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ADDS: PIPELINE PUBLIC HEARING, US-CHINA-SPACE, NEBRASKA-GREEN
BEATRICE PROBLEMS-LAWSUIT
OMAHA—A federal lawsuit filed by guardians of residents moved from a troubled center for the developmentally disabled doesn’t prove rights violations and should be dismissed, attorneys for the state argued in court documents filed this week. The case stems from the state’s January decision to move 47 residents considered medically fragile from the Beatrice State Developmental Center. The move was ordered following the death of an 18-year-old who received what state officials have acknowledged was inadequate care. By Jean Ortiz.
DISPARAGING DISPUTE
OMAHA—A California lawyer who tried to obtain a pardon for his 1976 Nebraska drug conviction wants a chance to challenge statements that a former client submitted to the Pardons Board. Lonnie Kocontes argues that the former client and that man’s lawyer misled the board with a letter listing concerns about Kocontes’ conduct and suggesting he had committed sexual misconduct with a 15-year-old girl and might have played a role in his ex-wife’s cruise ship death. By Josh Funk.
US-CHINA-SPACE
WASHINGTON—Wary of China’s rapid advancements in space programs over the last decade, military commanders said Tuesday that the U.S. needs to improve its satellite presence in the Southern Hemisphere to better track launches from Asia, even as officials work to improve relations with Beijing. Air Force Gen. Kevin Chilton, head of U.S. Strategic Command, said the U.S. wants to better understand where China is heading as it improves its space and satellite capabilities. By Lolita C. Baldor. Eds: Note Nebraska mention. Also moving on national lines.
PIPELINE PUBLIC HEARING
PIERRE—The Public Utilities Commission gets comments from the public Tuesday evening in Pierre on the $920 million, 313-mile stretch of the Keystone XL pipeline that TransCanada Keystone plans to build across western and south central South Dakota. It will be the fourth public hearing before the PUC as part of the Keystone XL proceeding. Earlier hearings were held in April in Winner, Philip and Buffalo. By Chet Brokaw. Eds: Note Nebraska interest.
FOREIGN NUCLEAR WASTE
WASHINGTON—A House panel on Tuesday voted to block the importation of foreign nuclear waste into the United States in response to a Salt Lake City company’s plan to bury low-level radioactive waste from Italy at a site in Utah. The Energy and Commerce Committee’s energy subcommittee approved by a voice vote a bill sponsored by Reps. Jim Matheson, D-Utah; Bart Gordon, D-Tenn.; and Lee Terry, R-Neb. to prohibit the importation of low-level radioactive waste unless it originated here or served a strategic national purpose as determined by the president. By Joan Lowy. Eds: Also moving on national lines.
— KOSHER SLAUGHTERHOUSE-TRIAL—The founder of Agriprocessors Inc. says he spent every penny he could get to keep a kosher meatpacking plant in Iowa open after an immigration raid last year. Eds: Note Nebraska interest.
BUSINESS:
BUFFETT PROFILE
OMAHA—Billionaire Warren Buffett likes to compare his company to a masterpiece that he’s been painting for nearly five decades, and the deal he announced Tuesday will permanently alter the color of Berkshire Hathaway Inc.’s portrait. The 79-year-old investor plans to add a brilliant orange section to the painting for the brightly colored locomotives of Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. that Berkshire will acquire for $34 billion in cash and stock. It will be the biggest deal yet in a career of big deals. By Business Writer Josh Funk.
AP Photos NYBZ102, NYBZ103, NYBZ113. AP Graphic BUFFET RAILROADS.
With:
— WITH: BC-US–BERKSHIRE-BURLINGTON NORTHERN
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY-STOCK SPLIT
NEW YORK—Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. is sending a plan to split the iconic company’s Class B shares to a shareholder vote as part of its plan to buy the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. Holders of the relatively low-cost shares will vote on a 50-for-1 stock split, already approved by the Berkshire Hathaway board. The date of the vote has not been set. By Business Writer Eileen Aj Connelly. Eds: Also moving on national lines. Eds: Also moving on national lines.
SPORTS:
FBC–NEBRASKA-SUH ACCIDENT
LINCOLN—Nebraska defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh has been disciplined by the team after being ticketed for negligent driving for ramming three parked cars with his sport utility vehicle over the weekend. Suh, a fifth-year senior and one of the team leaders, told police he swerved to avoid hitting a dog or cat crossing the street when his 2003 Land Rover hit the first of three cars on a Lincoln street. Police said Suh had alcohol in his system, but he tested well below the legal limit. By Sports Writer Eric Olson.
FBC–NEBRASKA-GREEN
LINCOLN, Neb.—So far, it’s all going to plan for Cody Green. He transferred to Nebraska in hopes of getting behind center early and that’s happened. Even if the Huskers aren’t playing as well as anyone would like, Green figures maybe he’s someone who can help. By Eric Olson.
FBC–T25-OKLAHOMA-NEBRASKA RIVALRY
NORMAN, Okla.—Bob Stoops is great friends with Nebraska coach Bo Pelini and even let Pelini’s brother stay at his house for an extended period while they worked together at Kansas State. He grew up admiring from afar the rivalry the Cornhuskers had with Oklahoma, where he’d eventually be hired as the head coach. By Sports Writer Jeff Latzke.
With:
— NAGURSKI-CRICK—Nebraska defensive tackle Jared Crick has picked up another national honor for his performance in Saturday’s 20-10 win over Baylor.
— NEBRASKA TRAINER—The latest from the Nebraska football team’s practice in Lincoln.
BKC–NEBRASKA PREVIEW
OMAHA—A Nebraska team that grudgingly advertised itself as the shortest in Division I last season is growing up. The Cornhuskers, who rarely had anyone taller than 6-foot-5 on the floor, will at least look more like a Big 12 team with the addition of 6-11 Brian Diaz, 6-10 Brandon Ubel and a couple of players who are 6-8. By Sports Writer Eric Olson.
ALSO GETTING ATTENTION:
— NEB SUSPICIOUS DEATH—Lincoln police have arrested a 23-year-old man on suspicion of manslaughter for his friend’s death.
— TAX FRAUD—Two Lincoln men face trial next month in federal court on charges of tax fraud.
— NEB DRUG DELIVERY—A 21-year-old North Platte man tied to a case involving 16 pounds of marijuana sent through the mail has pleaded guilty.
— YORK FATALITY—A collision in southeast Nebraska killed a 34-year-old woman from Aurora and injured two of her three children.
— MARIJUANA FIRE-IOWA—An Omaha man faces felony drug charges after fire fighters called to a blaze found a marijuana growing operation inside a home in western Iowa.
— SEX-ABUSE CONVICTION—A Litchfield man convicted of sexually abusing his girlfriend’s daughter will be sentenced Dec. 4.
The AP, Omaha.
