westboro Baptist Church had filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Nebraska's flag law, which makes it illegal to intentionally cast "contempt or ridicule" upon an American or Nebraska flag by mutilating, defacing, defiling, burning or trampling it. Even though a final judgment in the case is pending, Bruning and others' agreement that the law is unconstitutional essentially settles the issue and leaves the state without a flag-mutilation law.
Man fights to get refund from closed Neb. College
Ron Cresong is the kind of guy who pays his bills early, but this time it seems to have backfired. On June 7, the 48-year-old from St. Louis paid $10,290 to Dana College for his son's tuition for the upcoming school year. The only problem is there will be no such school year - at least not there. Three weeks after his debit card was charged, the school closed due to debt, leaving Cresong in limbo without even a promise of a reimbursement. The closure of Dana College, a 600-student school in Blair that had operated for 126 years, came after the Higher Learning Commission refused to transfer accreditation to a group of investors who planned to operate the college as a for-profit enterprise. Its debt at the time was $11 million. Cresong paid a portion of his son's tuition two months before it was due and 23 days before Dana officials announced the closure. He is the only person known to have prepaid tuition for 2010-11 before Dana's closure, according to Mark Wagner of Cordes & Co. of Greenwood Village, Colo., the court-appointed receiver that will determine how Dana's financial assets will be distributed and in what order.
Omaha robbery suspect wounded by police gunshot
A robbery suspect is expected to survive after being wounded by a police gunshot in northwest Omaha. The shot was fired after a traffic accident that ended a short chase Tuesday night. Investigators were checking to see whether the man or his companion had fired at officers. None of the officers reported being shot. The officers were responding to reports of a robbery at a grocery store at 8:32 p.m.
A police helicopter helped track a suspect vehicle. As it sped away from police cars, it struck another vehicle at an intersection. The other man in the car was taken for questioning at police headquarters downtown.
Nebraska patrol probing Humboldt woman's death
The death of a 37-year-old woman in southeast Nebraska is being investigated by the Nebraska State Patrol. The Richardson County sheriff's department says deputies found the body of Linda White in her Humboldt home around 2 a.m. Saturday. No other information was being released, pending completion of the investigation.
Carbon monoxide suspected in 2 Omaha deaths
Accidental carbon monoxide poisoning is suspected in the deaths of a couple in central Omaha. Police say autopsies have been ordered on the bodies of 51-year-old Frances Gilroy and her husband, 60-year-old Charles Anderson. Their bodies were found by officers and firefighters called to the home a little before 10 a.m. Tuesday. A neighbor from an adjoining town home was taken to a hospital for treatment and was expected to recover. The couple's puppy also died.
Nebraska is Among States at Risk for Water Shortages
A new report says more than 1,000 counties across the United States could face potential water shortages by mid-century as warmer temperatures deplete supplies and agricultural and consumer demand for water rises. The report, released Tuesday by the Natural Resources Defense Council, says some regions including the Northeast could see a boost to water supplies as climate change shifts weather patterns. But for much of the rest of the country, the group paints a sobering picture of warm temperatures further taxing aquifers already stressed by heavy use. The report did not factor in future improvements to water supply systems. Fourteen states were highlighted as being most at risk -- Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.
Airman Gets 5 Years in Fatal Shooting
An Offutt Air Force Base airman has been sentenced to five years of confinement and given a dishonorable discharge after pleading guilty to fatally shooting a buddy during a game of "trust" in December. Airman 1st Class Corey Hernandez appeared for his court-martial on Tuesday, charged with manslaughter and giving false information to a police officer. The 21-year-old from Walnut, Calif., killed 23-year-old Senior Airman Michael Garcia from San Benito, Texas. In the "trust" game, military members point a gun at a comrade and ask, "Do you trust me?" The gun is usually unloaded.
Ammo Maker to Use Block Grant for Kimball Shop
A company that makes and sells small-caliber firearm ammunition has received a $315,000 Community Development Block Grant to assist with its startup in western Nebraska. Gov. Dave Heineman awarded the grant Tuesday to High Point Manufacturing in Kimball. High Point will manufacture, market and sell ammo and also plans to operate a factory retail store that sells ammunition. The governor's office said the company will create 23 full-time jobs . High Point will locate in a building on the east side of Kimball. The company will use the loan to make capital improvements and for inventory. The Community Development Block Grant funding will be matched by $250,000 in owner equity and $65,000 from Kimball's Economic Development Fund.
Two People Found Dead In Omaha Condo
Police confirm two people were found dead inside an Omaha home. It's believed to be a case of possible carbon monoxide poisoning. Firefighters received a call to check on a party around 10 a.m. Tuesday in the area of 96th and Blondo. Several crews were called to the scene. According to radio dispatches, a car was found in the garage. The engine was apparently on until it ran out of gas. As is routine, a homicide unit is at the scene to help investigate. So far, the victims' names have not been released.
