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DEVELOPING: SAFE HAVEN, BEATRICE MURDER, FLUORIDE VOTES
SAFE HAVEN
PONTIAC, Mich.—A hearing on neglect charges is continuing Friday against the Michigan parents of a 13-year-old boy whose mother abandoned him in Nebraska under that state’s safe haven law. By Ed White. Eds: Will be led from a court hearing scheduled for noon CDT.
AP Photo.
BEATRICE MURDER
LINCOLN—A second man will be released from prison for the 1985 murder of Beatrice woman because DNA evidence raised questions about his involvement. By re-sentencing him to time he has already served, Saline County District Court Judge Vicky Johnson on Friday ruled that Thomas Winslow should be released from prison. By Nate Jenkins.
FLUORIDE VOTES
OMAHA—Voters in 61 Nebraska communities will decide whether they want fluoride added to their water supplies. Voters have the opportunity to opt out of a new state law that requires the cavity-fighting substance be added to the water in cities with 1,000 or more people. By Anna Jo Bratton.
STATE FAIR
LINCOLN—Final plans for the new home of the Nebraska State Fair in Grand Island include a 250,000-square-feet livestock building that organizers say will be the largest of its kind in the Midwest. The plans were unveiled Friday.
AIM SLAYING
SIOUX FALLS, S.D.—Two former American Indian Movement members newly indicted for the 1975 slaying of Annie Mae Aquash will stand trial at Rapid City in February—32 years to the day after her body was found, a judge has ruled. Richard Marshall and John Graham pleaded not guilty to charges they committed or aided and abetted the first-degree murder of Aquash, a fellow AIM member, on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. By Carson Walker. Eds: NOTE Nebraska mention, interest.
ELECTION:
ELECTION OVERVIEW
OMAHA—Will Nebraska lose some of its red-state hue this presidential election? Can the Democrats break the GOP stranglehold on Nebraska’s U.S. House seats? Who will replace Sen. Chuck Hagel? Will voters ban affirmative action? Those are among the questions voters will answer Nov. 4. By Jean Ortiz. Eds: For use anytime before the Nov. 4 election. Moving on general news and political lines.
PRESIDENT
OMAHA—While it is looking increasingly unlikely, the national spotlight could swing to Omaha on Nov. 4 if a tight presidential race leads to an electoral vote tie. If that happens, it would be the first time Nebraska has had a chance to significantly impact the national presidential election in recent history. By Anna Jo Bratton. Eds: For use anytime before the Nov. 4 election. Moving on general news and political lines.
AP Photos.
SENATE
OMAHA—Democrat Scott Kleeb hasn’t had an easy time in Nebraska’s U.S. Senate race against Mike Johanns, a former governor who is arguably one of the best-known politicians in the state. Johanns, 58, was widely popular when he left the governor’s office in early 2005 after President Bush tapped him as U.S. agriculture secretary, and held that job until stepping down last year. By Anna Jo Bratton. Eds: For use anytime before the Nov. 4 election. Moving on general news and political lines.
AP Photos of Oct. 14: AH101-103.
CONGRESS
OMAHA—The change vs. experience theme of this year’s presidential race has been replayed in Nebraska’s 2nd District House race, where Democratic challenger Jim Esch is trying to beat Republican incumbent Lee Terry. Two years ago, Terry beat Esch with 55 percent of the vote in a closer-than-expected race, and the Democrat returned for a rematch. By Josh Funk. Eds: For use anytime before the Nov. 4 election. Moving on general news and political lines.
AP Photos of Oct. 15: NENH101-103.
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
LINCOLN—The most contentious, even bitter, election race in the state is being propelled by something more divisive than two candidates who don’t like each other: race. If opponents of affirmative action get their way, Nebraska will join just three other states that bar the practice meant to help minorities get a foothold in a mostly white society. By Nate Jenkins. Eds: For use anytime before the Nov. 4 election. Moving on general news and political lines.
LEGISLATURE
LINCOLN—Voters will complete a massive makeover of the Legislature when they cast ballots for new state senators on Nov. 4. Fifteen of the 26 seats up for grabs on Nov. 4 are currently filled by veteran state senators who are being ushered out Capitol doors by term limits. Approved by voters in 2000, they limit senators to serving two consecutive four-year terms. By Nate Jenkins. Eds: For use anytime before the Nov. 4 election. Moving on general news and political lines.
ALSO:
— LEARNING COMMUNITY—The Nov. 4 election will include a new race but a familiar name among its dozens of candidates.
— REGENTS—Lincoln attorneys Earl Scudder and Tim Clare are vying for the 1st District seat on the University of Nebraska Board of Regents.
BUSINESS:
MELTDOWN-BUFFETT
NEW YORK—Warren Buffett has been moving his personal investments from safe Treasuries into U.S. stocks, he wrote in an opinion piece in Friday’s New York Times. “If prices keep looking attractive, my non-Berkshire net worth will soon be 100 percent in United States equities,” he wrote. Eds: Also moving on national financial lines.
BANKERS SURVEY
OMAHA—A survey of bank CEOs in 10 Midwestern and Plains states shows almost half strongly oppose the Federal Reserve’s plan to buy unsecured commercial paper to alleviate the U.S. credit crisis. About 36 percent of bankers strongly supported the purchase of the short-term debts, although Joanie Shephard, CEO of First National Bank in Valentine, said she did so “while plugging my nose.”
ALSO:
— INVESTMENT PROBE—The Nebraska Department of Insurance is investigating an Omaha businessman accused of misusing investment funds. Eds: Also moving on general news lines.
— DAIRY COMPANY—The owners of a failed dairy operation near Hallam owe about $600,000 in loans and interest, along with more than $10,000 in unpaid taxes.
SPORTS:
FBC–NEBRASKA-IOWA STATE
AMES, Iowa—It was the same old story for nearly a century. Nebraska would roll into Jack Trice Stadium with a lofty national ranking and proceed to throttle Iowa State; the Cyclones playing the role of the fly on the Cornhuskers windshield. That isn’t true anymore. By Sports Writer Luke Meredith.
With:
FBC–NEBRASKA-IOWA STATE CAPSULE
ALSO GETTING ATTENTION:
— ELECTION DEADLINES—Nebraskans who have not signed up to vote in next month’s general election are reminded that the registration deadline is near.
— POLICE PISTOL TEAM—The Lincoln Police Department’s pistol team hit bull’s-eye at the NRA National Police Shooting Championships.
— LATINO CONFERENCE—The University of Nebraska Medical Center expects to draw more than 250 area high school students Friday for an event focused on career preparation.
— INFANT INJURED—Bail has been set at $75,000 for a 31-year-old Omaha man accused of abusing his 5-month-old son by throwing the baby across a room.
— COUPLE KILLED—A 34-year-old man accused of killing a rural Lancaster County couple is slated to be back in court next month for an arraignment.
— NEIGHBOR SHOT—Bond has been set at $750,000 for a Broken Bow man arrested after his neighbor was shot and wounded.
— CORPS-MORIVER—The Army Corps of Engineers’ chief of Missouri River Basin water management says he’s keeping his fingers crossed for 2009. Eds: NOTE Nebraska interest.
— WASPS DONATED—Weeks of trying to kill wasps entrenched in the ceiling of an Omaha apartment have led to a new solution: Donate the insects to the zoo.
— ID THEFT—A former Omaha car salesman accused of stealing personal information from former customers has been sentenced to five to seven years in prison.
— TEENS ARRESTED—Two teenage boys have been arrested on suspicion of shooting at an occupied home in Lincoln.
The AP, Omaha.
