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DEVELOPING: DANISH POWER, XGR–SMOKING BAN, FBC–NEBRASKA-SPRING,
ADDS: SOLICITING LOBBYISTS, PUC-KEYSTONE XL,
DANISH POWER
BLAIR—Denmark’s Crown Prince Frederik and his wife, Mary, are visiting Nebraska Tuesday to deliver a speech about sustainable energy and attend a Danish company’s groundbreaking ceremony for a new enzyme plant that will serve the ethanol industry. The royal couple will also help mark the 125th anniversary of Dana College in Blair, which was founded by Danes. By Business Writer Josh Funk. Eds: Developing from afternoon appearance at Dana College and 4 p.m. groundbreaking at enzyme plant site. Will move on state news and financial lines.
AP Photos by Nati Harnik.
XGR–SMOKING BAN
LINCOLN—Nebraska lawmakers have voted to advance a bill that would exempt cigar bars from the statewide smoking ban. Twenty-six senators voted to move the bill (LB355) to the second round of debate after agreeing to a compromise amendment that makes it more difficult for regular bars to fall under the exemption. By Anna Jo Bratton.
With:
— EXONERATED INMATES—Nebraska lawmakers are discussing a $500,000 cap on payments to people who are wrongly imprisoned for felonies. By Anna Jo Bratton.
SEVERE WEATHER-NEBRASKA
OMAHA—Blizzard winds and snow whipped northwest Nebraska Tuesday as a massive early spring storm stalled over the area and western South Dakota to the north. Just 200 miles eastward, Nebraska farmers were assessing tornado damage. By Nelson Lampe. Eds: Version also moving on national lines, slugged BC-Spring Blizzard.
AP Photos NEDW101, NELIN101.
SOLICITING LOBBYISTS
WASHINGTON—Here’s a peek at e-mails popping into lobbyists’ inboxes these days offering quality time with members of Congress: —A weekend at the Clearwater, Fla., spring training home of the world champion Philadelphia Phillies with Rep. Allyson Schwartz, D-Pa., including a game, a meeting with players and a ballpark tour. By Alan Fram. Eds: Note Nebraska mention. Also moving on national lines.
AP Photos WXSC101-107. AP Graphic ACCOUNTABILITY LOGO.
BUSINESS:
PUC-KEYSTONE XL
PIERRE, S.D.—The state Public Utilities Commission has started the formal process of considering TransCanada Keystone Pipeline’s application to build a second crude oil pipeline through South Dakota into Nebraska. TransCanada already is building a pipeline through eastern South Dakota. The proposed Keystone XL pipeline is designed to run 313 miles through western South Dakota as part of a project to deliver Alberta tar sands crude oil to Gulf Coast terminals and refineries in Texas. By Chet Brokaw.
SPORTS:
FBC–NEBRASKA-SPRING
LINCOLN—Bo Pelini says he knows his players better and he’s more comfortable in his role as Nebraska’s head coach entering his second spring with the Cornhuskers. Pelini said Tuesday the pieces are in place for Nebraska to make major strides this fall after going 9-4 with a Gator Bowl win over Clemson last season. By Sports Writer Eric Olson.
ALSO GETTING ATTENTION:
— MISSING CARS—Two people arrested in connection with the disappearance of 86 vehicles from a Scottsbluff dealership could appear in a Nebraska court this week, if the weather doesn’t further hamper their return.
— KOSHER SLAUGHTERHOUSE-AUCTION—A judge will be on hand in bankruptcy court in Cedar Rapids on Tuesday to talk about details related to an auction of an embattled kosher slaughterhouse in northeast Iowa. Eds: Note Nebraska mention. Moving on state news and financial lines.
— WOMEN IN HARDHATS—A workshop at a Norfolk-based community college will encourage women to take a look at nontraditional, male-dominated careers.
— URANIUM HEARING—Three Nuclear Regulatory Commission administrative judges will hear arguments Tuesday in federal court in Rapid City on the Crow Butte Resource uranium mine near Crawford, Neb.
— OMAHA SHOOTING—A 25-year-old Arizona woman accused of luring two Omaha men to their deaths and shooting one of the men has been sentenced to up to 80 years in prison.
— GUARD AWARD-NELSON—The Army National Guard has presented U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson its highest award.
— CEDAR BLUFFS RECALL—A Cedar Bluffs resident says the village board needs to take responsibility for problems revealed in an audit and that its chairwoman should be recalled.
— BROTHER ARREST—A Lancaster County man has been arrested after witnesses say he shot a gun at his 17-year-old brother and others.
— MISSING MONEY—Johnson County Sheriff James Wenzl has called in the Nebraska State Patrol to help track down $6,000 missing from office accounts.
— INTERSTATE FIRE—A grass fire fanned by high winds shuts down Interstate 80 near Minden and destroys two youth camp cabins.
— JOHANNS-DOUBLEWIDE—Nebraska Sen. Mike Johanns is leaving behind his doublewide trailer for a new office inside the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington.
The AP, Omaha.
