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DEVELOPING: CRUMBLING HIGHWAYS; SEX OFFENDER-LAWSUIT; VOTING MACHINES-FLORIDA; FBN–BILLS-INCOGNITO
ADDS: HEALTH CARE OVERHAUL
SEX OFFENDER-LAWSUIT
OMAHA—Nearly two dozen unnamed Nebraska residents have sued the state, its prosecutors and law enforcement officials in a challenge to the constitutionality of Nebraska’s sex offender registry law. Lawmakers earlier this year took steps to eliminate the guesswork for courts in deciding who must register as a sex offender and to make it easier for anyone to track a sex offender. An attorney representing the pool of plaintiffs that includes offenders, their relatives and some of their employers is asking the court to stop the changes from taking effect. By Jean Ortiz.
CRUMBLING HIGHWAYS
LINCOLN—A new report says Nebraska’s highway system will fall into disrepair and not be expanded unless more money is made available. Released Wednesday by the Legislature’s Transportation and Telecommunications Committee, the 60-page report says the state’s heavy reliance on the fuel tax to generate dollars for highways has presented the state with a “fiscal crisis.” By Nate Jenkins. Eds: Moving on state news and financial lines.
HEALTH CARE OVERHAUL
WASHINGTON—A moderate Democrat said Thursday that an attempted Senate compromise on abortion is unsatisfactory, raising doubts about whether the chamber can pass President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul by Christmas. Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson, a key holdout on the health care bill, voiced his opposition to the new abortion language in an interview with KLIN radio in Lincoln and also made his concerns known to Majority Leader Harry Reid, Nelson’s spokesman said. By Erica Werner. Eds: Also moving on national lines.
AP Photos DCEV110, NENH104.
With:
— HEALTH CARE OVERHAUL-NEB GOVERNOR—Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman has weighed in on the national health care debate.
VOTING MACHINES-FLORIDA
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Florida’s attorney general is investigating whether the sale of a voting-machine maker to a rival concentrates too much power in one company. Attorney General Bill McCollum confirmed Wednesday that his office was conducting the antitrust probe. Diebold Inc. of North Canton, Ohio, in September sold its Allen, Texas-based subsidiary Premier Election Solutions Inc. to Election Systems & Software Inc. of Omaha.
BUSINESS:
— NEB WEEKLIES SOLD—Two weekly newspapers in south-central Nebraska will soon be merged under new ownership. Eds: Moved on state news and financial lines.
— NEB SUGAR BEETS—Sugar beet production in the Nebraska Panhandle was up 35 percent this year due in part to more acres planted with the crop. Eds: Moved on state news and financial lines.
SPORTS:
FBN–BILLS-INCOGNITO
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y.—Guard Richie Incognito is expected to join the Buffalo Bills at practice Thursday, a day after being claimed off waivers. What reception he’ll get is a question because Incognito has earned the reputation of being one of the NFL’s dirtiest players, and was released by St. Louis this week after drawing two personal fouls for head-butting.
ALSO:
— DANA COACH—Jason Shumaker has been named the new head football coach at Dana College in Blair.
— BOWL TICKETS-FRAUD—The Better Business Bureau is warning college football fans in search of hard-to-get bowl game tickets to watch out for online scams.
ALSO GETTING ATTENTION:
— NEBRASKA EARTHQUAKE—A minor earthquake has rattled southeast Nebraska but apparently caused little damage and no injuries.
— BLAMING ZOLOFT—A Nebraska inmate serving time for his girlfriend’s murder likely won’t be able to pursue his lawsuit against the makers of Zoloft.
— TIED-UP CALL CENTER—Many callers are finding it nearly impossible to reach the Nebraska Workforce Development call center.
— BOYLE-GOVERNOR—Former Omaha Mayor Mike Boyle says he’s considering running for Nebraska governor in 2010.
— NEB SUSPICIOUS DEATH—A 23-year-old Lincoln man has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter for accidentally shooting and killing his friend while twirling a gun on his finger.
— WATER WOES—Natural resources districts in Nebraska’s Republican River basin are moving forward with new groundwater-pumping restrictions to help the state stay in compliance with a water compact that includes Kansas and Colorado.
— FUEL TAX—People will have to pay four-tenths of a cent more in Nebraska fuel taxes, starting Jan. 1. Eds: Moved on state news and financial lines.
— KEARNEY AIRPORT FUNDS—An airport in central Nebraska stands to lose $1 million in federal funding if about 1,000 passengers don’t board planes there this month.
— MEETING MASTERY—Omaha’s Convention and Visitors Bureau is being recognized as one of the best meeting planning groups in the business.
— UNO GRADUATION—More than 900 University of Nebraska at Omaha students will graduate this week during the university’s winter commencement.
— EDITORIAL RDP—Excerpts from recent Nebraska daily newspaper editorials on topics of statewide interest.
The AP, Omaha.
