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: NOOSE INVESTIGATION, NCAA VOLLEYBALL, NCAA-NEBRASKA,
ADDS: SUSPICIOUS LETTERS-NEBRASKA, EARNS-CONAGRA FOODS, CONSTELLATION ENERGY-BUYOUT, AVCA ALL-AMERICANS, JIM LITKE
NOOSE INVESTIGATION
LINCOLN—Nebraska state Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha is challenging the Army’s conclusion that an officer’s decision to hang a noose in the work area of a black woman was not racially motivated. In a letter mailed to a White House official last week, Chambers says the conclusion is “preposterous and absurd” and that he believes military officials are trying to wear him out by not releasing information in a timely manner. By Nate Jenkins.
SUSPICIOUS LETTERS-NEBRASKA
LINCOLN—The Nebraska National Guard headquarters in Lincoln was among the Guard units and reserve facilities in 36 states to have received suspicious letters last week. An internal report from the Department of Homeland Security said the 51 packages included anti-war compact discs, and one package also had a suspicious powder. Eds: Version without Nebraska mentions moving on national lines.
BUSINESS:
EARNS-CONAGRA FOODS
ST. LOUIS—ConAgra Foods Inc. said Wednesday its profit plunged 31 percent in the second quarter, reflecting the lack of income from the commodity trading unit it sold earlier this year. The Omaha-based owner of brands such as Healthy Choice, Chef Boyardee and Peter Pan said its earnings from continuing operations were up if last year’s contribution from the since-sold commodity trading unit trading were excluded from the comparison.
AP Photo NYBZ127
CONSTELLATION ENERGY-BUYOUT
COLUMBUS, Ohio—Constellation Energy said Wednesday it will sell half of its nuclear power business to French state-controlled nuclear power company EDF for $4.5 billion, scuttling a $4.7 billion offer from a unit of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway for all of the company. Baltimore-based Constellation Energy Group Inc. had agreed to the $26.50-per-share bid by Buffett’s MidAmerican Energy Holdings back in September. The deal, which included a much-needed $1 billion capital infusion, came after Constellation’s shares plummeted amid liquidity concerns that had analysts worried the nation’s largest wholesale power generator would go out of business.
SPORTS:
NCAA VOLLEYBALL
OMAHA, Neb.—Defending national champion Penn State is 36-0 and has not lost a set all season. The Nittany Lions will enter the NCAA semifinals needing two wins to complete the most dominating season in women’s college volleyball history. Penn State meets Nebraska in Thursday’s second semifinal. Texas and Stanford meet in the early semi. By Sports Writer Eric Olson. Developing from afternoon news conferences.
AP Photos.
NCAA-NEBRASKA
OMAHA—In what was supposed to be a rebuilding year, Nebraska is among the last four teams standing in Division I volleyball. After rallying from two sets down to beat Washington in a thrilling Seattle Regional final, the Huskers will have the advantage of playing in front of a 17,000-fan-strong “Sea of Red” at the Qwest Center, 50 miles from their Lincoln campus. The question is whether that will be enough against Penn State, possibly the strongest team in the college game’s history. By Sports Writer Eric Olson. Developing from 2:15 p.m. news conference.
AP Photos.
AVCA ALL-AMERICANS
OMAHA—Stanford’s Foluke Akinradewo and Penn State’s Nicole Fawcett head the list of American Volleyball Coaches Association All-America selections announced Wednesday. Akinradewo and Fawcett have been honored by the AVCA four years in a row. They are on the first team for the third straight year. They were second-team picks as freshmen. The team includes Jordan Larson, outside hitter from Nebraska.
With:
— VOL–AVCA ALL-AMERICANS-LIST
JIM LITKE
UNDATED—Whether Charles Barkley was right when he said “race was the No. 1 factor” why Auburn chose Gene Chizik over Turner Gill is something only a few higher-ups in the athletic department and the administration at his alma mater will ever know. But Barkley may be giving them too much credit. Judging by the process that led to Chizik’s selection as the Tigers football coach, incompetence appears to have trumped any questions of bad intent. By Sports Columnist Jim Litke. Eds: NOTE Nebraska mentions. Also moving on national lines.
AP Photo ALJM103.
ALSO:
— YANKEES-CHAMBERLAIN DUI—A court date in Lincoln on a drunken-driving charge for New York Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain has been delayed until next month.
ALSO GETTING ATTENTION:
— WINTRY WEATHER—It seems more winter weather is on the way to Nebraska.
— GRIEVING BURGLARY—Police are trying to find jewelry and other goods worth roughly $64,000 that were stolen from a Ralston home while the family attended a wake for the woman who lived in the home.
— CHILD SEX ASSAULT—A 29-year-old Scottsbluff man is being held on $30,000 cash bail after being charged with sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl.
— HAGEL FAREWELL—Chuck Hagel is traveling through Nebraska, thanking residents for sending him to serve 12 years in the U.S. Senate. Eds: AP Photo NENOR101
— FIRE DEATH—Authorities have identified the woman killed this week in a house fire as 70-year-old Sharon Moss.
— EMBEZZLEMENT CHARGE—A rural Gering woman is due in court next month on a charge that she embezzled more than $50,000 while working for the Potato Certification Association of Nebraska.
— TREASURER CHARGED—The embattled Adams County treasurer is facing a new problem besides a charge of tax evasion.
— POLICE JANITOR—A former Omaha Police Department janitor has been sentenced to up to four years in prison for child pornography and theft convictions.
— BOOZE CAMERAS—More than $330,000 in federal grants has been awarded to Nebraska law enforcement agencies to help fight drunken driving.
— POLICE CHASE—A Missouri teenager has been arrested after leading police on a high-speed chase on Interstate 80 in central Nebraska.
— TEEN CHARGED—A burglary charge has been filed against a North Platte teenager accused of breaking into a house that was destroyed by fire.
— WARMING STATIONS—The Salvation Army will offer two warming stations in Omaha to help the area’s homeless.
— WIND-DRIVEN JOBS—Development and operation of Nebraska’s wind resources could bring as many as 36,500 construction jobs to the state.
The AP, Omaha.