Last of 8 Involved in Omaha Slaying gets 3-5 Years
The last of eight people convicted in the killing of a man in west Omaha last year has been sentenced to three to five years in prison. Josh Dornacker was sentenced Tuesday for being an accessory to a felony in the death of Brian Carson. Ryan Carson was the ringleader in the fatal April 2009 beating of his 45-year-old father. Prosecutors say Ryan Carson plotted the murder after discovering he and his father were romantically linked to the same woman. Ryan Carson is serving 60 to 80 years for second-degree murder. The 18-year-old Dornacker apologized for his role in the slaying before Judge James Gleason sentenced him. Dornacker is eligible for parole in a year and a half.
Heineman continues to weigh opinions on park drinking
Gov. Dave Heineman will decide whether to allow drinking in Nebraska state parks before November's election. In May, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission voted 8-1 to rescind a 15-year-old ban on alcohol in state parks. The new policy would take effect Jan. 1 -- if the governor approves it. Heated opinion about the issue led some to speculate Heineman would duck the controversy before the Nov. 2 general election. The governor has said he will issue a decision before November. In the meantime, he's gathering public input on drinking in parks. On July 30, he will head to the part of the state where parks and alcohol engender perhaps the strongest opinions. He will tour Lake McConaughy State Recreation Area before attending a private meeting with community leaders to hear their views. The commission banned alcohol in 1995 largely in response to wild partying, drunken riots and alcohol-related fatalities at the state's largest reservoir. Law enforcement officers, who remain firmly in support of the ban, feared for their safety when they had to respond to intoxicated revelers.
Bar video game ruled as illegal gambling
A judge has ruled that a barroom video game prevalent in Nebraska is illegal because of the way it's currently programmed. But Tom Locher, the attorney representing Omaha-based Greater America Distributing Co., which distributes Bank Shot, said Tuesday the game will be reprogrammed to comply with the ruling. That's because Lancaster County District Court Judge Steven Burns ruled on Tuesday that one of the three ways the game can be played is legal. The judge said the games must be removed or reconfigured so they are legal by late Wednesday. Attorney General Jon Bruning said he might appeal portions of the ruling that aspects of the game are legal. Illegal gambling machines are those where the outcome predominantly is determined by chance.
Lincoln man gets 15 years for dealing crack
A 24-year-old Lincoln man has been sentenced to 15 years and eight months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute crack cocaine in the Lincoln area. U.S. District Judge Richard Kopf sentenced Andajaun Divers on Tuesday. Divers also must complete five years of supervised release after he serves his prison sentence. Divers conspired with a number of individuals to distribute more than a kilo of crack from January 2005 to September 2009. Investigators determined Divers bought and sold crack in amounts that reached two ounces at a time with several co-conspirators.
Suspected burglar caught with beer in hand
A 47-year-old man stopped by a north Omaha grocery story to pick up beer. The problem: KNJ Grocery was closed. David Holmes was hiding behind a cooler enjoying a cold one when police apprehended him about 2:45 a.m. Tuesday. Police were called to the store by someone who saw Holmes breaking in. Holmes was arrested on suspicion of possession of burglary tools, burglary and an outstanding warrant for failure to appear on a shoplifting charge.
Neb 7th graders need whooping-cough shot
Nebraska's chief medical officer is reminding parents that students who are entering seventh grade this fall need to get a whooping-cough booster shot. State law now requires the shot along with boosters for tetanus and diphtheria. Chief medical officer Dr. Joann Schaefer said whooping cough can be very serious and potentially deadly. Whooping cough is a highly contagious disease marked by severe coughing. It's caused by bacteria found in the mouth, nose and throat of an infected person. Whooping cough is spread through close contact when an infected person talks, sneezes or coughs. There have been 47 cases of whooping cough reported in Nebraska this year.
Carbon monoxide suspected in 2 Omaha deaths
Accidental carbon monoxide poisoning is suspected in the deaths of a couple in central Omaha. Police say autopsies have been ordered on the bodies of 51-year-old Frances Gilroy and her husband, 60-year-old Charles Anderson. Their bodies were found by officers and firefighters called to the home a little before 10 a.m. Tuesday. A neighbor from an adjoining town home was taken to a hospital for treatment and was expected to recover. The couple's puppy also died.
Grand Island committee distributes development funds
The Grand Island Citizens Review Committee, a 7 person committee charged with distributing 3 quarters of a million dollars, approved two Grand Island economic development projects Tuesday potentially bringing hundreds of jobs to the area. The money is coming from 2 resources. The state is putting nearly a million dollars into developing local land, but local funds have to match so the Grand Island Economic Development Corporation is digging into LB840 funds. Those are funds collected through local taxes for economic development. The EDC will use nearly $580,000 to develop land in the Platte Valley Industrial Park. By putting in sewer and water systems, President Marlan Ferguson said the land will be more attractive to buyers and potentially bring hundreds of jobs. Another $200,000 will go to Hornady Manufacturing to create 50 new jobs and expand their facilities. Grand Island city council will vote on the proposal next Tuesday. Ferguson said the plan is to bid the project out late this fall and start marketing the land next spring.
Right-of-way hay harvesting is being offered again this year
Right-of-way hay harvesting is being offered again this year in Nebraska, the third year of the program.
