News

Bruning Asking Neb. Supreme Court to Reject Delay Motion
In less than 2 weeks, Michael Ryan is scheduled to be executed for the 1985 killing of 26 year old, James Thimm (Tim) on a cult farm near Rulo. If Attorney General, Jon Bruning, has anything to do with it...Ryan will keep that date of death. Bruning is asking the Nebraska Supreme Court to reject a delay motion from Ryan's attorney, Jerry Soucie, who argues Ryan was sentenced 27 years ago to die
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Lux Middle School Students Win Math Competition
Congratulations Lux Middle School students, winners of the Southeast Chapter of the Math Counts competition. The Scott Middle School team came in 2nd...both teams move on to the stat competition March 17th in Lincoln.

Special Bond Election Ballots in Mail for Norris Public School District
If you live in the Norris Public School District, you should get a ballot in the mail by the end of the week for the $14 million special bond election. Fill out the ballot and mail it or hand-deliver it back to the Lancaster County Election Commissioner's Office by the end of business March 13th. Bond money will be used for a new intermediate elementary facility and renovations to the high school

Feds Get Update on Repair and Restart of Nuclear Power Plant
Federal regulators get another update today (Wednesday) on a Nebraska utility's plan to repair and restart a nuclear power plant that has been shut down since last spring. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission sits down with Omaha Public Power District officials to talk about the Fort Calhoun nuclear power plant, 20 miles north of Omaha. It's the second meeting since the NRC imposed tough oversight

Norfolk Lawyer Wants to Join UNL Board of Regent
A Norfolk lawyer wants to be a member of the University of Nebraska Board of Regents. David Copple will seek the District 3 seat held by Chuck Hassebrook, of Lyons. Hassebrook is running for the Democratic Party nomination for U-S Senate. Copple says he would focus on ways to keep tuition affordable and pursue economic development opportunities to provide high-end jobs for university graduates.

G.O.P Senate Candidates Rap Feds
Four of the five Republicans running for Nebraska's soon-to-be-open Senate seat have sharp criticism for the Federal Government.  Jon Bruning, Don Stenberg, Deb Fischer, and Pat Flynn all appeared at a candidate forum at Tuesday's meeting of the Lincoln Independent Business Association.  Their assignment was to speak on two topics:  How could the Federal Government help

Interstate Pot Pipeline Interrupted
Nebraska state troopers have seized more than 52 pounds of marijuana and arrested six people after four recent traffic stops. The Nebraska State Patrol says the stops were made along Interstate 80. Two were made Sunday and two on Monday. One man was arrested and 6.5 pounds of marijuana was seized on Monday near Grand Island. Monday's second stop occurred near the Lincoln Airport exit. The driver

Target Employee Charged With Cash Theft
Police have arrested a Lincoln woman on suspicion of pocketing more than $4,000 while counting money for her employer, a local Target store. 35-year-old Mary Chapman was arrested Friday on suspicion of felony theft. She is expected to appear Tuesday in Lancaster County Court for a hearing on the charge. Police say store officials have video of Chapman taking mostly $50 and $100 bills from

Dropout Age Under Consideration
A Nebraska lawmaker who wants to increase the minimum school dropout age to 18 says his proposal seeks to protect the long-term interests of children who will likely earn less without a diploma. Lawmakers began debate Tuesday on a bill (LB996) that would require students to stay in school until they graduate, turn 18, or complete a separate educational program. Current state law allows students

Eight States Offered Health Care Funding
The Obama administration is awarding loans totaling more than $638 million to start up new health care cooperatives serving eight states. The government says the new nonprofit health insurers will be run by their customers and will be designed to offer coverage to individuals and small businesses. Awards were announced Tuesday for co-ops serving Montana, Iowa, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico,

Fairbury Murder Trial Underway
Testimony is under way in the trial of a Jefferson County woman accused of beating her husband to death. Fifty-five-year-old Susan DeJong is charged with first-degree murder in the death of 52-year-old Thomas DeJong at their home west of Fairbury in March 2011. County Attorney Linda Bauer told jurors Tuesday that Susan DeJong was obsessed with suspicions that her husband was having an

Contractor To Stop Managing Child Cases
A state contractor that manages child welfare cases in eastern and southeast Nebraska is relinquishing its duties because of a financial dispute.  The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services announced Tuesday that the state and KVC Nebraska have agreed to end the contracted services, effective March 1.  Department CEO Kerry Winterer says the state is prepared to assume case

