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DEVELOPING: NEBRASKA-KANSAS, ALLEGED JUDGE MISCONDUCT
ADDS: BUFFETT-GATES-ECONOMY, KOSHER SLAUGHTERHOUSE-TRIAL, ALLEGED JUDGE MISCONDUCT, CLEVELAND-BODIES FOUND, NEBRASKA-KANSAS
NEBRASKA BUDGET WOES-DISABLED
LINCOLN—Nebraska’s oft-criticized safety net for people with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities may get a small funding increase next year despite Gov. Dave Heineman’s recommendation to keep funding flat. The Legislature’s budget-writing Appropriations Committee voted Thursday to increase state funding to groups that care for the developmentally disabled by 1 percent, a move one official said could keep their doors open and serve the same number of people they are now. By Nate Jenkins.
ALLEGED JUDGE MISCONDUCT
OMAHA—A legal commission has recommended removing a Nebraska county court judge from the bench because he tried to influence cases involving a coach and player on his daughter’s softball team. In documents made public Thursday, the Nebraska Commission on Judicial Qualifications said Lincoln County Judge Kent Florom should be removed because of his conduct. By Josh Funk.
SHOOTING DEATH-COLLINS
OMAHA—Former Nebraska running back Thunder Collins said Thursday he felt no remorse for the death of a suspected drug dealer as he was sentenced to life in prison for his part in the killing. Collins, 30, also was given a total of 110 years on other counts in connection with the shooting that left 38-year-old Timothy Thomas dead, including attempted second-degree murder, assault and two weapons charges. By Margery A. Beck.
HEALTH OVERHAUL-NELSON
LINCOLN—About two dozen people rally outside Sen. Ben Nelson’s Lincoln office, urging him to support an overhaul of the nation’s health care system. On Thursday, Patrick Lohmeier of Lincoln called the centrist Democrat a “pivot man” in the Senate for the reform bill and said Nelson’s support is needed to get it passed. By Timberly Ross.
AP Photos NENH101-103
KOSHER SLAUGHTERHOUSE-TRIAL
SIOUX FALLS, S.D.—A federal jury Thursday convicted the former manager of an Iowa kosher slaughterhouse, which was the site of a massive immigration raid, on 86 of 91 financial fraud charges. Jurors returned the verdict against Sholom Rubashkin, 50, on its second day of deliberations after the nearly monthlong trial. He faces a sentence that could add up to hundreds of years in prison—as well as a second federal trial on 72 immigration charges. By Nigel Duara. Eds: Note Nebraska interest.
AP Photo SDSIO201.
KANSAS-POWERBALL WINNER
TOPEKA, Kan.—On a day usually reserved for bad luck and black cats, Kansas Lottery officials are going to introduce the lucky winner of a $96 million Powerball jackpot. The ticket was sold in the lottery’s south-central Kansas region which covers 15 counties, including the city of Wichita, lottery spokeswoman Sally Lunsford said Thursday. She declined to give any more details about the winner, or winners, until the news conference set for the afternoon of Friday the 13th. By John Milburn. Eds: Note Nebraska interest.
CLEVELAND-BODIES FOUND
CLEVELAND—The discovery of 11 victims of an alleged serial killer, most of them poor, drug-addicted black women, has prompted calls for Cleveland police to respond faster and devote more resources to missing-persons cases. Police, however, say they already have a comprehensive system for finding the lost and can’t be held accountable for people they don’t know are missing. Confounding the current tragedy, only three of the victims had been reported missing. By Andrew Welsh-Huggins. Eds: NOTE Nebraska mention.
AP Photos OHMD101, OHMD102.
BUSINESS:
BUFFETT-GATES-ECONOMY
NEW YORK—Capitalism is still alive and well, say the world’s two richest men, despite lingering shocks from the longest, deepest recession since the Great Depression. “The financial panic is behind us,” said famed investor Warren Buffett, who recently made what he called an “all-in wager” on the U.S. economy by acquiring railroad Burlington Northern Santa Fe. “The bottom has come in stocks. Don’t pass on something that’s attractive today.” By Business Writer Tali Arbel.
AP Photos AP Photo SDSIO201.NYJL106, NYJL102, NYJL103, NYJL101, NYJL117, NYJL113, NYJL108, NYJL114, NYJL104.
SPORTS:
NEBRASKA-DOMINATING ‘D’
LINCOLN—When Nebraska visits Kansas on Saturday, Ndamukong (en-DOM-uh-ken) Suh (Soo) and five other members of the 2007 Cornhusker defense will return for the first time to the place where the program hit bottom. The 76-39 loss set a school record for most points allowed. By Sports Writer Eric Olson.
AP Photos NENH102, NENH109.
FBC–NEBRASKA-KANSAS
LAWRENCE, Kan.—The curious case of Todd Reesing has taken an unexpected turn. The undersized quarterback who bucked the odds and became a Heisman Trophy candidate has fallen into the longest rut of his career. But with his struggles comes an opportunity for Nebraska. The Cornhuskers, still in the hunt for the Big 12 North title, are ready to pounce on Reesing and hopefully erase the memories of a 76-39 loss the last time they played in Lawrence. By John Marshall. Eds: Moving first for Friday PMS, stands.
With:
— FBC–BIG 12 CAPSULES
— FBC–NEBRASKA TRAINER
ALSO:
— RMAC HONORS-NEBRASKA—University of Nebraska at Kearney running back Rustin Dring is the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference’s offensive player of the year and Lopers coach Darrell Morris the coach of the year.
ALSO GETTING ATTENTION:
— ROMANCE AND ROBBERY—An Omaha woman has pleaded guilty to helping her boyfriend rob two bank branches where she worked.
— STEM CELLS-NEBRASKA—State lawmakers who brokered a compromise between abortion opponents and University of Nebraska researchers on embryonic stem cell research say the deal does not prohibit either side from lobbying the Board of Regents.
— TODDLER HOME ALONE—A 27-year-old Nebraska City woman has been charged with felony child abuse and three counts of drug possession, accused of leaving her 18-month-old child home alone.
— DAVID CITY RECALL—A group that tried to recall the mayor of David City has given up—at least for now.
— DAUGHTER BURNED—A 24-year-old Nebraska City man faces felony child-abuse and assault charges, accused of using a cigarette to burn his girlfriend’s 7-year-old daughter.
— NEB STANDOFF—Officials say a Columbus man had been out of jail less than a week for violation of a protection order when he abducted his estranged wife from a Columbus bowling alley parking lot.
— EDITORIAL RDP—Excerpts from recent Nebraska daily newspaper editorials on topics of statewide interest.
The AP, Omaha.
