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DEVELOPING:
ADDS: BEATRICE PROBLEMS, BERKSHIRE INVESTMENTS
BEATRICE PROBLEMS
LINCOLN—Medical negligence at the troubled Beatrice State Developmental Center led to the death last month of an 18-year-old with mental disabilities, the woman’s family says. David Manes says that his daughter died after at least 10 missteps by staff, and Manes blames the center’s management, according to a copy of the claim obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press. Lincoln attorney Jefferson Downing planned to file the claim against the state on Thursday. By Nate Jenkins.
AP Photos.
READY FOR RAID?
In an era of increased enforcement, the start of a new Congress and president and continued calls for immigration reform, tensions are raised among those who fear a stronger push toward immigration raids. But a national efforts is under way involving those in social services, legal advocates and others who work with immigrants to prepare their communities for the next massive sweep. By Jean Ortiz.
AP Photos.
JUNKYARD JUSTICE
OMAHA—A former Ashland junkman is suing the City of Ashland and others, asking a federal court to allow him to bring back the junkyard he operated on the outskirts of town. By Eric Olson.
BUSINESS:
ROHM & HAAS-DOW CHEMICAL
GEORGETOWN, Del.—A Delaware judge is mulling Dow Chemical’s request to disqualify an opposing law firm in a dispute over whether Dow should be forced to complete a proposed $15 billion buyout of specialty chemical maker Rohm & Haas. Chancellor William Chandler III told attorneys after a hearing Wednesday morning that he would issue a ruling by the end of the day, but no ruling had been issued by early evening. By Business Writer Randall Chase. Eds: NOTE Nebraska mention.
Also:
— BERKSHIRE INVESTMENTS—Warren Buffett’s company has the right to acquire more than 43 million shares of Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and building materials supplier USG Corp. By Business Writer Josh Funk.
— BERKSHIRE-CONSTELLATION—Warren Buffett’s company sold a second chunk of the roughly 20 million shares of Constellation Energy Group Inc. it received when Constellation rejected a takeover bid.
— HAGEL-MCCARTHY CAPITAL—A Nebraska private equity firm with ties to former U.S. Sen. Chuck Hagel has announced that the Nebraska Republican will join the firm.
SPORTS:
YANKEES-CHAMBERLAIN-RODRIGUEZ
TAMPA, Fla.—Joba Chamberlain has no doubt that Yankees teammate Alex Rodriguez will be ready to play after an offseason full of distractions. “He’s still going to be the Alex that we can count on and be there for us,” Chamberlain said Wednesday after working out at the Yankees’ minor league complex. “He’s going to be a friend forever. You look at it that way and you understand what it’s about and go on. He’s going to go and play everyday like he always does. He’s one the greatest players to ever play.” Eds: Note Nebraska mention. Also moving on national lines.
BRADLEY-CREIGHTON
OMAHA—Booker Woodfox led five players in double figures with 18 points as Creighton extended its streak of 20-win seasons to 11 with a 79-65 win over Bradley on Wednesday. The Bluejays (20-6), winners of five straight, broke open a tight game late by holding the Braves without a field goal for more than nine minutes while outscoring them 24-8 over the final 10 minutes.
ALSO:
— TEXANS MOVES—Former Nebraska running back Ahman Green has been released by the Houston Texans—a sign that his playing career may be over.
ALSO GETTING ATTENTION:
— SMOKING BAN—Nebraska lawmakers have buried a plan to let cities and villages opt out of the statewide smoking ban that will go into effect in June.
— TIGER BITE—A longtime veterinarian at Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha is expected to be fine after a Malaysian tiger bit him on the right forearm.
— IRAQ DUTY—An Army reserve transportation outfit has been called up for duty in support of U.S. forces in Iraq.
— FAMILY FAVORITE—The best county in the country to raise a family? Hamilton County, Neb., says a farm magazine.
— SCOTTSBLUFF DEATH—A man facing first-degree murder and a weapons charge in the shooting death of a Scottsbluff businessman has pleaded not guilty.
— SQUALID HOME—Two adults living in squalor at a Norfolk residence have been arrested on suspicion of child abuse and neglect and 38 counts of animal cruelty and neglect.
— PEOPLE-HARRISON FORD—Actor Harrison Ford’s quick visit to Lincoln was part of his research for a film role.
— EX-HUSKER SOUGHT—Authorities are looking for a former University of Nebraska football player who had been given pretrial diversion on a theft case last summer. Eds: Moved on state news and sports lines.
— DOG BITES BOY—A 12-year-old boy is recovering after he was attacked by an American bull dog while playing basketball outside in Omaha.
— DE KLERK LECTURE—The man who presided over South Africa’s journey away from its policy of racial discrimination says the U.S. election of an African-American president sent a message to the world.
— INMATE DEATH—Authorities are investigating the death of an inmate at the Harlan County jail in Alma in south-central Nebraska.
— UTILITY RATE INCREASE—Cornhusker Public Power District is raising rates 7.9 percent for irrigation, residential, commercial and large power customers in east-central Nebraska.
— COOPER RELICENSING—Federal authorities have scheduled two public meetings later this month to discuss relicensing of the nuclear power plant near Brownville in southeast Nebraska. Eds: Moved on state news and financial lines.
— YANKTON SLAYING—A Crofton, Neb., man is scheduled to be arraigned Feb. 24 for the May 22 slaying of a Yankton man.
— ICE FLOODING—Residents of Linoma Beach near Ashland in eastern Nebraska are back home after a brief evacuation because of flooding along the Platte River. AP Photos
— XGR–DIET PILL RESTRICTIONS—Dietary supplements that contain a substance used to make the illegal drug methamphetamine could be taken off store shelves and put behind counters in Nebraska.
The AP, Omaha.
