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DEVELOPING: WORKING POOR, ECONOMIC STIMULUS-NEBRASKA, BKC–KANSAS-NEBRASKA
ADDS: SECURITIES PROBE, RIVER REPORT, SINKING MISSOURI, STIMULUS-AMERICAN INDIANS
SECURITIES PROBE
OMAHA—Three principals of a Grand Island insurance agency under investigation amid allegations of a Ponzi scheme have agreed to have their insurance licenses revoked. A hearing had been set for next week to consider removing the licenses for James Masat, Stella Levea and Kenneth Mottin. The three are principals for First Americans Insurance Agency. Bankruptcy court documents filed Tuesday say they waived that right in order to resolve other problems. By Jean Ortiz.
WORKING POOR, HFR
LINCOLN—The “Good Life” touted in Nebraska is in jeopardy for thousands of residents who increasingly are struggling to meet basic needs, says a wide-ranging report from the Nebraska Appleseed Center. More than one out of every four families is poor, almost one-third of all children are in low-income families, not enough Nebraskans have higher education, and prospects for high-paying jobs are dim in the state, says the report. By Nate Jenkins. Eds: Story cannot be printed, broadcast or appear online until 12:01 a.m. Thursday.
ECONOMIC STIMULUS-NEBRASKA
OMAHA—U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson says he’s not yet sure whether he’ll support President Barack Obama’s $825 billion economic stimulus plan. The Nebraska Democrat said during a conference call with reporters Wednesday that some elements of the current plant don’t seem to be truly stimulus-related. By Anna Jo Bratton. Eds: Will be led from House vote.
STIMULUS-AMERICAN INDIANS
WASHINGTON—American Indians stand to gain almost $3 billion as part of the economic stimulus moving through Congress, money that could help some of the nation’s poorest communities rebuild roads, improve health care and boost employment that has lagged behind the rest of the country for decades. The Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday included $2.8 billion for Indian tribes in its portion of the nearly $900 billion economic stimulus bill, and a House version to be voted on Wednesday includes a similar amount. That includes hundreds of millions of dollars for schools, health clinics, roads, law enforcement and water projects. By Mary Clare Jalonick. Eds: Note Nebraska mention.
RIVER REPORT
LINCOLN—Eight natural resources districts will make their own study of the lower Platte River basin to ensure the state’s pending restrictions are warranted. In December, the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources preliminarily ruled that the entire Platte basin upriver from the Missouri had reached its usage capacity.
SINKING MISSOURI
KANSAS CITY, Mo.—From Rulo, Neb., to Hermann, Mo., the Big Muddy is sinking. And as engineers figure out why, the dropping Missouri River bed could eventually threaten billions of dollars in property development, the stability of levees and bridges and make boat travel more difficult by exposing navigation hazards. It’s already cost Missouri’s largest city millions to ensure water for a half-million customers. Why it’s happening has been a puzzle to scientists, with possible natural and human causes. By Chris Blank.
AP Photos FLCR101-104.
BUSINESS:
— BANK LAYOFFS—First National Bank of Nebraska plans to eliminate 350 jobs across its operation, but most of the layoffs will be made in Omaha where the bank is based.
— FINANCIAL RESOLUTIONS—Saving more money was the top resolution for more than half of the people who responded to a recent survey.
SPORTS:
BKC–KANSAS-NEBRASKA
LINCOLN—Kansas doesn’t look much like the team that won the national championship last season, but the young Jayhawks are unbeaten through four Big 12 games and have won seven of their last eight heading into their game at Nebraska. The Cornhuskers have lost three of their last four. By Sports Writer Eric Olson. Eds: Game starts 6:30 p.m.
AP Photos by Nati Harnik.
ALSO GETTING ATTENTION:
— ACCOUNT LOOTED—A 50-year-old woman has been sentenced to federal prison for looting her ex-boyfriend’s retirement account of nearly $175,000.
— SEX ASSAULT—A rural Bayard man accused of sexually assaulting a young girl over years and taking explicit pictures of her has pleaded no contest to eight counts.
— CRETE DEATHS—Authorities say it was carbon monoxide poisoning that killed two pipeline workers in Crete last week.
— FATAL FIRE—A Nebraska fire official says it was a carelessly handled cigarette that led to a deadly mobile home fire this week.
— GRANDDAUGHTER ASSAULTED—A 54-year-old man who sexually assaulted his 4-year-old granddaughter will face sentencing in March.
— PLANT REOPENS—A northeast Nebraska ethanol plant has resumed production after closing down because of financial problems.
— KEARNEY GUN BAN—Kearney has dropped its 50-year-ban on carrying concealed weapons.
— UEHLING DEATH—Authorities in eastern Nebraska are investigating the death of a 60-year-old Uehling man who may have frozen to death.
— LINCOLN-NATIONAL REGISTER—Lincoln’s Country Club neighborhood has been named to the National Register of Historic Places.
— TOY LAWSUIT—A federal judge has dismissed a copyright infringement lawsuit filed by an Omaha man against Mattel Inc., and the two sides have reportedly settled.
— CHILDREN’S HEALTH-JOHANNS—Nebraska Sen. Mike Johanns is urging changes to a bill that would expand a children’s health insurance program.
— FREMONT STRIP CLUB—A woman is taking another shot at opening a strip club near Fremont.
— AG CONFERENCE—Former U.S. Agriculture Secretary Clayton Yeutter (YI-ter) will be the keynote speaker at the annual Governor’s Ag Conference that will be held in Kearney.
— BIRD COUNT—Nebraskans are being asked to join the 12th annual Great Backyard Bird Count.
The AP, Omaha.
