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.
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ADDS: ANTELOPE-BACKGROUND CHECKS
XGR–PUBLIC CAMPAIGNING
LINCOLN—Staking political positions using taxpayer-funded computers and other resources may no longer lead to hefty fines for public employees and officials—as long as it doesn’t cross the line into full-blown campaigning. Saying that the restrictions are unreasonable and can lead to exorbitant fines, Nebraska lawmakers on Wednesday gave first-round approval to a bill (LB626) they called a first step toward giving public employees and officials a longer leash. By Nate Jenkins.
With:
— XGR–WIND ENERGY—Nebraska lawmakers have started to remove what they say is an obstacle to developing wind energy in the state.
SWINE FLU-NEBRASKA
OMAHA—Nebraska health officials have prepared enough treatments to help more than 64,700 people, in case the swine-flu outbreak worsens. The state Department of Health and Human Services said Wednesday that the drugs are being stored in an undisclosed, secure location. They’ll stay there until the state’s chief medical officer decides it’s necessary to distribute them to local health departments. By Timberly Ross.
With:
— SWINE FLU-SCHOOLS—Omaha school officials have decided to reopen a closed elementary school after reviewing new federal recommendations for handling swine flu.
ANTELOPE-BACKGROUND CHECKS
OMAHA—Antelope County officials have settled two federal lawsuits that accused the sheriff’s department of civil rights violations, an attorney involved in the case said Wednesday. Former deputies Jeff Treu and Randy Lieswald separately sued Sheriff Darrell Hamilton and the county in July 2008. They alleged they were fired after complaining to Hamilton and others about the department’s operations, including reporting that a fellow deputy conducted unauthorized background checks. By Jean Ortiz.
AIR FORCE CYBERCOMMAND
OMAHA—Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson says he’s disappointed that a new multibranch cyber warfare unit will be based near Washington instead of at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska. The new unit would report to the U.S. Strategic Command at Offutt. So, Nelson asked, why not put it at Offutt? By Nelson Lampe.
NATIONAL FORESTS APPOINTMENT
GRANTS PASS, Ore.—The Obama administration’s pick to be the new agriculture undersecretary in charge of the U.S. Forest Service breaks a long-standing tradition of someone with a forest policy background. Homer Lee Wilkes, the Mississippi state conservationist, was named late Tuesday as the nominee for undersecretary of Agriculture for natural resources and environment. He is the first black nominee for the post. By Environmental Writer Jeff Barnard. Eds: Note Nebraska interest.
BUSINESS:
CLAYTON I-HOUSE
KNOXVILLE, Tenn.—From its bamboo floors to its rooftop deck, Clayton Homes’ new industrial-chic “i-house” is about as far removed from a mobile home as an iPod from a record player. Architects at the country’s largest manufactured home company embraced the basic rectangular form of what began as housing on wheels and gave it a postmodern turn with a distinctive v-shaped roofline, energy efficiency and luxury appointments. By Duncan Mansfield.
AP Photo NYBZ186, NYBZ187, TNKV103.
SPORTS:
BIG 12-TIEBREAKER
PHOENIX—Big 12 coaches have rejected a proposal to change the controversial tiebreaker that gave Oklahoma the nod over Texas in the three-way tie in the Big 12 South last season. Meeting at a resort on Wednesday, they voted to keep the Bowl Championship Series standings as the method to break ties between more than two teams. Under that rule, the Sooners edged the Longhorns by 13 thousandths of a point in December. By College Football Writer Andrew Bagnato. Eds: Note Nebraska interest.
ALSO GETTING ATTENTION:
— SHERIFF INJURED-SENTENCE—The Johnson County sheriff has pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor drunken-driving charge and ordered to serve nine months of probation.
— COUPLE KILLED—A man serving two life sentences for killing a rural Lancaster County couple has now been ordered to serve 30 years on federal drug charges.
— MISSING NEBRASKANS—A Nebraska couple missing for nearly 44 years have been found safe, and authorities say they left voluntarily.
— TEAMMATE TURMOIL—The case of an Omaha high school basketball player’s claim of harassment against the father of a teammate is heading to mediation.
The AP, Omaha.
