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DEVELOPING: MISSING NEBRASKA FAMILY, XGR–CONCEALED CARRY, BBC–CREIGHTON-NEBRASKA,
ADDS: LAYOFF LAWSUIT, PENTAGON-CYBER, TWISTER TECH,
MISSING NEBRASKA FAMILY
OMAHA—To the young sons of Matthew and Rowena Schade, the 18 days they spent on the run with their parents was akin to a camping trip. Knox County Sheriff Jim Janecek said Tuesday there was no evidence to suggest that any member of the family from northeast Nebraska was taken against his or her will. By Eric Olson.
AP Photos.
LAYOFF LAWSUIT
OMAHA—A woman has filed a federal class-action lawsuit against Pamida Stores Operating Co., saying the regional retailer didn’t properly notify her and other co-workers before laying them off. Cynthia Zych said the Omaha-based company violated the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, better known as the W.A.R.N. Act. She is seeking unspecified damages, including back pay and benefits, and an injunction to prevent future violations. By Jean Ortiz. Eds: Also moved on state financial lines.
XGR–CONCEALED CARRY
LINCOLN—City councils in Beatrice and Columbus have voted down local bans and will let people with state-issued permits carry concealed guns in their cities. The changes mean that only about a half-dozen cities still bar concealed weapons. By Nate Jenkins.
PENTAGON-CYBER
WASHINGTON—The Pentagon spent more than $100 million in the last six months responding to and repairing damage from cyber attacks and other computer network problems, military leaders said Tuesday. Air Force Gen. Kevin Chilton, who heads U.S. Strategic Command, which is based at Offutt Air Force Base south of Omaha, said the military is only beginning to track the costs, which are triggered by constant daily attacks against military networks ranging from the Pentagon to bases around the country. By Lolita C. Baldor. Eds: Moving on state and national news and financial lines. Note Nebraska mentions.
TWISTER TECH
WASHINGTON—For most people, tornadoes are something to flee. But next month a small army of scientists will be doing just the opposite, crisscrossing the nation’s middle in search of twisters. Organized by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Science Foundation, Operation Vortex2 will last from May 10 to June 13. Eds: Note Nebraska mentions. Also moving on national lines.
BUSINESS:
— BANK CLOSURE—The bank that bought Sherman County Bank from regulators earlier this year has announced plans to close two of Sherman County’s four branches in eastern Nebraska.
— NEBRASKA LAYOFFS—Businesses in Omaha, Lincoln and Beatrice are reporting staff cutbacks. Eds: Moved on state news and financial lines.
— HAPPY STATE—Maybe Nebraska really does offer “The Good Life” promised by the old state slogan because a new report says Nebraska is the happiest state in the nation. Eds: Moved on state news and financial lines.
— TWITTER TREAT—Twitter chief executive Evan Williams soon will be answering questions from University of Nebraska-Lincoln students. Eds: Moved on state news and financial lines.
SPORTS:
BBC–CREIGHTON-NEBRASKA
LINCOLN—Nebraska and Creighton, the state’s Division I baseball programs, play the first of three games against each other at Haymarket Park. Kash Kalkowski will make his first start for the Cornhuskers, who have lost eight of their past 10 games. Creighton, which has won seven of its last nine, will send either Greg Hellhake or Mike Nihsen to the mound. Game starts 6 p.m.
ALSO:
— FREEMAN COACH RETIRING—Longtime Freeman High School girls basketball coach Ken Cook has announced his retirement.
ALSO GETTING ATTENTION:
— SCOUTS-TREES—Thousands of trees that had been slated for planting in a western Nebraska state park will now be going to other venues.
— OMAHA JUDICIAL VACANCY—Seven attorneys have applied to fill an Omaha judgeship opened up by a retiring district judge.
— DRUG BUST—Officials say a traffic stop on Interstate 80 near Kearney turned into a drug bust.
— OMAHA SHOOTING—Omaha police are searching for suspects in a shooting that wounded an 11-year-old boy.
— PALLAS CATS—The Riverside Zoo in Scottsbluff is now the home to two Pallas’ cats, a small wild cat native to central Asia.
— LAKE LEVEL—Lake McConaughy, Nebraska’s biggest lake, is at its highest level since 2002.
— SALMONELLA OUTBREAK-LAWSUIT—An Omaha woman is suing a local company that health officials have tied to a multistate salmonella outbreak.
— LANDOWNERS WIN—A jury has awarded $69,000 more to the owners of land taken through eminent domain by the city of Waverly.
— UNDERAGE DRINKING-FACEBOOK—Nebraska officials are taking their campaign to stop underage drinking to another level.
The AP, Omaha.
