The supervisor in Omaha is Nelson Lampe. Timberly Ross takes over at 3:30 p.m. If you have a news tip or questions about the report, call (800) 642-9920 or (402) 391-0031.
AP stories, along with the photos that accompany them, can also be obtained from . Reruns are also available from the Service Desk (877-836-9477).
Please send stories of state or regional interest by electronic carbon, by fax at (402) 391-1412 or e-mail to omahane(at)ap.org. Technical problems may be reported to (800) 822-9921.
XGR–DEATH PENALTY
LINCOLN—If a key Nebraska lawmaker has his way, the Legislature will debate much more than whether to replace the electric chair with lethal injection. Senators also would debate whether it should be harder for the state to impose the death penalty at all. By Nate Jenkins.
WITH:
— XGR–EXONERATED INMATES—Nebraska lawmakers have given first-round approval to a bill that would compensate the so-called “Beatrice 6” and others who might be wrongly imprisoned in the future.
— XGR–PUBLIC CAMPAIGNING—The University of Nebraska, city governments, and other public bodies want to be able to use public resources to push their points of view on campaign issues.
BUSINESS:
GEN RE-AIG TRIAL
HARTFORD, Conn.—A former senior vice president at General Re Corp. was sentenced Wednesday to a year and a day in federal prison for an accounting fraud scandal that artificially propped up the stock price of insurer American International Group Inc. Christopher Garand, 61, was also fined $150,000 for his role in the case, which authorities say cost AIG shareholders more than $500 million. By Dave Collins.
ALSO:
— WHEAT CONDITIONS—The latest state agricultural report says Nebraska’s winter wheat crop is in good condition, but says a lack of snow cover could leave it vulnerable to high winds.
SPORTS:
IOWA ST-NEBRASKA—Ade Dagunduro tied his career high with 24 points and Nebraska’s press forced 10 turnovers late in the second half as the Huskers beat Iowa State 77-61 on Wednesday.
AP Photos by Nati Harnik.
VALLEY TOURNAMENT
ST. LOUIS—Here’s the Missouri Valley’s dream scenario for squeezing two teams into the NCAA tournament: No. 2-seed Creighton advances to the final of this week’s conference tournament, just misses out on the automatic bid and then gets an at-large berth based on its strong finish. By Sports Writer R.B. Fallstrom.
ROYALS-GORDON
SURPRISE, Ariz.—On a cool and overcast April afternoon in 2007, the baseball gods created a moment to transfix a big crowd. Boston’s Curt Schilling, a World Series hero and one of the game’s most celebrated pitchers, got the sign and threw to the season’s most celebrated rookie hitter. By Sports Writer Doug Tucker.
ALSO:
— S DAKOTA ST-NEBRASKA—Adam Bailey hit his fifth home run of the season and drove in four runs and Kyle Bubak went 4-for-5 with two doubles, leading Nebraska in an 11-2 victory over South Dakota State on Wednesday.
— RMAC AWARDS-NEBRASKA—The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference has honored Jade Meads of the University of Nebraska at Kearney and two of her teammates and one member of the UNK men’s team.
— GIRLS STATE BASKETBALL-AT A GLANCE Lincoln Southeast (24-0) vs. Omaha Westside (15-9), 9 a.m.
ALSO GETTING ATTENTION:
— ICE JAM FLOODING—Eastern Nebraska residents fought back flood waters Wednesday and authorities remained cautious after an ice jam formed on the Platte River near North Bend.
— OFFUTT EXERCISES—Seeing clouds of smoke or hearing emergency sirens shouldn’t worry residents near Offutt Air Force Base come Monday.
— SUICIDE REVENGE-PLEA—Two cousins accused in an Omaha shooting of a woman allegedly to get revenge after their cousin’s suicide have pleaded not guilty to attempted murder.
— EX-TROOPER FINED—A judge has ordered a former state trooper convicted of sexually assaulting a girl to pay the girl’s father $325,000.
— PEANUT RECALL-NEBRASKA—Casey’s General Stores Inc. is recalling select peanut products sold in several states, including Nebraska, because they may be contaminated with salmonella.
— JOHANNS SURGERY—The office of Nebraska Sen. Mike Johanns says he’ll spend another night in the hospital after surgery to remove part of his lung.
— OPERATING ROOM FIRE—Nebraska Medical Center is trying to find out for certain what caused a small operating room fire that injured a patient.
— HOSPITAL LAYOFFS—Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney plans to eliminate 35 jobs and end a residential program for teen girls at its Richard Young mental hospital.
— TANKER CRASH—The Nebraska State Patrol says a 39-year-old Niobrara man died in a fiery crash that closed a 13-mile stretch of a state highway in northeast Nebraska.
The AP, Omaha.
