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California Teacher Accused of Having Student’s Baby

Laura Elizabeth Whitehurst
Laura Elizabeth Whitehurst

(AP) — Police have arrested a Southern California high school teacher two weeks after she allegedly gave birth to a student’s baby.

Redlands police spokesman Carl Baker says 28-year-old Laura Elizabeth Whitehurst was arrested Monday night for allegedly having unlawful sex with a 16-year-old.

Officials at Citrus Valley High School in Redlands contacted police on Monday, acting on a tip from the boy’s mother.

Police say the sexual relationship began last summer and continued for nearly a year. The boy is now 17.

Whitehurst gave birth to a child June 18.

 

Drug Overdoses Spike Among Middle-Aged Women

pill-mill(AP) — U.S. health officials say middle-aged women are the fastest-growing group of people dying from drug overdoses.

For many decades, the overwhelming majority of U.S. overdose deaths were men killed by heroin or cocaine. But by 2010, 40 percent were women — most of them middle-aged women who took prescription painkillers.

Skyrocketing overdose death rates among females are closely tied to a boom in use of prescribed painkillers. The new report is the government’s first to spotlight how the death trend has been more dramatic among women.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that the number and rate of female prescription drug overdose deaths increased by around 400 percent from 1999 to 2010. For men, the increases were around 250 percent.

Lincoln Man Gets Jail for Making Bomb

aaron-finnell(AP) — A Lincoln man accused of making a bomb and keeping it in a bag at his mother’s home has been given jail time.

32-year-old Aaron Finnell was sentenced Tuesday to 300 days in jail. He will serve about two weeks because of credit for good time and time he’s already served since his February arrest.

Authorities say Finnell told his mother in February that he wanted to kill himself and anyone that came near him. His mother contacted police, and authorities confiscated a bag at the home that belonged to Finnell. It had a homemade bomb that an explosives technician had to render safe.

Finnell pleaded no contest to possession of a destructive device. His attorney says his client made the bomb for fun.

Bruning Expresses Concern Over You Tube Ads

Jon-Bruning
Jon Bruning

(AP) — The attorneys general of Nebraska and Oklahoma are expressing concerns that Google is profiting from ads tied to online videos that promote illegal activity.

Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning sent a letter to Google on Tuesday about ads that appear on YouTube, the internet giant’s video subsidiary.

Bruning and Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt took issue with videos that reportedly promote the sale of prescription drugs without prescriptions and counterfeit merchandise. They say other videos offer instructions to create fake driver’s licenses and passports, coupled with advertisements for immigration lawyers.

Revenue from the paid advertisements is split between the video’s producer and Google.

Bruning criticized the company for a “lackadaisical attitude toward Internet safety and consumer protection.”

Omaha Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Taking Employer’s Money

dept.-of-justice(AP) — An Omaha woman has been sentenced to three years in federal prison for taking money from her employer.

U.S. Attorney Deb Gilg announced Tuesday that 54-year-old Toni Walker was sentenced her conviction for bank fraud and was also ordered to pay more than $765,000 in restitution.

Prosecutors say Walker was the business manager for Royal Forwarding Inc. when she forged and deposited into her own bank account a total of 169 company checks from 2005 to 2012. Prosecutors say the checks ranged in amounts from about $2,000 to about $9,000.

NSP Surprise Truck Inspection Leads to 326 Violations in Hall County

state-patrol-logoThe Nebraska State Patrol, with the assistance from the Grand Island Police Department, conducted surprise commercial vehicle inspections today in Grand Island.  The surprise inspections target commercial vehicles that might not travel outside the city or pass through weigh stations as part of their regular routes.

During the special enforcement effort, the Metropolitan Aggressive and Prevention Selective (MAPS) Teams conducted 91 inspections, discovered 326 violations, and took 36 vehicles out of service (not allowed to continue on the road).  Vehicles are placed out of service for a variety of reasons relating to bad brakes or tires, or other problems that pose immediate safety risks. In addition, three drivers were taken out of service (not allowed to continue driving) for No Logbook (1), No Commercial Driver’s License (1), and Unable to Communicate in English (1). Officers issued a total of $4,275 in fines.

“The MAPS Team ensures truck operators who rarely leave the city limits are maintaining their vehicles and abiding by safety regulations,” said Colonel David Sankey, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “While most truck owners and operators share our concern for safety, we know some think they can ignore safety standards as long as they avoid the weigh stations. The MAPS Team extends our reach into cities and towns across the state.”

This was the 2nd MAPS Team event of 2013. Inspections have also been conducted in Sarpy County, this year.  More surprise inspections are planned throughout the spring and summer in cities and towns across Nebraska.

The MAPS Team is funded largely by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Troopers check for compliance with federal safety regulations and enforce laws pertaining to weight, size, registration, dyed fuels, and permits associated with commercial vehicles. The MAPS Team was implemented in 1998 and consists of 36 troopers from the Nebraska State Patrol Carrier Enforcement Division. On average, 20-24 troopers work each MAPS event.