Nebraska Voter ID Measure Draws Broad Opposition
Members of more than 20 organizations are rallying against a bill that would require Nebraska voters to show a government-issued photo ID before casting their ballots.  More than 70 people filled the rotunda at the Capitol on Tuesday in opposition to Legislative Bill 239. Lawmakers were scheduled to debate the measure Tuesday, but action was delayed until later. Several senators also plan a

Man Suffers Facial Fracture During Attempted Robbery
Lincoln Police are looking for two men who attacked a man at 33rd and "O" around 9pm Monday, leaving the victim with an orbital fracture. Officer Katie Flood says the victim was walking out of the Discount Depot when the two suspects started yelling at him and tried to pick a fight. Flood says the victim ignored them and walked across the street. She says the victim was then

Back to Normal After a Bomb Threat Message Found in High School
No clues this morning (Tuesday) to help police find the person who scribbled "there's a bomb in the school" in a boy's bathroom stall in Southeast High yesterday (Monday). The school was NOT evacuated and no bomb was found, but there as an investigation led by a fire inspector.

Man in Court for Allegedly Choking Girlfriend
A 53 year old man is expected in court today (Tuesday) for allegedly choking his girlfriend and threatening her with a gun over the weekend. Antonio Wooden was arrested Saturday evening, hours before SWAT busted into his apartment, tossing a flash grenade inside, in case someone was waiting with a gun. There was not.

LIBA Hosts Forum with 4 GOP Candidates
For the first time this year, Republican contenders for their party's nomination for U-S Senate meet at the same table. The Lincoln Independent Business Association is hosting a forum, where 4 of the 5 GOP candidates will meet at Noon today (Tuesday). KFOR NEWS will be there to hear Valentine Senator, Deb Fischer, State Treasurer, Don Stenberg, Attorney General, Jon Bruning and Schuyler

18 Year Old in Court Today for Setting Family's Couch on Fire
An 18 year old Lincoln man is expected in court today (Tuesday) for setting his family's couch on fire over the weekend. Ty L.R. Thompson allegedly went inside his house at 3134 Kleckner Court, flipped the couch over and lit it on fire. Police and fire were called, but the fire was out when they got there.

Auditor's Office Critical of UNL's Delay in Releasing Health Insurance Informati
The State Auditor's Office says the University of Nebraska broke state law by stalling for more than a year before releasing information about the university's health insurance program. NU officials say they had privacy concerns, but eventually provided the information...but not until it performed its own health insurance eligibility audit. The Auditor's Office is also critical of what it calls

Judge Rejects Part of Fremont's Illegal Immigrant Ordinance
A difference of opinion over a judge's ruling on Fremont's illegal immigrant ordinance. A judge has rejected part of the ordinance denying housing permits to illegal immigrants, but upheld a requirement that employers verify the citizenship status of people they hire. Fremont's attorney, Kris Kobach, who is the Kansas Secretary of State, says 75% of the ordinance was upheld, including the

Grand Island Man Waives Preliminary Hearing
A Grand Island man accused of sexually assaulting a child has waived his preliminary hearing in Hall County Court. 26 year old, Abraham Richardson, faces charges of first-degree sexual assault of a child, kidnapping and first-degree assault.

No Cure for Disease Killing Evergreen Trees
A disease called pine wilt is killing evergreen trees in southeast Nebraska. A Gage County horticulturist says there is no cure for the disease which affects mostly Scotch and Austrian pines. It's caused by a parasitic nematode carried by a wood-boring beetle.

Judge Rules On Fremont Ordinance
A Federal Judge handed down a ruling Monday on the legality of Fremont's controversial city ordinance on Illegal Immigrants.  The two sides differ on the effect.  The two groups trying to overturn the ordinance included the American Civil Liberties Union and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund.  

Lincoln attorney Shirley Mora James, who worked with

Cancer Society Schedules 47 "Relay For Life" Events
The American cancer Society will get a lot of help from the popular Relay For Life Events this year. 47 have been scheduled in Nebraska, with a goal of raising $3.3 Million for cancer research. Three of the events are here in Lincoln...one is March 31st at Cook Pavillion on the U-N-L Campus. The second will be April 13th at Knight Fieldhouse at Nebraska Wesleyan University. The third will be at

NSAA Names Blanford-Green As New Executive Director
Former Nebraska track star Rhonda Blanford-Green is the new executive director of the Nebraska School Activities Association.  Blanford-Green has been the associate commissioner of the Colorado High School Activities Association for the past 16 years.  The NSAA Board of Directors approved her hiring in an 8-0 vote last week.  Blanford-Green was a a four-time NCAA champion hurdler

