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DEVELOPING: NELSON-HEALTH OVERHAUL, BUDGET WOES, FUNERAL PROTEST,
ADDS: POLICE TARGETED, HOME SALES-MIDWESTERN CITIES,
POLICE TARGETED
OMAHA—An Auburn man has been charged with conspiracy in what authorities say was a plot to kill several police officers in the southeast Nebraska town. Nemaha County court documents show 18-year-old Donte Severs is charged with conspiracy to commit a felony. The documents say an informant told police in early November of a plot to kill up to five officers, including the police chief. By Margery A. Beck.
NELSON-HEALTH OVERHAUL
OMAHA—U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson was just beginning to see the furor over the so-called “Cornhusker Kickback” die down when President Barack Obama indicated this week that Democrats will move forward on a health care overhaul—with or without Republicans. The Nebraska Democrat is now steeling for renewed clamor from both sides of the health care reform debate. By Margery A. Beck.
BUDGET WOES
LINCOLN—A much-anticipated economic forecast could give Nebraskans a sign of whether lawmakers will have to continue slashing the state budget, hurting services across the state. The forecasting board will meet Friday afternoon and could change official tax-revenue projections that establish the baseline for the state budget. By Nate Jenkins.
FUNERAL PROTEST
OMAHA—A Kansas woman accused of violating Nebraska’s flag-desecration law during a 2007 funeral protest wants the judge on her case removed because of his ties to a group that shields protesters at funerals. An attorney for Shirley Phelps-Roper said Douglas County Judge Lawrence Barrett has disclosed that he was involved at some point with the Patriot Guard Riders, but Barrett didn’t offer details. The motorcycle group attends military funerals and attempts to minimize disruptions from protesters. By Jean Ortiz.
BUSINESS:
HOME SALES-MIDWESTERN CITIES
OMAHA—The National Association of Realtors says January home sales in the Midwest plummeted 37 percent from December’s figure, but sales were still up nearly 4 percent over the previous year. There were 54,000 sales in the 11-state region last month, and the median sales price improved more than 2 percent, to $162,700. By Business Writer Josh Funk.
ALSO GETTING ATTENTION:
— GRAND ISLAND KILLING—Hall County authorities have charged a Grand Island man with first-degree murder, accusing him of stabbing and beating to death his mother’s live-in boyfriend.
— DEPUTY INJURED—A sheriff’s deputy was hurt when his cruiser crashed on a rural road near Chapman in south-central Nebraska.
— EX-FIREFIGHTER SENTENCED—A former Lincoln firefighter who violated probation has been sent to prison for 16 months-to-three years.
— CHADRON SEX ASSAULTS—A 20-year-old Chadron man has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting several young girls.
— BRIDGEPORT FATAL—A 41-year-old Alliance man has been sentenced to 90 days in jail for his role in a crash that killed 69-year-old William Burr of Chappell.
— JOBS-NEBRASKA—Nebraska’s U.S. senators are no fans of the jobs bill that passed 70-28 in the Senate this week.
— CRAWFORD CHIEF—The Panhandle town of Crawford has found a new police chief.
— NEB DISABILITY PLAN—Nebraska officials are asking for help as they create a new plan that will guide how they serve those in the state with developmental disabilities.
— BOND ISSUE-OGALLALA—The Ogallala school board has lowered its bond request to $22.9 million and decided to place the measure on the May 11 ballot.
The AP, Omaha.
