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DEVELOPING: CENSUS-NEBRASKA POPULATION, HUMAN TRAFFICKING CONVICTION
ADDS: CENSUS-NEBRASKA POPULATION, HUMAN TRAFFICKING CONVICTION, INFOGROUP FOUNDER
CENSUS-NEBRASKA POPULATION
LINCOLN—Nebraska may have seen its largest population increase in years in 2008 because of a solid birth rate and a net increase in the number of people moving into the Cornhusker State. The state’s population grew by .8 percent from 2007 to 2008, to 1,783,432 people, according to U.S. Census figures released on Monday that were analyzed by the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Center for Public Affairs Research. By Nate Jenkins.
HUMAN TRAFFICKING CONVICTION
DES MOINES—The first person to be convicted under Iowa’s human trafficking law, which took effect in 2006, was scheduled to be sentenced on Monday. Leonard Russell was found guilty of two counts of human trafficking during a September trial for recruiting two Nebraska girls for prostitution and performing at strip clubs in Iowa. He was also convicted of one count of ongoing criminal conduct and two counts of pandering. By Amy Lorentzen. Developing from 1:15 p.m. sentencing hearing.
BUSINESS:
INFOGROUP FOUNDER
OMAHA—The founder of database provider InfoGroup Inc. who was forced out as chief executive earlier this year now wants the company to explore its strategic alternatives. Vinod Gupta also said in a news release early Monday that he is exploring a proposal to acquire all of InfoGroup’s outstanding shares and take the company private. Gupta already owns about 40 percent of the Omaha-based company’s stock. By Business Writer Josh Funk.
SPORTS:
— BKC–FRESNO ST-CREIGHTON: Creighton plays Fresno State in the Las Vegas Classic. Game starts 9:30 p.m. CST.
ALSO GETTING ATTENTION:
— COLD CATTLE—The bitterly cold temperatures may be taking their toll on people, but they’re also creating challenges for cattle.
— FATAL FIRE CORRECTION—Fire investigators continue to search for what caused a deadly fire at a business in west Omaha.
— TODDLER INJURED—Omaha police are looking for the driver who fled the scene of a two-car crash that left an 18-month-old child critically injured.
— AIRMEN RETURN—About 200 airmen from Offutt Air Force Base who’ve been on duty overseas for months are back home in time for the holidays.
— SEX OFFENDER-LAWSUIT—A Lincoln couple has filed a lawsuit against the owner of a convenience store where their son was sexually assaulted.
— ROBBERY-LOST GUN—A convenience store clerk ended up with the gun, but the robber got away with the cash.
— JUDGE VACANCY—The process is under way to fill a vacancy created when voters ousted a judge who was criticized for sentencing a 5-foot-1 sex offender to probation and mentioning his height.
The AP, Omaha.
