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DEVELOPING: CHILLY WEATHER, EARNS-BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY,
ADDS: AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, INFOGROUP-LAWSUIT, DROUGHT-STRICKEN RANCHERS, KANSAS-NEBRASKA,
CHILLY WEATHER
OMAHA—Although light, wind-whipped snow was expected over much of Nebraska Friday, the worst of the wintry storm that pounded the northern Panhandle has exited the state to the north and east. Road crews were hauling abandoned vehicles off rural roads and utility crews resumed their efforts to restore power. By Nelson Lampe. Eds: Contains material found in version moving on national lines.
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
DENVER—Colorado voters have rejected a proposal to ban state affirmative action programs, becoming the first state in the nation to say “No” to a ballot measure passed by four other states. Nebraska approved a similar measure in this week’s election by a total of almost 58 percent of the vote. By Colleen Slevin. Eds: Also moving on national lines.
DROUGHT-STRICKEN RANCHERS
GILROY, Calif.—California’s worst drought in decades is forcing the state’s cattle ranchers to downsize their herds because two years of poor rainfall have ravaged millions of acres of rangeland used to feed their cows and calves. The parched, yellow pastures on Joe Gonzales’ cattle ranch attest to the severity of a dry spell that is devastating the economic fortunes of many of the state’s beef producers. By Terence Chea. Eds: NOTE Nebraska mention. Also moving on national lines.
AP Photos CAJC205, CAJC206.
BUSINESS:
EARNS-BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY
OMAHA—Warren Buffett’s company, Berkshire Hathaway Inc., will release its third-quarter earnings report Friday afternoon. Investors will be looking to see how Berkshire’s insurance companies, including Geico and General Reinsurance, fared and how the economy has affected the Berkshire companies tied to housing, including Shaw carpets and Acme Brick. Plus investors are always looking for any hint about new investments Buffett might be making. By Business Writer Josh Funk. Eds: Leads from expected 4 p.m. release of report.
INFOGROUP-LAWSUIT
GEORGETOWN, Del.—A Delaware judge approved Friday a settlement in a shareholder lawsuit brought against database provider InfoGroup Inc. over abusive personal spending by founder Vinod Gupta of Omaha. The settlement approved by Chancellor William Chandler III calls for Gupta to reimburse $9 million to the company. Gupta also will step down as chief executive officer and receive a $10 million severance package. By Business Writer Randall Chase.
ALSO:
— QWEST LABOR—Members of the largest union at Denver-based Qwest Communications International Inc. have ratified a new contract. Eds: NOTE Nebraska mention.
SPORTS:
KANSAS-NEBRASKA
LINCOLN—It would seem a no-brainer for Nebraska players to use the 76 points hung on them by Kansas last year as motivation for Saturday’s game against the Jayhawks. The Cornhuskers say they aren’t thinking that way, though. They have another embarrassment to atone for—last week’s 62-28 loss to Oklahoma. By Sports Writer Eric Olson.
ALSO GETTING ATTENTION:
— HUSBAND ARRESTED—A judge has set bail at $10 million for an Omaha man accused of killing his wife at their northwest Omaha home.
— CHILD SEX ASSAULT—A 73-year-old Oconto man convicted of sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl has been sentenced to 35 to 40 years in prison.
— STUDENT SLURS-OBAMA—Two Papillion-La Vista South High School students have been suspended after allegedly using insensitive language about President-elect Barack Obama.
— CHILD ASSAULTS—The Nebraska Supreme Court has affirmed the conviction of a Fairbury man who sexually assaulted three little girls over several years.
— OMAHA HOMICIDE—A 21-year-old Omaha man has pleaded guilty to first-degree murder for his role in the killing a man who had been tortured, burned and stabbed more than 100 times.
— MALL SHOOTING-WOMAN—A judge has denied an appeal by a Bellevue woman who took in a 19-year-old who fatally shot eight people and himself at an Omaha mall.
— SCHOOL BUS CRASH—Omaha police say a driver and a passenger in a car were injured in a collision with a school bus.
— KEARNEY EMBEZZLEMENT—The former executive director of the Kearney Public Schools Foundation will go on trial in January on charges of stealing more than $500,000 from the group.
— TREE PLANTING—The Nebraska Forest Service is asking landowners to prepare now for windbreak trees that will be planted in the spring.
— FATAL CRASH-CHARGE—A teenager charged as an adult in the traffic death of another teen is seeking to have his case moved to juvenile court.
— RED KETTLES—The Salvation Army’s holiday Red Kettle drive has begun.
The AP, Omaha.
