The supervisor in Omaha is Nelson Lampe. Jean Ortiz 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.
DEVELOPING: XGR–SCHOOL MONEY, XGR–STATE FAIR,
ADDS: XGR–TEEN SEXTING, PENTAGON-CYBER ATTACKS,
XGR–SCHOOL MONEY
LINCOLN—Lawmakers are likely to vote Wednesday on a contentious school-funding change that could hurt larger school districts in Nebraska but slow state spending growth in the long run. By Anna Jo Bratton. Eds: Leads from 1:30 p.m. debate.
XGR–TEEN SEXTING
LINCOLN—Nebraska lawmakers are taking care not to trap teen “sexters” in a widened net meant to catch sex offenders. Teenagers’ habit of distributing nude self-portraits electronically is often called “sexting” if it’s done by cell phone. Prosecutors in many states are struggling with how to deal with the teens who post naughty pictures, because their actions technically amount to distribution of child pornography. By Anna Jo Bratton.
XGR–STATE FAIR
LINCOLN—A legislative committee has approved a deal that would cut $1.5 million from Grand Island’s costs of moving the State Fair there from Lincoln. State Sen. Tom Carlson of Holdrege says the deal is possible because of lower-than-expected construction bids for work on the new Grand Island fairgrounds. By Nate Jenkins.
With:
— XGR–SMOKING BAN—Gov. Dave Heineman has signed a bill that would exempt cigar bars from the statewide smoking ban set to take effect in June.
PENTAGON-CYBER ATTACKS
WASHINGTON—The Pentagon is planning to create a new military command to focus on cyberspace and protect its computer networks from cyber attacks, U.S. officials said Wednesday. The move comes as the White House is poised to release a broader study on the nation’s cyber security. Officials in recent months have increasingly warned that the nation’s networks are at risk and repeatedly are being probed by foreign governments, criminals or other groups. By Pauline Jelinek. Eds: Note Nebraska mentions. Also moving on national lines.
BUSINESS:
— MONEY LESSONS—Nebraska Treasurer Shane Osborn has partnered with a nonprofit group to give a financial seminar for women. Eds: Moved on state news and financial lines.
— EATING HEALTHY—ConAgra Foods says a new study shows that its Healthy Choice brand meals are in fact healthy. Eds: Moved on state news and financial lines.
ALSO GETTING ATTENTION:
— AUBURN-RURAL IMPROVEMENTS—The southeast Nebraska city of Auburn will get more than $8.6 million in federal loans and grants for water improvement projects.
— JOHANNS-TRIBAL COLLEGES—Republican Nebraska U.S. Sen. Mike Johanns says he’s asking for more resources for American Indian colleges and universities to upgrade their math and science laboratories.
— TRAVELING COMMISSARY—A traveling commissary will be based for a couple of days at the North Platte National Guard Armory, bringing bargains to military personnel and their families.
— POST OFFICE ROBBERY—A federal grand jury has indicted two men on charges that they robbed a north Omaha post office at gunpoint.
— DOG KILLED—An Omaha man has been cited on suspicion of animal cruelty, accused of beating a neighbor’s small dog.
— PROTEST PROTEST—Police arrest a man fed up with repeat appearances by an abortion protester in his Bellevue neighborhood.
— OMAHA BODY—Police have released the name of an Omaha man whose body was found on the banks of the Missouri River east of downtown.
— RESTAURANT DISINFECTED—A South Sioux City restaurant has temporarily closed after dozens of people from Nebraska and Iowa fell ill after eating there.
— NAME BLAME—Police say a Lincoln man got a $2,103 bill from a local hospital for services he didn’t get—his brother did.
— CAMPGROUND BEATING—A man who admitted to severely beating another Columbus man and abandoning him in a hospital parking lot in 2005 has been sentenced to up to five years in prison for first-degree assault.
The AP, Omaha.
