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PUBLIC RECORDS
OMAHA—The Nebraska Supreme Court has rejected the city of Kimball’s argument that the public is not entitled to see reports generated by a private entity on the city’s behalf. But the high court, in a ruling released Thursday, affirmed part of the city’s appeal in a public records case, saying documents could remain sealed if they focused on a possible violation of law. By Eric Olson.
MEDICAID LAWSUIT
LINCOLN—Nebraska has been wrongfully denying Medicaid coverage to hundreds of low-income residents whom state officials argued did not work enough to comply with a welfare-to-work program, a judge has ruled. The ruling nixes a controversial state policy that required a single parent with one or more children younger than 6 years old, for instance, to work at least 20 hours a week to retain the Medicaid benefits. By Nate Jenkins.
NEW MURDER TRIAL
PIERRE, S.D.—A man convicted of beating another man to death with a hammer after having sex with him for money must get a new trial because a key witness was later found to have lied in an unrelated case, South Dakota’s Supreme Court ruled Thursday. The unanimous ruling upholds a trial judge’s decision to give James Strahl of Dakota City, Neb., a new trial in the 1998 killing of William O’Hare at the victim’s farmhouse in southeastern South Dakota. By Chet Brokaw. Eds: Note Nebraska mention.
BUSINESS:
BUFFETT STOCK-GATES FOUNDATION
SEATTLE—Billionaire Warren Buffett has donated $1.25 billion in Berkshire Hathaway Inc. stock to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The gift is the third installment in Buffett’s plan to transfer the majority of his wealth to the Seattle-based foundation.
ALSO GETTING ATTENTION:
— ZOO NAMING CONTEST—Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo has launched a contest to name one of its newest residents—a female sea lion pup.AP Photos NENH101-103.
— MISSING CARS—A Sept. 8 trial is set for a former Nebraska auto dealership executive accused in the disappearance of more than 80 cars from a Scottsbluff car lot.
— GIRL KILLED—An attorney for a man charged with sexually assaulting and killing a 3-year-old Nebraska girl is trying to keep his client from facing the death penalty.
— ILLEGAL MUSHROOMS—A 47-year-old California man is facing a felony drug charge in Nebraska after authorities say they caught him on his way to New York with 60 pounds of illegal mushrooms.
— TODDLER DIES-NEBRASKA—Western Nebraska authorities are trying to determine what killed a 2-year-old girl found dead this week in her home.
— TORCH FUEL POISONING—The Nebraska Regional Poison Center is advising parents to use caution with fuel used for patio tiki torches.
The AP, Omaha.