According to the Nebraska Department of Roads, Nebraska landowners may apply for a permit to harvest hay from the right-of-way of state maintained highways, Interstates and freeways are excluded. Landowners whose land touches the state right-of-way will have the first opportunity to receive the $40 permit until July 30. After that, anyone with proof of a $1 million liability insurance policy can apply. Complete rules and regulations are available online a transportation.nebraska.gov/hay. Applications and more information can also be obtained by contacting local or district state highway maintenance offices. On the Nebraska Radio Network, I'm Josh Mackey.
New Kearney interchange in Neb. roads' plan
A new Interstate 80 interchange near Kearney that will provide direct access to the Great Platte River Roach Archway Monument is among the projects in the state's road-construction plan this year. The state released its $316 million construction plan on Tuesday. About $180 million of it is federal money. The total amount of available money is on par with previous years, not including federal stimulus dollars. More than 140 projects are in the construction plan. Larger projects include replacing the Missouri River bridge at Rulo, resurfacing Nebraska Highway 15 from Nebraska Highway 32 north to U.S. Highway 275 near Pilger, and resurfacing U.S. Highway 385 from Chadron north to near the South Dakota border.
Funding windfall might close Interstate 80 gap
Nebraska's Department of Roads may have caught as much as a $30 million break on federal highway funding for the next fiscal year. That could be enough to allow for a contract to finish six-lane work on Interstate 80 between Lincoln and Omaha, a roads official said Tuesday. Khalil Jaber said "the latest news that we've got" on funding cleanup action by federal lawmakers suggests the state might get enough money to take the 3.9 miles between the 56th Street interchange and the Waverly interchange off the hold pile for next year. If a contract can be issued, Jaber said, a program management engineer, "it will conclude the last piece from the east edge of Lincoln to the west edge of Omaha."
Man faces 70 years behind bars after plea
Lewis Hinojosa will face a possible sentence of up to 70 years behind bars after pleading guilty to drug charges in Lincoln County District Court on Tuesday. Hinojosa pled guilty to one count of possession with intent to deliver cocaine, a Class 2 felony and one count of possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, a Class 3 felony. The felony classification on drug charges often depends on the amount of drugs seized during the arrest. Hinojosa was arrested Oct. 29 on multiple felony charges, but struck a deal with prosecutors to plead guilty to the two felony counts now against him. Lincoln County District Court Judge John Murphy ordered a pre-sentence investigation and scheduled Hinojosa for sentencing on Sept. 20, at 9 a.m.
Latino group sues Neb. city over immigration law
A Latino civil rights group filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday against Fremont to stop its new ordinance that bans people from hiring or renting homes to illegal immigrants. The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund said in its lawsuit that the ordinance is unconstitutional because it discriminates against Latinos based on their national origin and deprives them of due process. The group also contends it violates the federal Fair Housing Act. Fremont City Attorney Dean Skokan said Wednesday he had not seen the lawsuit and could not comment on it. Officials anticipated challenges to the ban. "We expect a minimum of about three lawsuits," Skokan said. The American Civil Liberties Union said it would file its lawsuit against the ordinance on Wednesday
Nebraska man gets prison for molesting girl, 10
A 26-year-old eastern Nebraska man has been given three-to-four years in prison for sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl. Joshua Hesse, of Genoa, had pleaded guilty after a plea deal in May. He was sentenced on Friday in Platte County District Court. Court records say that in October, the girl told her parents that Hesse molested her while the two were watching movies in a bedroom at a rural home east of Monroe. An affidavit from an investigator for the Platte County sheriff's department says the girl's mother eventually recorded Hesse incriminating himself during a phone call.
Business aided by insurance tax credits
A new report says 94 percent of Nebraska small businesses with fewer than 25 employees will be eligible for tax credits to help pay the cost of employee health insurance. Advocacy groups Families USA and Small Business Majority on Wednesday issued the report to explore the impact of the federal health care overhaul. It says 33,200 Nebraska businesses qualify for the tax-credit program this year, including 10,300 eligible for the maximum tax credit of 35 percent. The report is based on research by the Lewin Group, a health care policy research and management-consulting firm. The firm analyzed data on business sizes and wages from the U.S. Agency for Health Care Research and Quality and the U.S. Census Bureau.
Californian Fined $500 in North Platte Pot Case
A woman who was arrested with another Californian for marijuana possession on Interstate 80 near North Platte has been fined $500. Kelly Robyn, of Grass Valley, Calif., was sentenced Monday for attempted possession of more than a pound of marijuana. After a plea deal, prosecutors lowered the charge from a felony to a misdemeanor. The judge noted that it was Robyn's first offense. The 48-year-old Robyn was a passenger in a car stopped in April. The Nebraska State Patrol says 24 pounds of marijuana was found in the vehicle's trunk. The driver, 60-year-old Gary Benedict, of Nevada City, Calif., missed a May hearing and is being sought on a bench warrant. Court records say Benedict faces two drug felony drug charges. Case records don't list his attorney's name.