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SUPCO–DEATH PENALTY-LOTTER
OMAHA—Nebraska death row inmate John Lotter wants his conviction overturned because his alleged accomplice has confessed to the grisly triple murder that inspired the 1999 film “Boys Don’t Cry.” Lotter says the state used a threat of torture—the electric chair—to coerce Thomas Nissen into lying about the murder of Teena Brandon and two others in southeast Nebraska. By Anna Jo Bratton.
AP Photo MOSTN501.
XGR–EXONERATED INMATES
LINCOLN—Missing children’s birthdays and other family events, losing years’ worth of wages, not to mention the emotional toll—a calculator can’t crunch all the costs of being behind bars for a crime you didn’t commit. Nebraska lawmakers are also having trouble putting a price on freedom. By Nate Jenkins.
XGR–RACETRACK SLOTS
LINCOLN—Slot machines won’t be at Nebraska’s horse tracks anytime soon. A proposed constitutional amendment (LR6CA) to allow electronic and video gaming machines at horse tracks in Nebraska died Monday after supporters didn’t get enough votes in a legislative committee to advance it to the full Legislature. The measure failed on a 3-4 vote. By Nate Jenkins.
BONG CAT
OMAHA—A man who tried to mellow out his cat by stuffing her into a homemade bong is facing criminal charges—and catcalls from animal lovers. Lincoln-area authorities cited 20-year-old Acea Schomaker on suspicion of animal cruelty Sunday after catching him smoking marijuana from a contraption that had a cat stuffed inside its 12-inch by 6-inch base. By Eric Olson.
AP Photo AH102-103.
DEPORTATION NEGLECT
OMAHA—The Nebraska Court of Appeals says two boys left in Nebraska by their mother when she was deported to Guatemala are considered abused or neglected, at least for the purposes of determining their eligibility for special immigrant status. The decision issued Feb. 24 overturns a lower court’s conclusion and sways the fate of two boys brought into the country illegally by their mother in 2001 or 2002 and eventually settled in Grand Island. By Jean Ortiz.
MEDICAL PRODUCT-LAWSUIT
OMAHA—An Omaha woman and her husband are suing a medical supply company, alleging its device used to treat stress urinary incontinence was defective and seriously injured her. The lawsuit against Santa Barbara, Calif.-based Mentor Corp. was filed Monday in U.S. District Court on behalf of Jessica Nolan and her husband, Tim. By Jean Ortiz.
CORRECTIONS COSTS-NEBRASKA
OMAHA—A new study shows that for every dollar Nebraska spent on prisons last year, the state spent just 19 cents on probation and parole. More than 30,000 people are under correctional control in Nebraska, and of that, more than 19,700 are on probation or parole. Monday’s report from the nonprofit Pew Center on the States says that while the number of people on probation or parole nationally tripled between 1982 and 2007, the huge increase hasn’t been matched by sufficient investments in staff, equipment and other support. By Anna Jo Bratton.
AP Photo AH101.
With:
— BC-CORRECTIONS COSTS moving nationally.
BUSINESS:
— HEINEMAN-ECONOMY—Gov. Dave Heineman says he thinks Nebraska will come through the recession better than most states because of its economic diversity. Eds: Moving on general news and financial services.
— NELNET EARNINGS DELAY—Student lender Nelnet Inc. delayed releasing its 2008 earnings report because its auditor needs more time to review the value of Nelnet’s derivatives. Eds: Moving on general news and financial services.
SPORTS:
BKC–BIG 12 COACHES
ST. LOUIS—Kansas’ Big 12 rivals never bought into that talk about a rebuilding season, even though the Jayhawks had to replace all five starters from the national championship team. They’re in first place heading into the final week of conference play. By R.B. Fallstrom.
ALSO GETTING ATTENTION:
— SNOWMOBILE ACCIDENT—Authorities say a 9-year-old boy is in good condition after a snowmobile accident near his hometown of Wisner in northeast Nebraska. Eds: Contains new and updated information than version moved for Monday PMs.
— FUNERAL PROTEST—An appeal has been filed in Sarpy County Court in the case of a Kansan charged with violating Nebraska’s flag-desecration statute.
— BIRD SEED SHORTAGE—Bird seed definitely isn’t chicken feed these days.
— WEAPONS SENTENCE—A 35-year-old Valentine man has been given two years in prison for having illegal weapons.
— INTERSTATE POT BUSTS—Three Interstate 80 traffic stops led to four arrests and the seizure of almost 370 pounds of marijuana.
— WHITECLAY PROTEST—About two dozen protesters gathered at the state Capitol to protest beer sales to American Indians in the northwest Nebraska village of Whiteclay. AP Photo NEBW101
— COACH PLEADS—A former Lincoln soccer coach accused of blindfolding and tying up boys for his sexual gratification has pleaded no contest to eight felony charges.
The AP, Omaha.
