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DEVELOPING: INTERNATIONAL CUSTODY FIGHT, TRIBES-CHILD CUSTODY,
ADDS: CATTLE HEAT DEATHS,
CATTLE HEAT DEATHS
OMAHA—A combination of high temperatures and humidity in Nebraska has killed hundreds of cattle, authorities said. The deaths will hurt cattle producers who already were struggling with high feed costs and reduced demand for meat and animal hides because of the recession. By Business Writer Josh Funk.
INTERNATIONAL CUSTODY FIGHT
OMAHA—A Nebraska court ruled in favor of a Guatemalan mother Friday in a custody case that immigrant advocates say illustrates a nationwide problem. The state Supreme Court said a lower court judge was wrong to terminate the parental rights of Maria Luis. Luis was deported a year later after lying about her identity to authorities who were looking into the welfare of two of her children. By Jean Ortiz.
TRIBES-CHILD CUSTODY
LINCOLN—The Nebraska Supreme Court has ruled that federal law trumps the state’s legal procedures, saying American Indian tribes deserve the right to intervene in child-welfare cases. In a ruling issued Friday, the high court weighed in on an appeal filed by the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska. The tribe argued a Dakota County juvenile court judge wrongly denied its rights under the Indian Child Welfare Act because of the tribe was not represented by a state-recognized attorney. By Nate Jenkins.
BUSINESS:
— BUFFETT LUNCH—Whoever wins the charity auction to dine with billionaire Warren Buffett this year may get a bargain compared to the $2.1 million a Chinese investor paid last year. Eds: Auction closes at 9 p.m. Will be led.
— OMAHA BUILDER REELS—An Iowa-based company that has been building town houses in Omaha has cut back to one employee—the owner—while he works with his lenders on new financing. Eds: Moved on state news and financial lines.
— AUTO DEALERS-WISCONSIN—Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen has joined Nebraska and 40 other states’ objections to bankruptcy plans for General Motors dealers.
ALSO GETTING ATTENTION:
— GIRLFRIEND KILLING—A 25-year-old inmate who strangled the girl who bore his child has sued a drug company, alleging the antidepressant he was taking led to his losing control.
— FIVE ROBBED—Police say they think the same three men robbed five people west of downtown Omaha.
— GENERAL’S NEW JOB—The general commanding Nebraska’s National Guard forces has gotten a new job in Washington, so he’ll be leaving his post.
— FLU-NEBRASKA—A state spokeswoman says officials are still awaiting results of a swine flu test for a youth attending the annual International Thespian Festival on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus.
— FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE—Nebraska has received an “F” from a national organization for the amount of information it releases on state senators’ finances.
— BEEF LOBBYING—Representatives from Nebraska and Iowa are visiting Japan and South Korea this week to promote the corn-fed beef that’s produced in the region.
— JOHANNS-SOTOMAYOR—U.S. Sen. Mike Johanns says he will not make a decision on whether he will vote to confirm U.S. Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor until he has a complete picture of her judicial record.
— DIRECTOR RETIRING—The director of Nebraska’s Department of Aeronautics is leaving his post in August.
— FALCONS NAMED—River names have been given to four peregrine falcon chicks that hatched outside the 18th floor of the Nebraska Capitol.
The AP, Omaha.