Three Men Stabbed During Brawl
More than 50 people were involved in a brawl outside of a northwest Lincoln mobile home. Police were called out to the 600 block of West Butler Avenue around 3:45am Sunday about large fight.  When police showed up, everyone had left but investigators were then called to a hospital about a stabbing victim.  Officer Katie Flood says the 20-year-old victim received 18 stitches to treat

Neb. Game and Parks issues tax donation reminder
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - The state Game and Parks Commission is reminding Nebraskans that part of their tax refund can go toward wildlife and habitat conservation. Commission members say the tax check-off on 2011 state income tax forms helps manage nongame and endangered wildlife species throughout Nebraska. Kristal Stoner, the commission's wildlife diversity program manager, says the check-off is

Gay Right Advocates Ready to Fight a Bill
Gay rights advocates this week are preparing to fight a bill in the Legislature which would prevent cities from enforcing local rules to protect gays and transgendered people from discrimination. Omaha Senator, Beau McCoy, says his proposal would ensure that businesses are not subjected to piecemeal regulations by cities and counties. Opponents say it's designed to pre-empt an Omaha

Man Fatally Wounded, Another in Jail
After a 47-year-old man was fatally wounded in a northeast Omaha backyard over the weekend, police shot and arrested a fleeing suspect who reached for a gun. Police say a 32-year-old man is in jail for being a felon in possession of a weapon and on suspicion of involvement in the shooting.

WRK Joins Chief Industries to Make Payment for Arena
Mayor Beutler isn't worried any longer that developer, WRK, will not be able to keep it's commitment to developing 3 blocks near the new Pinnacle Bank Arena by next year. WRK is teaming up with Chief Industries to come up with $3 million for initial infrastructure work and $20 million for Phase-1 development on 3 blocks south of the new arena...money and commitments WRK promised Mayor Beutler by

One Crash Leads to Two DUI Arrests
Two DUI arrests from a single accident. Police Capt. Michon Morrow tells KFOR NEWS just before 3am Monday, a vehicle went off the road near 98th and Pine Lake Road...the driver, 21-year-old Shawn Walker, apparently had too much to drink but as officers arrived, the passenger, 21-year-old Daniel Krupicka, who also had been drinking; switched places with the driver and tried to move the wrecked vehicle. Walker had

Fewer Farms in Nebraska
Farms are a bit bigger in Nebraska this year, but there are fewer of them. 46,800 farms dot Nebraska's landscape, 400 fewer than a year ago. Farms these days are 6 acres bigger, but ones making less than $500,000 a year dropped by 1,100. Farms making half-a-million or more increased by 1,500.

Private Charity Receives Large Donation
It's a great day for the Nebraska Children's Home Society. The charity received a donation of 1000 acres of farm land in Dawson and Gosper County. The farmland was donated through the Nellie M. Cole Trust. Proceeds from the sale of the farmland are invested long-term in the agency’s endowment. Nebraska Children's Home Society is the only agency that has never charged fees for its adoption

Solution Found In Pinnacle Bank Arena Steel Bars
A solution has been discovered to fix the foundation of the Pinnacle Bank Arena. In December, contractors announced that some of the reinforcing bars were bent too sharply, making them weaker and causing them to break under a heavy load. Engineers announced at the mayor's office today that separate, additional concrete jackets will be built around each of the 26 pilings that contain the weakened

Pilot Intoxication Investigation Underway
Federal authorities have begun an investigation into reports that an intoxicated pilot was prevented from boarding a flight in Omaha. Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Elizabeth Isham Cory says Frontier Airlines reported Thursday's incident to the FAA, as required. Frontier says its Flight 1894 to Milwaukee was scheduled to leave Omaha's Eppley Airfield at 6 a.m. but was delayed for

Marijuana Bust on I-80
Nebraska authorities say a Maryland man was arrested after marijuana was found in his vehicle. The State Patrol says an eastbound sport utility vehicle was stopped late Wednesday morning for speeding near the airport exit off Interstate 80 in Lincoln. The trooper says the odor of marijuana was coming from inside the SUV, so it was searched. The patrol says more than 60 pounds of pot was found in

Senator Seeking to Cut Down Highway Bill
U.S. Sen. Mike Johanns is not backing off on his fight against federal spending earmarks. The Nebraska Republican is seeking to remove what he calls an earmark from the Senate's $109 billion highway bill. Johanns says his measure targets a section in the bill that would place unspent funds from a project in Nevada into the state treasury. Earmarks are congressional pet spending projects. Critics

Man Sentenced For Attack On Girlfriend
A 24-year-old Lincoln man has been sentenced for an attack on his girlfriend and burglary.Adan Teniente pled no contest to strangulation, domestic assault and burglary. Police say Teniente broke into his girlfriend's apartment in June. She told police he choked and punched her that night and had attacked her about six months earlier and smashed the windows of her car.

