The supervisor in Omaha is Nelson Lampe. Josh Funk takes over at 3 p.m. If you have a news tip or questions about the report, call 800-642-9920 or 402-391-0031.
AP stories, along with the photos that accompany them, can also be obtained from . Reruns are also available from the Service Desk (877-836-9477).
Please send stories of state or regional interest by electronic carbon, by fax at 402-391-1412 or e-mail to omahane(at)ap.org. Technical problems may be reported to 800-822-9921.
DEVELOPING: SPEEDY TRIAL, DISPARAGING DISPUTE
ADDS: ORDINARY COURTROOM
SUPREME COURT DECISIONS:
SPEEDY TRIAL
OMAHA—A child molester convicted of sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl did not have his right to a speedy trial violated, the Nebraska Supreme Court said in a ruling released Friday. Philip Gibilisco, 46, had appealed his 2003 conviction on five counts of sexually assaulting a child. Among other arguments, Gibilisco said his trial did not begin until more than six months after he was charged—a violation of a person’s constitutional right to a speedy trial. By Margery A. Beck.
DISPARAGING DISPUTE
OMAHA—A California lawyer who tried to obtain a pardon for his 1976 Nebraska drug conviction won’t get a chance to challenge statements that a former client submitted to the Pardons Board because of a state Supreme Court ruling issued Friday. Lonnie Kocontes had argued that a letter submitted by the former client and that man’s lawyer misled the board by suggesting Kocontes had committed sexual misconduct with a 15-year-old girl and implying he might have played a role in his wife’s cruise ship death. Kocontes was either cleared or never charged in those cases. By Josh Funk.
With:
— HELL’S ANGEL MURDER—A Hell’s Angel member who was sentenced to life in prison for the 1975 murder of a 19-year-old woman has lost his third appeal to the state Supreme Court.
— DRIVE-THROUGH HOMICIDE-RULING—The Nebraska Supreme Court has upheld the sentences of a man who killed a 21-year-old college student as she waited in a restaurant drive-through lane in Omaha two years ago.
NEBRASKALAND FEATURE:
ORDINARY COURTROOM
BEATRICE—A perfect opportunity to blend the old with the new. That’s how Gage County District Court Judge Paul Korslund feels about the plans to restore the district courtroom to what it looked like before a fire destroyed much of the courthouse’s interior in 1960. A Nebraskaland Feature by Luke Nichols of the Beatrice Daily Sun.
BUSINESS:
— XGR–NEB SECURITIES REGULATIONS—Nebraska lawmakers are tightening securities’ regulations to protect investors in the wake of an alleged investment scam by Grand Island-based First Americans Insurance Services. Eds: Moved on state news and financial lines.
— XGR–ELECTRONIC BIZ FILINGS—Corporations may someday be able to stop mailing and hand-delivering thousands of pieces of paper to the Nebraska secretary of state. Eds: Moved on state news and financial lines.
— DEVELOPING GOODWILL—An Omaha real estate developer says Goodwill has bought a new headquarters and store in a north Omaha shopping center. Eds: Moved on state news and financial lines.
SPORTS:
— NEBRASKA-KANSAS ST-CHANGE—The Huskers will open their 2010 Big 12 football conference season at Kansas State in a nationally televised game from Manhattan.
— TEXAS TECH-NEBRASKA—The Nebraska indoor dual track meet in Lincoln against Texas Tech has been postponed by bad weather in Texas.
— AGENT LICENSING—Nebraska has begun licensing sports agents who want to represent student-athletes. Eds: Moving on state news and sports lines.
ALSO GETTING ATTENTION:
— PHOTOGRAPHER CHARGED-SENTENCE—A Grand Island photographer accused of hiding a camera in a dressing room and spying on several teenage girls has been sentenced to 6-to-20 years in prison.
— FIRE OFFICIAL DUI—A Grand Island Fire Department supervisor has been accused of drunken driving.
— SPIN KITTY—A Lincoln man faces up to a year in jail, accused of putting his roommate’s cat in a washing machine last month.
— CANDIDATE ARRESTED—A 50-year-old Grand Island mayoral candidate has been arrested on suspicion of intimidating his estranged wife by phone.
— TEACHER CONVICTED—A former Kearney teacher and coach convicted of giving alcohol to a 17-year-old Sidney girl will begin serving his jail sentence Friday.
— PANHANDLE JUDGE RETIRING—After 37 years on the job, Scotts Bluff County Judge Glenn Camerer is retiring.
— WALK FOR LIFE—The board of anti-abortion group Nebraska Right to Life will discuss its plans for candidate endorsements on the eve of the group’s annual Walk for Life event.
— ZOO TRAINING—Hands-on training at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo will be given to nearly 150 University of Nebraska-Lincoln educators, teachers and 4-H leaders.
— TODAY IN NEBRASKA-FEBRUARY
The AP, Omaha.
