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DEVELOPING: NCAA VOLLEYBALL,
ADDS: WINTRY WEATHER, ATTORNEY SUSPENDED, PHONE WARS, POWER LINE FIGHT
WINTRY WEATHER
OMAHA—In the relative warmth of 15-20 degrees Friday morning, northeast Nebraska was digging out from nearly a foot of snow and facing the prospect of another arctic blast. “There’s not much going on here, but we’re open,” said Ruthann Bonneau, manager of Cowabunga Korner restaurant in Walthill. “We have lots of snow … it’s pretty high here.” By Nelson Lampe.
AP Photo pursuing.
PHONE WARS
OMAHA—A federal judge ruled the rates Qwest Communication charges its competitors for using the phone company’s lines must be cost-based in Nebraska. U.S. District Judge Lyle Strom ruled against Qwest this week. The Denver-based phone company had filed the lawsuit to challenge the Nebraska Public Service Commission’s order that the rates it charges Cox Communications be determined by a cost-based formula. By Business Writer Josh Funk. Eds: Moving on state news and financial lines.
SUPCO-ATTORNEY SUSPENDED
LINCOLN—Former Dakota County Attorney Robert A. Finney has been suspended from practicing law in Nebraska for two years. In a ruling issued Friday, the Nebraska Supreme Court said Finney violated rules of professional conduct. The court credited Finney with time he has already been suspended. Finney, who was forced out as county attorney by a 2003 recall, has been suspended from practicing since June 2007.
BUSINESS:
POWER LINE FIGHT
TOPEKA, Kan.—Legislators involved in energy policy are upset that state regulators plan to take another year to decide which of two competing companies will build the region’s highest-voltage power lines. The Republican chairmen and ranking Democrats on the House and Senate utilities committees said Friday that they’re worried such a delay will prevent the development of wind farms. By John Hanna. Eds: NOTE Nebraska mention. Also moving on news lines.
ALSO:
— CONSTELLATION ENERGY-BUYOUT—Attorneys for Constellation Energy Group Inc. and MidAmerican Energy Holdings Co. formally told Maryland utility regulators Friday that their deal has been called off. MidAmerican is controlled by Berkshire Hathaway, which is based in Omaha.
SPORTS:
NCAA VOLLEYBALL
OMAHA, Neb.—Stanford is back in the NCAA women’s volleyball final for the third year in a row. And for the second straight year, the Cardinal will play Penn State. Stanford hopes to avoid becoming the first team to lose in the finals three straight times. Defending champion Penn State looks to finish off one of the most dominating runs in the sport’s history. By Sports Writer Eric Olson. Eds: Developing from afternoon news conference.
AP Photos.
With:
— NCAA SITE—Penn State coach Russ Rose says he knows Omaha is one of the few places that can generate a big turnout for the NCAA women’s volleyball final four. But he hopes Omaha is never named permanent host.
ALSO:
— OUTLAND DINNER—Alabama offensive lineman Andre Smith will be formally presented the Outland Trophy at a dinner Jan. 15 at the DoubleTree Hotel in downtown Omaha.
ALSO GETTING ATTENTION:
— FIRE INJURY—One person has been hospitalized with second-degree burns following a house fire in Omaha.
— STABBING SENTENCE—A Lincoln man has been sentenced to five to eight years in prison for stabbing a friend during an argument over money.
— EXCHANGE STUDENT THEFT—A 34-year-old Norfolk woman has pleaded not guilty to a felony theft charge after being accused of stealing thousands of dollars from two foreign exchange students.
— SCIENCE HONOR—A vice chancellor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln has been elected as a fellow to a prestigious science association that publishes the journal Science.
— TEACHER GRANTS—Five Nebraska teachers now have $10,000 to spend on classroom technology.
— SEX ASSAULT SENTENCES—A Lincoln man apologized to the father of his 12-year-old victim before being sentenced to prison for two to four years.
The AP, Omaha.
