The supervisor in Omaha is Nelson Lampe. Josh Funk takes over at 3:30 p.m. If you have a news tip or questions about the report, call (800) 642-9920 or (402) 391-0031.
AP stories, along with the photos that accompany them, can also be obtained from . Reruns are also available from the Service Desk (877-836-9477).
Please send stories of state or regional interest by electronic carbon, by fax at (402) 391-1412 or e-mail to omahane(at)ap.org. Technical problems may be reported to (800) 822-9921.
DEVELOPING: FUNERAL PROTEST, CRUDE DUDE, CLASS C-2 FINAL, CLASS A FINAL
ADDS: SAFE HAVEN, BABY RECALL, BUFFETT-ECONOMY, BANKERS SURVEY
SAFE HAVEN
LINCOLN—The surprising and seemingly endless stream of teenagers dropped off at Nebraska hospitals over the last two months likely will come to an end Saturday. The Nebraska Legislature on Friday gave final approval, with a 43-5 vote, to a bill that puts a 30-day age limit on children who can be dropped off under the state’s safe-haven law. By Nate Jenkins.
BABY RECALL
OMAHA—The state Supreme Court ruled Friday that a northeast Nebraska couple should have a chance to adopt the boy they were ordered to give up earlier this year after adoption officials learned the couple did not disclose a pregnancy. The court ruled the infant should never have been taken from Jason and Angela Vesely of Verdigre in February because nothing in the written agreement required the Veselys to tell the Nebraska Children’s Home Society about the pregnancy. By Josh Funk.
BUFFETT-ECONOMY
OMAHA—Billionaire investor Warren Buffett said U.S. automakers need a new business model to better compete, whether it takes bankruptcy or a government bailout to achieve. Buffett also said he would never serve as U.S. treasury secretary because he loves his current job too much. The Berkshire Hathaway Inc. chairman and CEO is a member of President-elect Barack Obama’s transition economic advisers. By Business Writer Josh Funk. Eds: Moving on state and national news and financial lines.
FUNERAL PROTEST
PAPILLION—Sarpy County prosecutors are defending Nebraska’s flag desecration law and their case against a Kansas woman. During a hearing Friday, prosecutors argued Nebraska’s law is too narrowly worded to be considered unconstitutional. They say the law is valid because it only prohibits mutilating, defacing, defiling, burning or trampling a flag. By Jean Ortiz.
CRUDE DUDE
OMAHA—Cherry County authorities say they’ve arrested a suspect in the rash of so-called “Butt Bandit” vandalism cases. County Attorney Eric Scott says the 35-year-old Valentine man was arrested early Wednesday morning. Formal charges have not yet been filed. By Anna Jo Bratton.
BUSINESS:
BANKERS SURVEY
OMAHA—A survey of bankers suggests the rural economy is still faltering and that there is little confidence things will look much brighter in six months. The Rural Mainstreet Index, compiled from a survey of bank CEOs, hit its fourth record low in a row, according to a report released Friday.
ALSO:
— FARM BUREAU BOSS—The Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation will be getting a new chief administrator. Eds: Also moving on state news lines.
— COACHMEN INDUSTRIES—Coachmen Industries Inc. says it will sell its recreational vehicle group in northern Indiana to rival Forest River Inc., a unit of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., which is based in Omaha, Neb.
SPORTS:
CLASS C-2 FINAL
LINCOLN—Blue Hill lineman Casey Van Boening recovered a fumble that led to one Bobcats’ touchdown and Bryan Adams intercepted an Archbishop Bergan pass that led to another as Blue Hill recorded a 14-0 win over the Knights in the finals of the class C-2 football playoffs Friday at Memorial Stadium. “We did a pretty good job today. We’re pretty good on defense,” Van Boening said. “Everybody did their job and did it well.”
AP Photos.
CLASS A FINAL
LINCOLN—It’s an all Millard final Friday night as Millard South prepares to meet Millard West for the Nebraska class A football championship. Eds: Game time 7 p.m.
AP Photos
With:
— FBH–NEBRASKA PREP PLAYOFFS-AT A GLANCE
ALSO GETTING ATTENTION:
— BUFFETT AUCTION—A Berkshire Hathaway shareholder and Omaha native spent $100,000 to buy a signed portrait of billionaire Warren Buffett. Eds: Moving on state news and financial lines.
— HOUSE DESTROYED—No injuries have been reported in a fire that destroyed a house in North Platte.
— SOLDIERS RETURN—About 45 Nebraska National Guard soldiers have returned to Fort Sill after deploying as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
— ER EVACUATED—A chemical leak forces the evacuation of an Omaha hospital emergency room.
— CHILD CENTER DISPUTE—The Hall County attorney’s office has filed paperwork to cease operations at a children’s activity center it argues is being run like a child-care facility.
— AIRPORT BEACON—Officials with the Western Nebraska Regional Airport in Scottsbluff say a retired airport beacon tower will continue to light the way for air travelers across the state in Alma.
— SHOTS FIRED—Officials say a La Vista police officer who fired his weapon after a pickup truck rammed his cruiser during a drug investigation is recovering from minor injuries.
— PAPILLION MURDER—A Papillion man has pleaded guilty to manslaughter and third-degree assault in what he argues was the unintentional death of his mother’s boyfriend.
— CLICK IT-TICKET—Gov. Dave Heineman is announcing nearly $225,000 in federal grants to increase traffic enforcement around the Thanksgiving holiday.
The AP, Omaha.