Man Throwing Explosives Pleads No Contest
A 34-year-old Beatrice man who tossed explosives into the Big Blue River while boating has pleaded no contest to reduced charges. Grant Crannell (KRA'-nuhl) pleaded no contest to misdemeanor counts of attempted 3rd-degree assault, criminal mischief and use of an explosive without a permit. Crannell was throwing the explosives into the river from a crowded boat on Aug. 13 when one detonated under

Legislative Bill For Pandering, Human Trafficking and Prostitutes
 Massage parlors, strip clubs and truck stops in Nebraska would have to post the number of a human trafficking hotline near their entrances, under a bill set for a legislative hearing today (Thursday). Lincoln Senator, Amanda McGill, wants to also increase penalties for pandering, if the offender has prior convictions or the person being enticed into prostitution is a minor. The bill also

Omaha Man Sentenced For Deadly Collision
An Omaha man charged in a deadly collision in Omaha last summer has been sentenced to prison. The attorney general's office says 29-year-old Octavio Miranda was sentenced to 10 to 14 years in prison for motor vehicle homicide. He pleaded no contest. Miranda was accused in a collision that killed 27-year-old Audrey Stubblefield, of Omaha, last July. She was a passenger in a car that collided with

Another Student Accused Of Selling Painkillers
A 19-year-old Lincoln Northeast High School student faces a charge of possession with intent to deliver, after a school resource officer found 11 hydrocodone pills in a stocking cap. Apparently, the officer was tipped off about Joshua Robinett trying to sell the pills to other students for $20 apiece. Police Officer Katie Flood says this case is similar to one at Northeast last month, where

Lawsuit Involving Ogalala Sioux Tribe
A lawsuit from the Oglala Sioux Tribe claims some of the world's largest beer makers knowingly contributed to alcohol-related problems on South Dakota's Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. That claim was filed last week in Federal Court. The tribe is demanding $500 million for the cost of health care, social services and child rehabilitation caused by chronic alcoholism on the reservation. Lincoln

Greater Use Of Ethanol In Future
Ethanol is about ready to move into its next stage. Most motorists are familiar wtih the 10 percent blend of gasoline and alcohol sold at gas stations....but government mandates will require greater use in the future. Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson says the infra-structure is just now being prepared, and that the most important thing is expanding the location of pumps which would in turn give more

University Fraternity Prepares For Bed Bugs
Fearing the costs of combatting bedbugs, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln fraternity is taking out insurance against an infestation. Sigma Phi Epsilon apparently doesn't have a problem yet. But, with more than 75 people living in the house, the pests could migrate onto the premises. The university has been battling bedbugs for several weeks. The pests have been detected in more than 50 dorm

Longtime Legislature Fixture Gordon Dies
Sally Gordon, who'd retired last year as assistant sergeant-at-arms at the Nebraska State Capitol, has died.  Her daughter-in-law, Karen Kilgarin, confirmed on Tuesday that the 102-year-old Gordon had passed away.  Gordon had been hospitalized since a fall at her home a few weeks ago and passed away early Tuesday morning.  Gordon was 75 when she started working for the Legislature

Hassebrook Officially Announces Senate Bid
University of Nebraska Regent Chuck Hassebrook is now a candidate for the U.S. Senate. The Democrat, from the northeast Nebraska town of Lyons, says he's been working for rural Nebraska for his entire career.  Hassebrook says he wants to promote cooperation between Republicans and Democrats in Congress. He's the fourth Democrat to file for the seat being vacated by Ben Nelson....along with

Lots of Potholes Filled, Street Data Being Collected
More than 7,200 potholes on Lincoln streets were repaired during December and January, tripled the amount during the same time last year. It's mainly due to the mild weather we've had lately. Scott Opfer from the city's Street and Traffic Operations department says crews have been able to continue to fix potholes like what they would do in the summertime.  He says they purchased recycled

Fatal West 'O' accident leaves one dead
One person is dead after a collision between a compact car and a semi-truck in the 900 block of West “O” Street shortly after 11am Thursday. The driver of the car was killed and the semi-truck driver was not hurt. The investigation continues and the name of the victim has not been released.