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DEVELOPING: XGR–BUDGET WOES, MURDOCK MURDERS-CSI, VEHICLE SEARCHES,
ADDS: NORFOLK MURDER, INVESTMENT PROBE, STIMULUS-STATE SPENDING, NORTHWESTERN CORP, CUBS SALE
XGR–BUDGET WOES
LINCOLN—A state board that predicts the state’s tax-revenue fortunes was expected to give a gloomy outlook on Thursday, making it tougher for state lawmakers to balance the budget. But lawmakers have a record-sized cash-reserve fund to lean upon and the potential for more federal stimulus dollars that could soften the blow. By Nate Jenkins
With:
— XGR–GUNS-ABORTION—Nebraska lawmakers have found a way to meld guns and abortion into a lengthy debate over constitutional rights. By Anna Jo Bratton.
MURDOCK MURDERS-CSI
OMAHA—The commander of the Douglas County crime scene investigations unit is now facing federal and state charges following accusations that he planted evidence in a double-murder case. U.S. Attorney Joe Stecher says in a news release that 52-year-old David Kofoed has been charged in a four-count federal indictment. That includes two counts of deprivation of rights under the color of law. By Margery Gibbs.
VEHICLE SEARCHES
OMAHA—The Nebraska State Patrol believes vehicle searches conducted by its troopers are in line with a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling, but attorneys who’ve fought the searches expect the issue to end up back in court. By Timberly Ross.
INVESTMENT PROBE
OMAHA—An Omaha man accused of engaging in securities fraud and facing several lawsuits from investors has been indicted on 21 federal charges. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in a news release issued Thursday said 46-year-old Bryan Behrens has been charged with securities fraud, mail fraud and wire fraud. By Jean Ortiz.
NORFOLK MURDER
OMAHA—A man convicted more than two decades ago in a Norfolk murder has lost a bid for a new trial. In an opinion released Thursday, a three-judge panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a 2008 ruling by U.S. District Judge Joseph Bataillon, who cited “egregious prosecutorial misconduct” in the trial of Robert Hunt. By Eric Olson.
STIMULUS-STATE SPENDING
WASHINGTON—States responsible for more than a third of President Barack Obama’s $787 billion stimulus program should be able to tap some of the recovery money to cover costs of managing the new spending, a congressional watchdog agency said Thursday. The Government Accountability Office found states are struggling to cover the costs of handling their share of Obama’s spending program, a frustration state leaders have expressed repeatedly in the months following approval of the economic recovery plan. A top lawmaker echoed the concerns of state and local leaders in their push for more help. By Brett J. Blackledge. Eds: Note Nebraska mention. Also moving on national lines.
BUSINESS:
EARNS-UNION PACIFIC
OMAHA—Union Pacific Corp. said Thursday its first-quarter profit fell 18 percent as the railroad carried 21 percent fewer carloads, but cost-cutting pushed its results above Wall Street expectations. Its shares rose almost 4 percent in afternoon trading. Union Pacific Chairman and Chief Executive Jim Young said the railroad is cutting costs across the board to deal with the reduced shipping demand. Union Pacific hasn’t offered a prediction for its 2009 earnings because of the uncertain economy and the difficulty of projecting demand. By Business Writer Josh Funk. Eds: Also moving on national lines.
AP Photo WYLAR301.
NORTHWESTERN CORP
BUTTE, Mont.—Electricity and natural gas supplier NorthWestern Corp. has fared relatively well amid the nation’s economic turmoil, CEO Bob Rowe said at the company’s annual meeting. NorthWestern, which does business as NorthWestern Energy and sells utility service in Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska, is financially strong and the places in which it operates are “resilient and relatively healthy,” said Rowe, CEO since August. By Susan Gallagher.
SPORTS:
CUBS SALE
CHICAGO—The family chosen by Tribune Co. to buy the Chicago Cubs in a $900 million deal is seeking investors willing to pay $25 million for a preferred share of the storied baseball club, a person close to the deal said Wednesday. Chicago investment banker Tom Ricketts is seeking investors in an effort to raise at least $100 million toward the team’s purchase price, the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the pending nature of the transaction, told The Associated Press. By Caryn Rousseau. Eds: Note Nebraska mentions.
ALSO:
— SOFTBALL COMPLEX—Bellevue has announced plans to build a six-field softball complex named after Olympic medalist Cat Osterman.
ALSO GETTING ATTENTION:
— SUPCO–FOSTER INSPECTIONS—Inspections of foster and group homes by the Nebraska Foster Care Review Board can continue, the state Supreme Court has ruled.
— SUPCO–CHILD DEATH—The Nebraska Supreme Court has upheld the conviction of a Lincoln man who killed his 2-month-old daughter.
— PACESETTER-INDICTMENT—A federal grand jury in Omaha has indicted a former executive with the Pacesetter Corp.
— NATIONAL PARKS-STIMULUS—Nebraska projects will get a $179,000 cut of federal stimulus funds being distributed to restore and repair national parks.
— CARCASSES DUMPED—Police are looking for the person or people responsible for dumping more than a dozen animal carcasses in a school parking lot in Lincoln.
— CAMPUS GUNMAN—Although his doctor is reporting some treatment progress, a man who tried to shoot Lincoln college students in 1992 will remain at a state psychiatric hospital.
— OFFUTT EARTH DAY—Offutt Air Force Base observed Earth Day in part by swapping out old light bulbs for the new energy-efficient compact fluorescent varieties.
— UNK-TUBERCULOSIS—Tests show four University of Nebraska at Kearney students who were close to another student thought to have tuberculosis are free of the illness.
— EDITORIAL RDP—Excerpts from recent Nebraska daily newspaper editorials on topics of statewide interest.
The AP, Omaha.
