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DEVELOPING: MURDOCK MURDERS-LAWSUIT, CWS-LSU WRAPUP,
ADDS: SMOKING BAN, MINISTER CHARGED, EARNS-CONAGRA FOODS, FARM SCENE-CORN PLANTING,
SMOKING BAN
OMAHA—A Lancaster County judge has denied an Omaha pool hall’s request to suspend a state law that bans smoking in most indoor places. District Judge Jodi Nelson ruled Monday on the injunction request filed last month by Big John’s Billiards. But Nelson hasn’t yet addressed the pool hall’s request to throw out the law altogether. By Jean Ortiz.
MURDOCK MURDERS-LAWSUIT
OMAHA—A Douglas County crime-scene investigator will have to rely on a private attorney in defending himself against lawsuits filed by two men wrongfully accused in a 2006 double murder. Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine said Thursday his office will not represent David Kofoed. The CSI commander, the county and sheriff were recently added as defendants in lawsuits filed in 2008 and 2007 by Matthew Livers and Nicholas Sampson. The additions came after Kofoed was accused of mishandling blood evidence in the double-murder case. By Jean Ortiz.
MINISTER CHARGED
LINCOLN—A pastor who has been charged with sexually abusing four women in Council Bluffs, Iowa, had previously been accused of misconduct at two Lincoln churches and fired by the Lincoln school district. Efrain Umana’s attorney told the Omaha World-Herald that he plans to plead not guilty to the Iowa charges.
BUSINESS:
EARNS-CONAGRA FOODS
OMAHA, Neb.—ConAgra Foods Inc. said Thursday strong sales of Healthy Choice and Banquet frozen meals and Hebrew National hot dogs helped boost revenue in its fourth quarter, even as profit fell 13 percent due to the inclusion of a sold unit in last year’s results. After excluding those discontinued operations from last year’s results, the company’s adjusted profit soared. By Business Writer Lauren Shepherd. Eds: Also moving on national lines.
AP Photo MALP304.
FARM SCENE-CORN PLANTING
ST. LOUIS—Across much of the nation’s Corn Belt, growers like Richard Borgsmiller finally have their crops in the ground, after spring rains swamped their fields and put them weeks behind schedule. Many in Illinois and other rain-ravaged portions of the Midwest are now turning their sights to planting already late soybeans and hoping the weather will cut them some slack. By Jim Suhr. Eds: Note Nebraska mentions. Version also moving on national lines.
SPORTS:
CWS-LSU WRAPUP
OMAHA, Neb.—The LSU baseball team hadn’t even left town Thursday before people started telling the Tigers that they expect to see them back in Omaha playing for another national championship next year. Coach Paul Mainieri wouldn’t want it any other way. By Eric Olson.
ALSO GETTING ATTENTION:
— OMAHA HIT-AND-RUN—The Douglas County attorney says two women charged in the hit-and-run slaying of a Bellevue woman weren’t trying to hit her.
— CONSCIENCE CLAUSE—Nebraska’s rules for licensed psychologists will not change to allow psychologists and other licensed therapists to reject clients based on religious or moral convictions.
— CATHETER CRIME—Police are keeping an eye on a downtown York parking lot where merchants are complaining about soda cans filled with urine.
— BEEF SUIT—Tyson Fresh Meats is seeking to collect nearly $16,000 in court costs from a South Dakota man who helped bring a price-fixing lawsuit against the nation’s largest meatpackers. Eds: Note Nebraska mention.
— OBIT-NESTER—Former colleagues and community leaders are mourning the death of former University of Nebraska at Kearney Chancellor Bill Nester.
— DAUGHTER ABUSED—A 32-year-old man has been given four-to-five years in prison for sexually abusing his daughter.
— NO CHARGES—The Nuckolls County sheriff’s deputy who had been accused of domestic assault has been fired.
— STIMULUS-NEW PROJECTS—Gov. Dave Heineman has announced that the state is applying for more federal-stimulus dollars for five roads’ projects.
— MISSION OMAHA—More than 200 young people are on their way to Omaha for a weeklong volunteer effort.
— CORN FARMING FANS—Two Nebraska groups want people to know that corn farmers are doing a better job for them and the environment than ever. Eds: Moved on state news and financial lines.
— EDITORIAL RDP—Excerpts from recent Nebraska daily newspaper editorials on topics of statewide interest.
The AP, Omaha.
