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ADDS: TRANSMISSION LINES-KANSAS, CHRYSLER-DEALER FRUSTRATION, MISSOURI VALLEY PREVIEW, ENERGY SYMPOSIUM
BUDGET WOES
LINCOLN—Nebraska lawmakers and Gov. Dave Heineman will have to slash $335 million from the two-year state budget during a special legislative session intended to deal with state government’s worst fiscal crisis in recent memory. After the budget-cutting target was set Tuesday by an economic forecasting board, Heineman was mum on how he intended to address it, instead pleading for patience as his administration scurries to craft a proposal for lawmakers early next week. The special session is scheduled to begin Nov. 4. By Nate Jenkins.
HEALTH CARE OVERHAUL
WASHINGTON—Democratic moderates who control the balance of power on health care legislation balked Tuesday at a government-run insurance option for millions of Americans, underscoring the enormity of the challenge confronting Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid one day after he unveiled the plan as a consensus product. Republican opposition stiffened, and party leaders announced they would attempt to strangle the bill before formal debate begins. By Special Correspondent David Espo. Eds: Also moving on national lines.
AP Photos DCSW116, DCSW115, DCSW117, DCSW118, DCSW119.
TRANSMISSION LINES-KANSAS
KANSAS CITY, Mo.—A proposed ultra high-voltage power line in southern Kansas is back on the drawing board after a regional planning body decided Tuesday to keep it a priority. The board of the Southwest Power Pool board, which oversees the energy transmission grid in nine states, voted to put the project back on its priority list during a meeting held in Tulsa, Okla. By David Twiddy. Eds: Note Nebraska mention.
ENERGY SYMPOSIUM
JACKSON, Wyo.—Lawmakers from around the West have wrapped up a three-day symposium on energy issues without reaching consensus on tough questions about how to address carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants. About 75 state lawmakers from around the West have been in Jackson for the Wyoming-sponsored Western States Energy and Environment Symposium. By Ben Neary. Eds: Note Nebraska interest.
BUSINESS:
CHRYSLER-DEALER FRUSTRATION
DETROIT—Chrysler has been sending its dealers back to class, reminding them about the importance of courtesy and communication: Always return phone calls. Limit wait times. Open doors for customers. However, the automaker isn’t following its own advice. By Auto Writer Tom Krisher. Eds: Note Nebraska mention. Also moving on national financial lines.
AP Photos NENH102, NENH101, NENH103.
ALSO:
— TD AMERITRADE-RICKETTS—Buying the Chicago Cubs doesn’t mean the Ricketts family will become less engaged in the brokerage Joe Ricketts helped found, TD Ameritrade.
SPORTS:
NEBRASKA-PELINI
LINCOLN—His team mired in a midseason funk, Nebraska coach Bo Pelini is calling out his offense and promising changes. Nebraska (4-3, 1-2 Big 12) heads into Saturday’s game at Baylor (3-4, 0-3) having scored a total of 17 points the past two weeks. The Huskers followed a flat performance in a 31-10 loss to Texas Tech on Oct. 17 with a 9-7 defeat to Iowa State that was marred by a school record-tying eight turnovers. By Sports Writer Eric Olson.
AP Photos NENH110, NENH109.
With:
— NEBRASKA-SUH ON OFFENSE?—Nebraska star defensive lineman Ndamukong (en-DOM-uh-ken) Suh (SOO) says he has not practiced with the offense this season and that he doesn’t believe he’s needed on that side of the ball.
MISSOURI VALLEY PREVIEW
ST. LOUIS—Returning all five starters and nine of 10 players, Northern Iowa is overwhelming choice to win the Missouri Valley Conference men’s basketball title in 2009-10. The league announced the results of its coaches, media and sports information directors poll Tuesday. Eds: Note Nebraska mention.
IOWA STATE-RHOADS
AMES, Iowa—Not long after Iowa State’s stunning 9-7 win at Nebraska last weekend, coach Paul Rhoads ran over to a small section of Cyclones fans at Memorial Stadium, pumped his fists in the air and grinned from ear to ear. Rhoads has never been shy about showing his emotions, and he certainly wasn’t about to temper his enthusiasm after the Cyclones’ first win in Lincoln in 32 years. By Sports Writer Luke Meredith.
AP Photos NENH107, NENH106, NENH103.
ALSO:
— CREIGHTON-STADIUM DEAL—Creighton University has reached an agreement to play its home baseball games at a new downtown ballpark beginning in 2011.
ALSO GETTING ATTENTION:
— NMSU PRESIDENT—New Mexico State University has announced the names of five finalists who hope to become the school’s next president.
— GOLF CART DEATH—Sarpy County prosecutors have asked a judge to dismiss a case of a woman accused of driving and crashing a golf cart while drunk, killing a friend.
— SENATOR’S SPEEDBOAT—A state senator has never paid sales tax on the speedboat he bought six years ago because he said he was a dealer when he registered it.
— OMAHA GUN SCARE—Doors at a west Omaha high school were secured while police looked out for a teenage boy who was suspected of stealing handguns from his father.
— SEVERE WEATHER-NEBRASKA—Forecasters say a major snowstorm forecast for eastern Wyoming could move into Nebraska’s Panhandle, but they aren’t sure when.
— MISSIONARY GUILTY—A missionary from Chile has pleaded no contest to a reduced charge of sexual assault of a 16-year-old boy.
The AP, Omaha.