Discarded Cigarette Causes Omaha Fire

fire(AP) — Authorities have determined an improperly discarded cigarette caused an extensive apartment fire last week in southwest Omaha.

Assistant Fire Chief Dan Stolinski says a cigarette stubbed out in potting soil on a second-floor balcony deck reignited Friday at the Applewood Point apartment complex. The fire forced about 80 people to evacuate and took more than three hours to be extinguished.

The blaze caused the roof and portions of third- and second-floor ceilings to cave in. Batallion Chief Robb Gottsch says he doubts the structure can be saved.

Heineman Announces NE Water Task Force Members

dave-heineman(AP) — A task force created to address water sustainability in Nebraska is about to begin its work.

Gov. Dave Heineman announced his appointments Tuesday to the 34-member task force. The group was created to find ways to make Nebraska’s water supply more sustainable for farmers, ranchers, cities, wildlife and recreational users.

Eleven members were appointed by Heineman: Brian Barels of Columbus, Joel Christensen of Omaha, John Heaston of Cozad, Tim Luchsinger of Grand Island, D. Chandler Mazour of Gothenburg, Roric Paulman of Sutherland, Rex Peterson of Gordon, Gerry Dale Sheets of Sargent, Scott Smathers of Lincoln, Walter Dennis Strauch of Mitchell and Lennie Adams of Waterloo.

Another 16 members are from the Nebraska Natural Resources Commission. Seven non-voting members include state lawmakers and the head of the Department of Natural Resources.

Police ID Woman Who Fired Gun Inside Omaha Ambulance

ambulance(AP) — Omaha police have identified the woman whose gun discharged inside an ambulance on Monday.

Police said Tuesday that 24-year-old Justine Dubois was the patient when she apparently pulled a handgun and fired it.

Both Dubois and a paramedic were injured when the gun went off Monday afternoon. The paramedic was treated and released.

Dubois was being treated for a seizure before the shooting, but police said her injuries were not considered life threatening and they believe she may have been faking the seizure.

Police are still investigating the circumstances of the shooting, and the paramedic’s name has not been released.

Jo Ann Yonker


JoAnn

Jo Ann Yonker, 79, of North Platte, NE, passed away Monday, July 1, 2013, at Great Plains Regional Medical Center in North Platte.

Jo Ann was born January 3, 1934 to Wallace H. and Elizabeth Barr Geiger at North Platte. When Jo Ann was little she lived in Banning, CA then returned to North Platte to live with her aunt and uncle, Lucille and George Luedke. She graduated from North Platte High School in 1951 then went to work for First National Bank and later was a bookkeeper for McDonald State Bank. Jo Ann also worked for Banker’s Life, was a bookkeeper for York Hinman and worked for Kings Food Host for several years before starting her own business, Animals By Jo Ann, where she made stuffed animals. She also made teddy bears for the Nebraska State Patrol Medi Teddy Program which gave them away to traumatized children.

On December 30, 1953, Jo Ann married Clayton Kenneth Yonker at Julesburg, CO and they made their home in North Platte. Along with raising their three daughters, Jo Ann and Clayton helped with foster children who were sent to the Snow Redfern Boys Ranch in Alliance, NE.

Jo Ann was a member and lay minister of the Episcopal Church of Our Savior and member and past president of the Daughters of the King. She was also a member and past president of Altrusa International and a charter member of the Velvet Spurs Riding Club. Jo Ann helped with the Goodfellows Shoe Fund and volunteered for the Salvation Army and Red Cross. She also loved her garden and especially her roses.

She is survived by her husband, Clayton, of North Platte; two daughters, Linda (Jay) Colburn, of Sutherland, NE, and Boni (Lynn) Hothan, of Hershey, NE; six grandchildren, Melissa (Barrey) Konicek, Keri (Levi) Fisher, Amanda (Aaron) Brandes, Brenda Boggs, Will (Sharley) Cleveland and Chelsea Jury; six great-grandchildren, Sage and Devin Konicek, Mekenna and Peyton Fisher, Hope Boggs and Danica Cleveland; a sister, Jerry (Todd) Langston, of Concord, CA; a niece, two nephews and other family.

Jo Ann was preceded in death by her daughter, Cheryl Yonker; her parents, Wallace and Elizabeth Geiger; and a sister, Odessa Geiger.

Cremation was chosen. A memorial service will be 10 a.m. Friday, July 5, 2013, at the Episcopal Church of Our Savior with Father Jeffrey Nelson officiating. Her cremains will be placed in the Episcopal Columbarium. The memorial book may be signed at odeanchapel.com or from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday at Odean Colonial Chapel At C & Sycamore which is in charge of arrangements. Memorials are suggested to the Episcopal Church of Our Savior.

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