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DEVELOPING: SEX-HARASSMENT LAWSUIT,
ADDS: CHARTER SCHOOLS-STIMULUS
SEX-HARASSMENT LAWSUIT
OMAHA—A former Dakota County corrections officer is suing the county, its sheriff and other officials, alleging they sexually harassed her and created a toxic work environment. The federal lawsuit filed on behalf of Toni Duncan alleges she was made to feel like an outcast while working for the county in 2006 and 2007 because she refused to give in to the sexual advances of her superiors. By Jean Ortiz.
CHARTER SCHOOLS-STIMULUS
SEATTLE—Nebraska and 10 other states have said no to charter schools, one of the education reforms President Barack Obama backs. They may soon be paying a penalty for that choice. As states compete for more than $4 billion in federal education grants, Education Secretary Arne Duncan has made it clear that those willing to embrace charter schools and other favored innovations will get preference. Those who refuse may end up shut out of the money. By Donna Gordon Blankinship. Eds: Note Nebraska mention. Also moving on national lines.
BUSINESS:
— DAIRY PLANT CLOSING—Production at a Lincoln dairy plant is ending, but workers can stay on the payroll another week to help close the doors. Eds: Moved on state news and financial lines.
— ETHANOL ENZYMES-DELAY—Danish company Novozymes has delayed the construction of its new enzyme plant in Blair but still plans to make shipments from its new blending facility there by the end of this year. Eds: Moved on state news and financial lines.
— FARM EXPENSES—Production expenses rose slightly for farmers in the Great Plains last year. Eds: Moved on state news and financial lines.
SPORTS:
— PATRIOTS-BRONCOS TRADE—The Denver Broncos have acquired former Nebraska player Le Kevin Smith from the New England Patriots. By Sports Writer Arnie Stapleton. Eds: Also moving on national lines.
ALSO GETTING ATTENTION:
— SOLDIER ACCUSED—Omaha police say they’ve arrested a soldier who’s accused of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl.
— CRIMINAL HERO—An Omaha man honored earlier this year by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office as a “Citizen of the Year” has been sentenced to more than 10 years in prison in a federal drug case.
— NEBRASKA CHASE—Southeast Nebraska authorities say a native of Laos with a history of fleeing from and assaulting police is behind bars, accused of trying to run down a sheriff’s deputy.
— IOWA REFRIGERATOR WRECK—Authorities say a Nebraska motorcyclist was injured after hitting a refrigerator that fell off a truck in Sioux City.
— NEB MANSLAUGHTER—A 25-year-old woman faces a hearing next month in Garden County District Court on charges that she stabbed a pregnant teenage girl, killing the girl’s unborn child.
— ED BOARD SEAT—Gov. Dave Heineman has picked a former leader of the state Republican Party to serve on the Nebraska State Board of Education.
— WEDDING-DRESS WORRIES—Some Omaha-area brides fear the bridal shop that has their money is going to leave them at the altar.
— BLUE HILL RECALL—Voters in Blue Hill will soon decide whether to let Andy Alber keep his seat on the City Council.
— OBIT-BUNDY—Lincoln Electric System’s former chief executive Terry Bundy, who led the utility for nearly 12 years, has died.
— UNMC RESEARCH—The University of Nebraska Medical Center has been attracting more research dollars and moving up in national rankings.
— HARVEST SAFETY—Union Pacific wants to make sure farmers and other agricultural workers are careful around railroad tracks during harvest.
The AP, Omaha.
