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DEVELOPING: XGR–ABORTION-ULTRASOUND
ADDS: SMOKING BANS, CHRYSLER DEALERS, SYRACUSE-PAULUS,
XGR–ABORTION-ULTRASOUND
LINCOLN—Nebraska lawmakers are debating whether to require those performing abortions to display ultrasound images of fetuses in a way they can be easily viewed. Supporters of the bill (LB675) say that increasing the chances women view fetuses they plan to abort may make them change their minds and prevent abortions. But opponents of such measures say they are thinly veiled attempts to make women feel bad. By Anna Jo Bratton.
SMOKING BANS
RALEIGH, N.C.—Beer and cigarettes go together like cows and hay in hard-partying Wisconsin. North Carolina is the country’s top tobacco-growing state. Yet bars and restaurants in both states are poised to go smoke-free after their state Legislatures passed bans Wednesday. Both North Carolina Gov. Beverly Perdue and Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle have said they support the measures. By Emery P. Dalesio. Eds: Note Nebraska mention. Version also moving on national lines.
BUSINESS:
CHRYSLER DEALERS
NEW YORK—Chrysler LLC wants to eliminate roughly a quarter of its 3,200 U.S. dealerships by early next month, including nine in Nebraska. It said in a bankruptcy court filing Thursday that the network is antiquated and has too many stores competing with each other. By Auto Writers Tom Krisher and Dan Strumpf. Eds: Version also moving on national lines.
ALSO:
— BERKSHIRE-CONSTELLATION—Billionaire Warren Buffett’s company sold more of the 20 million shares of Constellation Energy Group Inc. it received when Constellation rejected a takeover bid.
SPORTS:
SYRACUSE-PAULUS
RALEIGH, N.C.—Greg Paulus is returning home to Syracuse to play football. The former Duke point guard will enroll in graduate school at Syracuse and try to make a comeback in football for the Orange, instead of the Cornhuskers of Nebraska. By Sports Writer Joedy McCreary. Eds: Also moving on national lines.
ALSO GETTING ATTENTION:
— RAPE ARREST—Lincoln police say a man arrested on suspicion of raping at least two women in the city tried to grab an investigator’s gun as he was being questioned.
— ARMORED TRUCK-CHECKS—Some Douglas County taxpayers are being asked to write another check after their originals were lost in an armored-car robbery.
— PAROLEE ACCUSED—A Nebraska prison parolee is expected back in court later this month, accused of trying to forge a check for nearly $4.8 million on her sister’s account.
— BACK PAY RECOVERED—An Omaha landscaping firm has paid 50 employees nearly $66,000 in back wages to correct an error in the way their hours were calculated. Eds: Moved on state news and financial lines.
— ILLEGAL TATTOOING—A 32-year-old York man has been given two 30-day stretches in jail for tattooing without a license and tattooing an underage customer.
— JOHANNS-GUANTANAMO—U.S. Sen. Mike Johanns says he’ll tour the Navy’s prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
— BOND APPROVED—By fall of 2010, people likely will be moving into the assisted-living facility built at the voters’ request in Red Cloud.
— DISABLED-HOUSING—The Nebraska Housing Developers Association has received $200,000 to modify homes for the disabled.
— AG SURVEY—Around 4,770 Nebraska farmers soon will be contacted by federal officials who want to know what crops they planted, how many acres and how much grain they have in storage. Eds: Moved on state news and financial lines.
— BILINGUAL DATABASE—A nonprofit group working to improve the social and economic situations of Latinos in the Omaha area is unveiling its newest tool.
— EDITORIAL RDP—Excerpts from recent Nebraska daily newspaper editorials on topics of statewide interest.
The AP, Omaha.
