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Chatwood’s Arm, Bat Lead Rockies Over Brewers

colorado-rockiesDENVER (AP) — Tyler Chatwood pitched seven strong innings and hit a two-run double to help the Rockies break out offensively, leading Colorado to an 8-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night.

Todd Helton and Nolan Arenado each had two hits and an RBI for the Rockies, who had scored an NL-low 58 runs in their 20 previous games in July.

Chatwood (7-3) allowed two runs on six hits and struck out the side in the first inning, finishing with a career-high 11 strikeouts on the night. He is 4-1 with a 3.47 ERA in eight starts at Coors Field.

The Rockies’ bats came alive against one of the Brewers’ top pitchers in recent weeks, Wily Peralta (7-10), who entered 3-1 with an 0.87 ERA in his previous six starts.

NE Supreme Court Upholds Rape Conviction and Sentence

Armon Dixon
Armon Dixon

(AP) — The Nebraska Supreme Court has upheld the conviction and lengthy sentence of a Lincoln man who repeatedly raped a woman during a 2009 home invasion.

Armon Dixon was sentenced last year to 80 to 140 years in prison for sexual assault, robbery and a weapons charge. Police say Dixon pushed his way into an apartment, pulled a gun on the woman, threatening to kill her and her 3-year-old son, then repeatedly raped her over the next 10 hours. Dixon was already serving up to 120 years for robbing a convenience store and raping its clerk a month before the home invasion.

On Friday, the Nebraska Supreme Court rejected all of Dixon’s arguments, including that he should not have been sentenced as a habitual offender and that his sentence was excessive.

 

NPPD Lowers 2014 Rate Hike Projections

nppd(AP) — Higher electric rates are still expected for Nebraska Public Power District customers next year, but the increases could well be lower than originally forecast.

NPPD now says wholesale and retail rates likely will rise an average of 2 percent in 2014, compared with an earlier forecast of 3.5 percent. The 2013 hike of 3.75 percent was the district’s seventh general rate increase in seven years.

The utility has about 600,000 wholesale or retail customers.

NPPD Vice President of Customer Services Ken Curry says NPPD is focused on reducing expenses that won’t affect safety or reliability.

 

Omaha Police Make Final Arrest in Gang Crackdown

gang-crackdown(AP) — Omaha police say a final suspect being sought as part of a crackdown on gang-related crime has been arrested.

Police say 30-year-old Eric English was arrested Friday with the help of the Lincoln Police Fugitive task force. English had been charged earlier in a warrant with possession of crack cocaine with intent to deliver.

Police say English’s arrest marks the capture of the last fugitive in a nine-month investigation by local and federal authorities called Operation Purple Haze.

Nine other men had earlier been arrested as part of the operation.

Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer has said all the men are considered leaders in two of the city’s most notorious gangs.

Judge Denies Bond for Man Charged in Omaha Woman’s Death

Sergio Perez
Sergio Perez

(AP) — A judge has denied bond for a 19-year-old man now charged with first-degree murder in the rape and beating death of a 93-year-old Omaha woman.

Sergio Martinez-Perez had been denied bond earlier in the week when he was charged with first-degree assault, first-degree sexual assault and burglary. The assault charge was changed to first-degree murder when Louise Sollowin died from her injuries on Wednesday, three days after she was beaten and raped in her home.

On Friday, a judge denied bond on the murder charge.

Police say officers found Martinez-Perez naked and passed out on top of the woman Sunday morning. Authorities believe Martinez-Perez entered the home through an unlocked door.

Prosecutors are weighing whether to seek the death penalty for Martinez-Perez.

Omaha Mayor: No Criminal Activity in Fire Station Photos

Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert
Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert

(AP) — Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert says police have completed an investigation into photos of a woman at an Omaha fire station and found there was no criminal behavior.

The two photos, which were emailed to the mayor’s office on July 22, showed a woman on a fire truck and posing with two firefighters.

Stothert called the photos “inappropriate” and ordered police to investigate.

The mayor says Friday there wasn’t anything criminal about the incident but that the visit could have violated rules involving visiting hours. Firefighters involved could be subject to discipline.

The investigation found that more than 10 women attending a bachelorette party stopped by the fire station. The woman in the photos was the bachelorette.

Smith Set to Fill Some Big Cleats for Denver’s D

Quanterus-Smith-Denver-BronENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos drafted Quanterus Smith to replace Elvis Dumervil, yet he just might spend his first month as a pro helping to fill the big cleats of All-Pro pass rusher Von Miller, who is facing a possible four-game suspension.

Smith embraces one notion and cringes at the other.

Miller is lining up at his strongside linebacker position during training camp but if the NFL denies his appeal and makes him sit out all of September for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy, the Broncos have a range of options to fill the void.

Or they could just send in Smith, the intriguing rookie from Western Kentucky

Nebraska Approves New Mountain Lion Hunting Season

Mountain-LionLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Game and Parks commissioners have approved the creation a mountain lion hunting season to begin in 2014.

Up to four mountain lions may be killed next year in the Pine Ridge area of the Nebraska Panhandle, the only area known to have a reproducing population of the big cats.

There will be two seasons in the area, with a limit of two mountain lions for each. The first season will be Jan. 1 to Feb. 14. One permit will be issued by auction and one will be issued by lottery to a state resident.

The second season will be Feb. 15 to March 31. There will be 100 lottery permits issued to residents.

Each season will close immediately once the quota of two mountain lions or one female is met.

Lincoln Attorney: No Charges Against Meredith

Cameron-Meredith-Nebraska-HLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Lincoln City Attorney’s office won’t file charges against former Nebraska defensive end Cameron Meredith related to a fight last month.

Chief Assistant City Attorney John McQuinn told the Lincoln Journal Star (https://bit.ly/13j1P9q ) on Friday the 23-year-old Meredith won’t be charged.

Meredith earlier was cited after the early morning fight June 16 in downtown Lincoln.

Witnesses told police Meredith and his friends got into a confrontation with another group. A 20-year-old man intervened and was hit, suffering a broken jaw and broken eye socket.

McQuinn told the Journal Star, “I can’t provide you with any other information other than to say we reviewed it in our office and determined that prosecution should be declined.”

Meredith, of Huntington Beach, Calif., appeared in 56 games in his career, setting a school record.

Lincoln County Marriage Licenses (Week of July 22)

marriage-licenses

  • Zachary Andrew Pringle, 19, North Platte and Alyssa Nicole McMullen, 19, North Platte

 

  • Derek Allen Pursley, 22, North Platte and Dehjin Lynn Richardson, 21, North Platte

 

  • Joshuwa Allen Perkins, 28, North Platte and Tiffany Nichole Pfannkuch, 31, North Platte

 

  • Tyler Joel Stumf, 24, North Platte and Lanelle Denae Janicek, 24, North Platte

 

  • Matthew Adam Nelson, 33, North Platte and Breanna Rae Bluhm, 20, North Platte

 

  • Joshua Thomas Gesinski, 28, North Platte and Amariah Faith Hodgen, 21, North Platte

 

  • James Allen McDaniel, 33, North Platte and Misty Jo Reynolds, 25, North Platte
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