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Three Teens Charged with Assaulting Girl Who Committed Suicide Appear in Court

Audrie Pott
Audrie Pott

Three teens facing charges in the sexual assault of a 15-year-old Northern California girl who committed suicide after the attack appeared in court for the first time Tuesday.

The proceedings were not public, and lawyers involved in the case aren’t commenting.

The three 16-year-old boys are each charged with sexual battery, dissemination of child pornography and possession of child pornography.

Attorneys and family members of the defendants were seen entering juvenile court. Relatives of Audrie Pott, who killed herself after a humiliating photo of her on the night of the attack circulated, were also there.

Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Jaron Shipp told The Associated Press that he couldn’t comment or provide any information on the case because the boys are juveniles.

Broadcasting Legend Pat Summerall Dead at 82

pat-summerallPat Summerall, the NFL player-turned-broadcaster whose deep, resonant voice called games for more than 40 years, has died at the age of 82.

Fox Sports spokesman Dan Bell said Tuesday that Summerall had died. He could not immediately provide further details.

Summerall was part of network television broadcasts for 16 Super Bowls. His last championship game was for Fox on Feb. 3, 2002, also his last game with longtime partner John Madden. The popular duo worked together for 21 years, moving to Fox in 1994 after years as the lead team for CBS.

Summerall played 10 NFL seasons (1952-61) with the Chicago Cardinals and New York Giants. He started doing NFL games for CBS in 1964. He also covered the PGA Tour and tennis.

Third Suspect in NP Shooting Arrested

Ethen M. Bentley
Ethen M. Bentley

North Platte Police have located the third Suspect in last Thursday’s shooting.

At around 1:00 a.m. this morning, Officers from the North Platte Police Department located Ethen Bentley, 21, waiting at the Bus Stop at 1801 South Jeffers.

Officers had probable cause to arrest Bentley due to his involvement in the April 11 shooting that occurred near 17th and Franklin.

Officers watched as Bentley left the area of the Bus Stop and made contact with him on the South River Bridge.

Bentley was taken into custody, and charged with Being an Accessory to a Felony.

It was originally reported that Bentley was arrested along with two other suspects, Matthew Bobo and Britton Renfrow, but Officers were not able to locate Bentley until this morning.

 

Motion Picture Association Changing Rating System

moton-picture-assocThe Motion Picture Association of America is changing its rating system to better inform parents about violence in movies.

CEO Christopher Dodd announced the tweaks in Las Vegas Tuesday at the annual movie-theater convention, CinemaCon.

The White House has called on the movie industry to give parents better tools to monitor violence in media since the Newtown, Conn., school shooting.

Dodd did not address the shooting directly but spoke generally about the need to help parents control what their kids see.

The new ratings system will include descriptions about why a movie received its ratings.

For example, the rating might cite “strong carnage” or “war violence.”

Prosecutor: Wisconsin Father Was Sane When He Killed His Daughters

Aaron Schaffhausen
Aaron Schaffhausen

Prosecutors say a Wisconsin man who has admitted he killed his three young daughters was in control of his actions and decided that a “selfish desire for revenge” was worth more than his girls’ lives.

Jurors are weighing whether Aaron Schaffhausen was legally sane when he killed 11-year-old Amara, 8-year-old Sophie and 5-year-old Cecilia in their River Falls home last July.

During closing arguments Tuesday, prosecutor Gary Freyberg told jurors that Schaffhausen was in control of his actions, and that he is a mean, callous person — but not legally insane.

Defense attorney John Kucinski said earlier that Schaffhausen has a rare mental disorder, rooted in a deep dependency on his wife.

Schaffhausen has pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree intentional homicide, but he maintains he’s not responsible.

NE Lawmakers Begin Discussing Medicaid Expansion

ne-legislature-13Nebraska lawmakers began debating a proposal to expand Medicaid as part of the federal health care law.

Sen. Kathy Campbell introduced the bill with added cost safeguards on Tuesday.

Campbell proposed an amendment that would require lawmakers to reevaluate Medicaid expansion when the federal government reduces or drops funding. Lawmakers would also have to reauthorize the program in 2020.

The federal government has agreed to fully fund the cost for newly insured Medicaid recipients from 2014 to 2016. Federal aid would decrease to 90 percent by 2020.

Deciding whether to expand Medicaid to at least 54,000 Nebraskans is expected to be a contentious debate this session.

Lawmakers aren’t sure they can muster the 30 votes they need to override Gov. Dave Heineman’s veto.

Kimball Police Chief Resigns Amid Scrutiny

kimball-policeThe Nebraska Panhandle police chief who’d been put on administrative leave has resigned.

Kimball Police Chief Mark Simpson’s resignation was effective Monday. He’d been on leave since March 15, following challenges to the accuracy of information he’d presented to another law enforcement agency.

Kimball Mayor James Schnell declined to elaborate on reports of what he said were “suspicious fallacies” regarding Simpson.

In Simpson’s resignation letter, he says he regrets not being able to serve Kimball’s residents any longer and that people need to trust city officials and let them do their jobs. Simpson also says in the letter that he’s sorry he “did not uphold my side of the bargain.”

Security at the Omaha Marathon Will Increase

omaha-marathonThe director of the Omaha Marathon says the bombing in Boston will make her more vigilant about security, but she doubts it will diminish the popularity of marathons.

Director Susie Smisek said Tuesday security for the Omaha race generally has been focused on keeping runners safe from vehicle traffic. She said other security threats will now get more scrutiny when the marathon is held Sept. 22.

Smisek said it will be important to “watch out for something that might not look right.”

Smisek said marathons have increased in popularity in recent years because more people are health conscious.

She said Boston will continue to be on runners’ minds for a while but that participation in marathons probably won’t decline.

The next marathon in Nebraska is May 5 in Lincoln.

State Patrol Reminds Nebraskans to Be Vigilant in Wake of Boston Bombings

state-patrol-logoThe Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) is reminding citizens to remain vigilant in the wake of the tragic and senseless acts of violence which have taken place in Boston.

“We join the nation in condemning these acts of terror on the American public,” said Colonel David Sankey, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “We encourage our citizens to continue to help keep our communities safe by reporting suspicious activity.”

Nebraskans can report suspicious activity through the Nebraska Information Analysis Center (NIAC) website.  Using the “Suspicious Activity Reporting” (SAR) link citizens will access the SAR portal which opens a detailed questionnaire for the reporting party to provide information on suspicious activities or events they believe should be shared with law enforcement.

Colonel Sankey said, “We believe Nebraskans are observant and have good instincts. The SAR tool provides them another avenue in which to make law enforcement aware of their concerns.”

The Nebraska State Patrol reminds citizens that emergency situations or situations which require immediate action should be reported to 911.

Nebraskans can find additional Homeland Security Information by visiting the NIAC website “Eight signs of Terrorism” link.

“Our Agency remains vigilant in its responsibilities to protect and serve the people of Nebraska. We encourage our citizens to remain vigilant as well,” Sankey said.

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